ACIP Abandons mRNA COVID Vaccine Recommendation Changes

A key U.S. federal vaccine advisory panel has abandoned plans to alter recommendations for COVID-19 mRNA vaccines ahead of its upcoming meeting, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine policies, was set to convene on March 18 and 19. While the full agenda has not been released, a Federal Register notice indicated discussions on COVID-19 vaccine injuries and potential changes to recommendation methodologies. Officials said the panel had explored options to limit or end routine endorsements of mRNA vaccines, developed by companies like Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which instruct cells to produce a viral protein to build immunity. However, those efforts have been halted, with two sources close to the committee confirming the shift.

The development comes under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal critic of certain vaccines. Kennedy has described mRNA technology as ineffective against respiratory infections like COVID-19, despite studies showing its role in reducing severe illness and hospitalizations. In May...