CDC Panel Shifts Vaccine Guidance, Perhaps limiting Access to MMRV Shot for Young Children
A key advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted 8 to 3 on Sept. 18 to alter its recommendations for the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine, potentially impacting coverage for children under 4. The change stems from concerns about a possible link between the MMRV vaccine and febrile seizures, according to independent health journalist Liz Szabo.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is reassessing the schedule for childhood vaccinations, and this vote marks a significant step in that process. The committee’s recommendations heavily influence which vaccines are included in the Vaccines for Children program, a federal initiative providing no-cost vaccinations to roughly half of U.S.children-those who are uninsured, underinsured, on or eligible for Medicaid, or are American Indian or Alaska native. If the CDC director approves the ACIP’s recommendation, the MMRV shot would no longer be covered by the program for children under 4.
The decision follows discussions regarding the risk of febrile seizures following MMRV vaccination. While generally mild and not considered dangerous, these seizures have prompted the committee to consider separating the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine into two separate shots.
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), representing private insurers, announced on Sept. 16 that its member companies will continue to cover vaccines recommended as of Sept. 1, 2025, through at least the end of 2026.
The ACIP also began discussions regarding the hepatitis B vaccine on Sept. 18, with a vote scheduled for Sept. 19. COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are slated for discussion and a vote on Friday, Sept. 20.
In a separate move, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released its own recommended immunization schedule for children and teens and stated it would not endorse the CDC’s recommendations, following leadership changes at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the CDC.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
