CDC Shifts COVID Booster & Childhood Vaccine Guidance, Emphasizing Patient Choice & Safety
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced updated recommendations regarding both COVID-19 boosters and childhood vaccinations, placing a greater emphasis on shared clinical decision-making between healthcare providers and patients or parents. The changes aim to move away from blanket recommendations and encourage individualized assessments of risk and benefit.
Previously, a broad advice for perpetual COVID-19 boosters may have discouraged healthcare providers from fully discussing the nuances of vaccination with individuals.Now, the CDC is directing all Americans to consult with their doctors to determine if a seasonal COVID-19 booster is appropriate for them.
These adjustments follow recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made last month, and are intended to prioritize ”shared clinical decision making” in vaccine administration. However, the proclamation has drawn criticism. Former director of the National Center for immunization and respiratory Diseases, Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the announcement is “misleading,” arguing that shared decision-making is already standard practice for all vaccines. He further explained that the new guidance may require proof of a clinical discussion – potentially a prescription with a diagnosis code – before vaccination can be administered, potentially limiting the authority of pharmacists to participate in the decision-making process in some states.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed that COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be covered by both private and public insurance.
Changes to Childhood Vaccination Schedule: Varicella
Alongside the COVID-19 updates, the CDC is also recommending a shift in how young children receive the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. Evidence presented to ACIP by the CDC Immunization Safety Office indicated that 12- to 23-month-old toddlers experienced an increased risk of febrile seizures 7 to 10 days after receiving the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine, compared to those who received the chickenpox vaccine separately.
according to HHS,the combination vaccine doubles the risk of febrile seizures without providing any additional protection against varicella. While the combined vaccine was initially licensed in 2005 to encourage higher vaccination rates, currently only 15% of US parents choose it for their children aged 12 to 15 months.
Representative bill O’Neill praised the ACIP’s focus on vaccine safety signals and thanked former President Trump for prioritizing the protection of children from unintended side effects during immunization.
New York State Extends Pharmacist Authority
In a related development, New York Governor kathy Hochul extended an executive order allowing pharmacists in the state to administer COVID-19 vaccines for an additional 30 days without a prescription under a standing order.Governor Hochul stated her commitment to extending the order as needed, emphasizing a commitment to “letting science lead the way-not politics.”
