RFK Jr.'s Vaccine Panel Rejects Own Proposal for Prescription-Required Covid Shots

RFK Jr.'s Vaccine Panel Votes Down Its Own Proposal to Require Prescriptions for Covid-19 Shots A federal advisory committee tasked with making recommendations on vaccine usage voted against requiring a prescription for Covid-19 vaccinations, despite being chosen by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been critical of vaccines. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met on [date] to consider whether state and local jurisdictions should require a prescription for the administration of a Covid vaccine. After hours of discussion, the committee voted down its own proposal, with several members expressing doubts about the safety and efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccines. "This is a disappointing outcome," said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA, who was not part of the ACIP meeting but has been critical of the committee's composition. "The science on Covid-19 vaccines is clear: they are safe and effective. Requiring a prescription would only serve to further confuse the public and undermine trust in these life-saving vaccines." The ACIP has historically provided expert advice to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine usage. However, this committee was installed by Kennedy after he dismissed all 17 previous sitting members in June. Several new members have expressed anti-vaccine views, and five were appointed just this week. "It's clear that some of these new members are not familiar with the ACIP's role or the science behind vaccines," said Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician and vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "This is a recipe for disaster, as it will only serve to further politicize public health decisions." The vote was seen as a setback for those advocating for increased access to Covid-19 vaccines. Proponents argue that requiring a prescription would help to ensure that the vaccines are being administered safely and effectively. "This decision is a blow to efforts to increase vaccine uptake, particularly among vulnerable populations," said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco. "We need to be doing everything we can to make vaccines more accessible, not less." The ACIP will continue to meet to discuss other vaccine-related issues. The CDC has stated that it will take into account the committee's recommendations when making decisions on vaccine policy. In related news, Kennedy has come under fire for his handling of the ACIP and his dismissal of the previous members. Critics argue that he has politicized public health decision-making and undermined trust in vaccines. The controversy surrounding the ACIP is likely to continue as the debate over vaccine policy remains contentious. *Reporting by Wired.*