Statement on federal vaccine guidance

Despite Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s stated efforts to promote efficiency and transparency, the Department of Health and Human Services and its affiliated agencies released multiple rounds of conflicting COVID vaccine guidelines of unclear origin last week, jeopardizing Americans’ ability to make their own choices about vaccination and causing significant confusion among medical professionals and the public.   

Governmental guidance about vaccines is an important foundation that enables insurance coverage of — and therefore access to — vaccines, so changing government recommendations about which specific and limited populations should receive COVID-19 vaccines has far-reaching consequences.  

Federal vaccine recommendations have traditionally been developed by medical and public health experts who gather openly to review evidence and receive public input before recommending what vaccines are needed and who should be eligible for them. Conclusions are based on the best available science, and recommendations are communicated with precision and clarity, providing guidance to clinicians to make the best decisions with their patients. That is what the American people expect from federal health agencies.  

The chaos, confusion and more limited insurance coverage for COVID vaccines that is expected to result from the latest sets of guidance will likely significantly decrease the number of people who receive COVID vaccines this fall, setting us up for increases in preventable complications, hospitalizations and deaths. 

—Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP — President, IDSA  

About IDSA  
The Infectious Diseases Society of America is a global community of 13,000 clinicians, scientists and public health experts working together to solve humanity’s smallest and greatest challenges, from tiny microbes to global outbreaks. Rooted in science, committed to health equity and driven by curiosity, our compassionate and knowledgeable members safeguard the health of individuals, our communities and the world by advancing the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Learn more at idsociety.org.