HHS shake-up stalls new vaccine recommendations, leaving patients facing unexpected co-pays
Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr’s restructuring of the vaccine advisory committee has halted new immunization guidance, so insurers are refusing to cover the FDA-approved Moderna mRNA flu vaccine, forcing patients to pay out-of-pocket.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, serving as secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, overhauled the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, removing existing experts and cutting a third of childhood immunization recommendations. A federal judge halted the revisions for procedural reasons, yet Kennedy has not appointed new members, leaving the committee without authority to issue fresh vaccine guidance. This vacuum means that the Moderna mRNA flu vaccine, approved by the FDA for adults 50 and older, is not listed as an ACIP-recommended shot, allowing insurers to charge a $40 co-pay, as experienced by Ron Kroening.
Legal analysts explain that insurers must wait until an ACIP recommendation is made before coverage becomes mandatory, potentially delaying full coverage until 2029. The lack of a functioning ACIP also stalls other pending recommendations, such as RSV vaccines, and creates uncertainty for state pharmacy laws and Medicare coverage. Experts warn the politicization of the committee undermines public-health trust and could have lasting effects on vaccine accessibility in the United States.
Why it matters
Political interference is delaying vaccine guidance, raising costs and limiting access for Americans.
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