Americans brace for another season of respiratory viruses, with influenza, covid-19, and RSV expected to cause numerous hospitalizations this fall. Vaccine recommendations come from an unexpected source this year: a coalition of the nation’s top medical organizations.
Traditionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its vaccine advisory committee issued such guidance. However, changes arose after a federal judge’s ruling in March. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. was found to have unlawfully altered vaccine policy and improperly reestablished the advisory group.
This legal situation has left the vaccine advisory committee in a state of uncertainty. In response, major medical societies have united to offer comprehensive recommendations for the season. They aim to guide the public effectively in the absence of the traditional advisory structure.