On Wednesday, the FDA approved the new round of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax for use by seniors over the age of 65. But for anyone younger than that, the FDA approval only mentions people who have “at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19.” It also removed one option for children entirely, revoking the Pfizer vaccine’s emergency use authorization for children under 5.
The Post says Monarez was “pressed for days” by Kennedy about whether she would support reworking the FDA’s policies. The Post reports that “at least three top CDC officials” have announced plans to resign, including Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, and Debra Houry, chief medical officer.
In a tweet, Kennedy claims the actions will “keep vaccines available to people who want them, especially the vulnerable,” however, they could now require millions of Americans to prove they are at risk, putting an additional hurdle in the way of getting vaccinated.
The New York Times reports that an upcoming CDC decision could impact availability and access at drugstore sites, as laws in some states require the CDC’s recommendation for pharmacy staff to administer the shots. As we noted last month, Kennedy recently fired 17 people from the federal committee (ACIP) responsible for making vaccine recommendations.
