On May 15, the Wall Street Journal reported that HHS will soon stop recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children, adolescents, and pregnant people. Although HHS representatives have not confirmed the report, the FDA commissioner said he was not “encouraging or insisting” that healthy children be vaccinated. Two days later, the FDA approved Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, but only for use in older adults and people aged 12 and older with at least one underlying health condition. Finally, on May 20, FDA officials announced plans to require placebo-controlled clinical trials before approving updated COVID-19 vaccines for healthy individuals, which will likely delay access to vaccines this fall. Some online responded to the report and approval restrictions with concern about COVID-19 vaccine access for children and young adults. However, many right-wing and anti-vaccine figures celebrated the news and expressed doubt about COVID-19 vaccine safety. Several users called for a full ban on mRNA vaccines, while others argued that Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine approval should be revoked due to alleged safety concerns.
Recommendation
HHS vaccine recommendations influence physician immunization practices and insurance coverage of vaccinations, in addition to public perception of vaccines. Recent FDA actions may affect COVID-19 vaccine access for millions of Americans who want to be vaccinated. Communicators may continue to emphasize that COVID-19 vaccine safety has been well established for nearly five years and in billions of vaccinated people worldwide. Talking points may explain that COVID-19 vaccination protects people of all ages, including children, from severe illness, hospitalization, long COVID, and death.
Fact-checking sources: FactCheck.org, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
