US medical groups issue vaccine guidance, sidestep Trump

A coalition of prominent US medical groups released vaccine guidance for seasonal respiratory viruses on Wednesday, providing clear recommendations amid federal delays and skepticism from the Trump administration. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) typically issues annual updates, the process has been impeded this year by legal challenges over policy changes made under health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The American Medical Association (AMA) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), among other groups, have opposed federal actions that run counter to scientific consensus. The coalition's guidance covers influenza, Covid-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with recommendations varying by age group and other factors like pregnancy. Recent studies have found no new health concerns related to these vaccines, according to an independent review by the University of Minnesota's Vaccine Integrity Project.

The federal government has only issued flu guidance, extending it from 2025. AMA president-elect Sandra Fryhofer emphasized the need for clear, credible, and evidence-based vaccine recommendations to help patients make informed decisions. Vaccination rates have dropped since the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of misinformation. Kennedy has overhauled vaccination policy, including ceasing recommendations for hepatitis B vaccines for newborns and altering Covid-19 and measles vaccine guidance.

However, many measures were halted in March by a federal judge, who ruled the government disregarded science-based methods, hindering the CDC's expert panel on vaccination recommendations.