On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for new COVID-19 vaccine formulations from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, specifically for individuals aged 65 and older. The approval for those under this age limit is restricted to individuals who have “at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19.” Additionally, the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine in children under 5 has been completely revoked.
Following the FDA’s announcement, a report from The Washington Post revealed that the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Susan Monarez, had been dismissed. This information was subsequently confirmed by the Department of Health and Human Services, now under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance. However, attorney Mark Zaid, who represents Monarez, took to social media asserting that “Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor yet been fired. She will not resign,” and shared the following statement:
According to The Washington Post, Monarez experienced pressure from Kennedy for days regarding her stance on revising FDA policies. Reports indicate that “at least three senior officials” at the CDC have signaled their intentions to resign, including Demetre Daskalakis, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, alongside Debra Houry, the chief medical officer.
In May, the government indicated a withdrawal of recommendations for healthy pregnant women and children when it comes to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, a development reported by CNN, which has already resulted in certain individuals being discouraged from vaccination.
Kennedy tweeted that these recent actions will “keep vaccines available to people who want them, especially the vulnerable,” yet they may also introduce a requirement for millions of Americans to demonstrate that they are at risk, possibly presenting obstacles to vaccination efforts.
The New York Times reports that an impending decision from the CDC could influence the availability of vaccines at pharmacy locations, as state laws mandate CDC recommendations for pharmacy personnel administering vaccinations. In a related context, Kennedy has recently dismissed 17 members from the federal advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP) that is responsible for vaccine recommendations.
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