Top US Medical Body to Review Safety of Covid and Flu Vaccines

A New Approach to Vaccine Recommendations in the US

The way vaccine recommendations are made in the United States is undergoing a significant transformation. Traditionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has played a central role in advising which groups should receive annual flu, Covid, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines. However, this process is now being challenged by the American Medical Association (AMA), which has initiated its own independent review process.

For many years, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has been responsible for making these recommendations. The committee consists of experts who evaluate the latest scientific data to determine who should be vaccinated each year. However, the AMA believes that this system needs to be re-evaluated to ensure transparency and evidence-based decision-making.

The AMA has partnered with the Vaccine Integrity Project to launch a structured, evidence-based review process for the 2026–27 respiratory virus season. This initiative aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, ensuring that recommendations are based on solid scientific evidence rather than political or ideological influences.

While federal regulators such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will still decide whether vaccines are safe and effective enough for use in the US, the AMA’s review process is designed to complement this existing framework. According to representatives of the AMA, the new process is necessary to address concerns raised by some physicians about recent decisions made by the ACIP.

Controversial Decisions by the ACIP

Recent decisions by the ACIP have sparked debate among medical professionals. In December, the committee voted to end the universal advice that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. This decision has raised concerns among some healthcare providers who believe it could lead to an increase in preventable illnesses.

In September, the ACIP also voted to end recommendations for the combined measles and chickenpox vaccine. Additionally, they suggested that the Covid vaccine should no longer be recommended for individuals six months old and instead be administered based on "individual decision-making." Federal officials have defended these changes, arguing that the viruses pose a lower risk to certain groups and that the changes align the US more closely with developed nations.

However, critics warn that these decisions could lead to more cases of preventable illnesses and deaths, as well as undermine public confidence in vaccination programs.

The Role of Vaccines in Preventing Illnesses

Every year, updated versions of the flu, Covid, and RSV vaccines are distributed in the US to protect against new strains of these viruses. Previously, the Covid and flu vaccines were recommended for everyone ages six months and over, while the RSV vaccine was recommended for all adults over 75 and those over 50 with certain underlying conditions.

Approximately 120 million Americans receive the flu shot annually, which represents about 46 percent of the adult population. About 45 million people, or 17 percent, get the annual flu shot, while 12.8 million adults over 60 years old receive the annual RSV vaccine.

The AMA’s new review process will involve convening representatives from various medical organizations and public health bodies. These experts will analyze data on the vaccines to understand their risks and benefits for all groups, including children and pregnant women. The findings will then be shared with medical organizations to help them develop and share guidance on who should receive vaccinations.

This guidance will cover a wide range of groups, including pregnant women, children, older adults, and adults with weakened immune systems. The AMA emphasizes that its review process mirrors the federal government’s approach but claims that the official process has "effectively collapsed."

Expert Opinions on Vaccine Safety

Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, an AMA Trustee, stated: "It is our duty as healthcare professionals to work across medicine, science, and public health to make sure the US has a transparent, evidence-based process by which vaccine recommendations are made. Together, we are committed to ensuring the American public has clear, evidence-based guidance that inspires confidence when making important vaccination decisions."

Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Minnesota, added: "Respiratory viruses hospitalize and kill tens of thousands of Americans every year, and vaccine decisions must be guided by facts, not politics or ideology. Our goal is to build on our efforts to restore peace of mind for clinicians and patients by ensuring that experts are continuously evaluating vaccine safety and effectiveness using transparent, evidence-based methods."

The Broader Implications

The AMA’s initiative comes at a time when alternative vaccine advice is being issued by other groups, such as the West Coast Health Alliance and Northeast Public Health Collaborative, which were set up by Democrat-leaning states in September 2025. These groups aim to provide alternative guidance on vaccines nationwide.

The ACIP typically makes its annual recommendations for who should receive the flu, Covid, or RSV vaccines in late summer or early August. This timing aligns with the release of updated shots. However, recent developments have raised questions about the reliability and transparency of this process.

Earlier this month, the FDA declined to review a new potential mRNA flu vaccine from Moderna, citing problems with the company's scientific data. This decision highlights the importance of rigorous evaluation processes for new vaccines.

According to CDC estimates, influenza vaccination alone prevented nearly 10 million illnesses, about 120,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 8,000 deaths during the 2023–24 season. Yet almost 300 children died from influenza last flu season, the vast majority of whom were unvaccinated.

Covid vaccination continues to significantly reduce hospitalization risk among older adults and other high-risk populations, and RSV immunization continues to yield strong protective results for older adults and the youngest Americans.