CDC vaccine panel pauses plan to stop recommending mRNA Covid shots

Concerns over political risks prompt delay in dropping mRNA vaccine recommendation

Mar. 11, 2026 at 10:33pm

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A group of experts advising the CDC on vaccine recommendations has suspended a plan to stop recommending mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines, amid growing concerns within the Trump administration about the political risks of such a move. The decision comes as polling shows strong public support for vaccines, even among voters who favor the administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda.

Why it matters

The CDC's vaccine advisory committee plays a key role in determining insurance coverage and access to vaccines for low-income families. Its recommendations have historically been widely adopted by states, but recent attacks on the Covid-19 vaccines by committee members have undermined its influence, with around 30 states now relying on other sources for their vaccine policies.

The details

The plan to stop recommending mRNA Covid shots has been shelved only temporarily, and could still be revived in the coming months. Several ACIP members have attacked the Covid-19 vaccines, claiming without credible evidence that they are responsible for more injuries than the infection itself. This has led to a coalition of anti-vaccine groups urging people to submit comments about their vaccine injuries and suggesting the upcoming ACIP meeting will review 'politically explosive' vaccine injury data.

  • The ACIP committee had been scheduled to meet in February, but that session was abruptly canceled a week beforehand.
  • The next ACIP meeting is set for March 18 and 19, and the agenda indicates planned votes on Covid-19 vaccine injuries and long Covid.

The players

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The leading national public health institute in the United States.

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

A group of experts that advises the CDC on its vaccine recommendations.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The former HHS Secretary who removed the previous ACIP members and appointed new members who have attacked the Covid-19 vaccines.

Dr. Robert Malone

An ACIP member who has claimed the Covid-19 vaccines cause serious harm and that he 'almost died' after his second shot.

Dr. Retsef Levi

An ACIP member and MIT professor leading the committee's work group on Covid-19 vaccines, who has claimed the vaccines cause serious harm and death, especially among young people.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not deaf to the calls that we need to get the Covid vaccine mRNA products off the market.”

— Dr. Robert Malone, ACIP member (MAHA Action podcast)

“The evidence is mounting and indisputable that MRNA vaccines cause serious harm including death, especially among young people. We have to stop giving them immediately!”

— Dr. Retsef Levi, ACIP member and MIT professor (Online post)

What’s next

The judge's ruling on the request to prevent the ACIP committee from convening its March 18-19 meeting could determine whether that meeting goes ahead as scheduled.

The takeaway

The CDC's vaccine advisory committee's credibility and influence have been undermined by attacks on the Covid-19 vaccines from some of its own members, raising concerns about the potential politicization of public health decisions and the ability to mount an effective response to future pandemics.