US Vaccine Advisers Drop Plan to Question mRNA COVID Shots

The CDC advisory panel is expected to make recommendations on vaccines next week.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 2:16pm

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A key U.S. federal vaccine advisory panel has dropped a push against COVID mRNA vaccines, according to a report from the Washington Post. Some vaccine advisers under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had been seeking to potentially stop recommending mRNA shots, but that plan is no longer moving forward.

Why it matters

The decision by the vaccine advisory panel is significant as it indicates a shift away from questioning the efficacy of mRNA vaccines, which have been widely used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes after the HHS under Kennedy's leadership had previously decided to wind down mRNA vaccine development activities.

The details

The Washington Post report cited two people familiar with the matter, stating that the advisory panel's plan to potentially stop recommending mRNA shots is no longer moving forward. The CDC advisory panel is slated to meet next week and is expected to make recommendations on which vaccines Americans should receive and when.

  • The HHS decided in August last year to wind down mRNA vaccine development activities under its biomedical research unit.
  • The CDC advisory panel is scheduled to meet next week to make recommendations on vaccines.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Health and Human Services Secretary who is a longtime anti-vaccine activist and had previously sought to stop recommending mRNA vaccines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The federal agency that oversees the vaccine advisory panel, which is expected to make recommendations on vaccines next week.

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What they’re saying

“the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary

The takeaway

This decision by the vaccine advisory panel represents a shift away from questioning the efficacy of mRNA vaccines, which have been a critical tool in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. It suggests a return to relying on scientific evidence and consensus within the public health community.