CDC advisers vote that patients must consult a health care provider for Covid-19 vaccination, but no prescription req

[riversedge]

Source: cnn


CDC advisers vote that patients must consult a health care provider for Covid-19
vaccination, but no prescription required

By Brenda Goodman, Jamie Gumbrecht

Updated 20 min ago


Vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted unanimously on Friday to shift away from a broad recommendation for Covid-19 vaccines to say that people who want one must consult with a health care provider, a process known as shared clinical decision-making.

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The recommendations are not final; they go to Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill for approval. O’Neill, a deputy of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s, has led the agency since Dr. Susan Monarez was ousted abruptly last month.

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The vote by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices carries additional implications for vaccine access since some states adhere closely to the committee’s recommendations. The result may be a patchwork of vaccine access from state to state, depending in part on on who is able to administer vaccines.

In a statement, a US Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said the vote on shared clinical decision-making “provides for immunization coverage through all payment mechanisms including entitlement programs such as Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicaid, and Medicare, as well as insurance plans through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace.”

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Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/19/health/cdc-acip-hepatitis-mmrv-covid-vaccine

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MY best guess is that Insurance will require a prescription now to get these shots.

It is a patchwork amongst the states--some will pay and some will not, some will have access and some will not. [like abortion but NO outright legal ban}--just a visit to a doctor and a prescription. whow.

Link to tweet

CDC vaccine advisers discussed Covid-19 vaccines and other shots during a meeting on Friday.

[chowder66]

1. Shared clinical decision-making. Like between a woman and her obgyn?

[truthisfreedom]

2. This is why I raced to get mine two weeks ago

I hope lots of folks are getting theirs today.

[BigmanPigman]

9. So did I.

I tried for 1 week and even called my Prim Care doctor (who is coll and a Dem) to give me an Rx and he said he couldn't since the CDC decisions are constantly changing and on that date I couldn't even get an appointment for a vax through CVS.

So last week I decided to try CVS again since some DUers said they got a vax at CVS in CA. I'm grateful for DUers sharing info since I was finally able to schedule a vax appointment. I made it for that same day since I do not trust Kennedy and I could continue to be denied next week or next month since he is so insane.

[Native]

13. why I drove to a Minute Clinic an hour from home to get mine yesterday.

[spinbaby]

15. I just got mine yesterday

My arm is really sore from this round, but I figure that means my immune system is working hard. I have a friend who works in healthcare in Florida who’s having trouble getting the latest vaccine—they’re telling her that she’s under 65 with no preexisting conditions, so she doesn’t need one. Never mind that she works with covid patients. She’s planning to visit family in Pennsylvania and get it there.

[Raven123]

3. Sounds like they were too afraid to do what they wanted to do

RFK jr would love to scrap the Covid vaccines

[mpcamb]

4. What an ignorant plan! What a F-ing Nerd Gang Kennedy gathered as advisors!

[BlueKota]

5. So without a prescription

how will the pharmacies know whether a person talked to their doctor or not?

[onenote]

7. I don't think it requires talking to a doctor. A couple of questions from your pharmacist will suffice.

Shared Clinical decision making is not a new thing. It already is part of the protocol for the following vaccination situations:
Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination for adolescents and young adults aged 16–23 years
Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination for adults aged 60 years and older with diabetes mellitus
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for adults aged 27–45 years
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV20 or PCV21) for adults aged 65 years and older who have completed the recommended vaccine series with both PCV13 (at any age) and PPSV23 (which was administered at age ≥65 years)
Additional doses of COVID-19 vaccination for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised

My understanding is that the SCD protocol hasn't significantly impeded folks from getting the vaccinations outlined above. Pharmacists will still want folks to get the vaccine, because pharmacists now that vaccinations can be life saving. So they'll ask you a couple of questions about why you want the vaccine and then they will give it to you, just as they do now for folks who are moderately moderately or severely immunocompromised.

I'm not in any way defending the crazies on the CDC advisory group and the fact that they came within one vote of requiring a prescription for the Covid vaccine is terrifying. But as long as the line can be held against mandating a prescription, the SCD recommendation is likely to be more performative than burdensome.

[BlueKota]

8. Thank you.

My doctor did say last month he wants me to get the updated Covid vaccine, and the flu shot, so I will be scheduling both soon.

[Skittles]

11. they won't

what a fucking clown show

[onenote]

6. I think your prediction about insurance is wrong.

Insurers want folks to have easy, cheap access to the COVID vaccine. It's a lot less expensive for insurance to pay for shot than for a doctor visit plus a round of Pavlovid, to say nothing of the hospitalization costs for those who get really sick.

[SCantiGOP]

10. I got my booster yesterday

Went online and sent a note through my Patient Portal that I needed a prescription. Two hours later I got a call from Walgreens
telling me to come in anytime the next day.

I fully realize it won’t be as easy for a lot of folks, and this BS will depress the vax rates and some people will die as a result.

[Grins]

12. What's that line republicans used? "Streamlining Government?"

Yeah; add a process to slow down something so simple. For political purposes.

[Native]

14. I saw another article last night that said prescriptions will be necessary.

I'm guessing there will be more confusion on this and states will use this vote to somehow bolster whatever the fuck they want to do. I'm in Florida, and before I got mine yesterday, I called CVS, Walgreens, Publix, and our local independent pharmacy, and I got 5 different answers regarding availability and whether I'd need a prescription. We have the idiot Lapado as our surgeon general. He's the POS that wants to do away with all vaccine requirements. Interesting side note, while I was sitting at the Minute Clinic yesterday waiting to get my shot, everyone in the waiting area with me was loudly complaining about RFK, Jr. and Trump (one older couple, a woman likely in her 50's, and a young woman, a teacher, with her young daughter in her lap). The woman in her 50's said, "It's so nice to be able to publicly vent about all the horrible things that are happening to our country. Ordinarily, I'd be afraid to say anything." I responded, "Yeah, I kind of figured this would be a safe space considering we are all here to get our shots before the shit hits the fan."

[OldBaldy1701E]

16. Well, that is what is more important, now isn't it?

In a statement, a US Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said the vote on shared clinical decision-making “provides for immunization coverage through all payment mechanisms including entitlement programs such as Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicaid, and Medicare, as well as insurance plans through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace.”

[bmichaelh]

17. Got my COVID and Flu vaccine today

Got my COVID and Flu vaccine today.

Initially, I got a prescription, but they did not require it.

I live in NC; got the prescription from my doctor before Governor Josh Stein said prescriptions were not necessary.

I do not think the prescription issue is settled.

I expect RFK Jr wants prescriptions in order to add an extra hurdle.

I needed both vaccines because I am immuno-compromised due to chemotherapy treatments.