The Minnesota Department of Health announced Monday it will break from federal guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine and endorse the recommendations of medical associations instead.
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s panel of vaccine advisers opted not to give any recommendation on the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine, saying instead it’s an individual choice.
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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, removed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices this year and replace them with his handpicked appointees.
This year, MDH officials are endorsing the advice of three independent medical associations: the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Combined, these associations recommend that all people six months and older should be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine unhindered, with strong recommendations for children from six to 23 months, pregnant women, and children and adults with high-risk conditions.
MDH Commissioner Brooke Cunningham said her agency is “following the science” by endorsing the advice of these health organizations.
“This is a unique moment where vaccine information from federal health leaders leaves important information gaps for Minnesotans,” Cunningham said. “These independent medical associations have all looked at the science and concluded that COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and important for people across the lifespan.”
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MDH’s COVID-19 vaccine guidance, which includes standing orders for pharmacists, comes after Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order this month aimed at safeguarding vaccine access in Minnesota.
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