### Marin Health Officer Urges Quick Action on COVID-19 Vaccination Amid Changing Guidelines

Marin County’s public health officer, Dr. Matt Willis, is urging residents to get their COVID-19 vaccinations promptly. "We recommend that anyone 6 months or older who has not received their 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine get it now," said Dr. Willis on Wednesday. He warned that as fall approaches, vaccine access could become more limited due to shifting policies at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This advice comes shortly after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a brief video on May 27, proclaiming that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children or pregnant women. Dr. Willis expressed concern over the message, stating, "A statement like that creates confusion and undermines trust in vaccine safety and efficacy."

Usually, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations, which the CDC director formalizes. However, the CDC currently lacks a director, and Willis accused Kennedy of bypassing this standard process. Until recently, the CDC’s webpage continued to advise vaccination for healthy children aged 6 months to 17 years. This changed on Wednesday morning to indicate that routine COVID-19 vaccinations are now recommended only for individuals 18 years and older who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised.

According to the new guidelines, children aged 6 months and older may still be vaccinated, but decisions should be guided by health care providers’ clinical judgments. Dr. Willis was also critical of Kennedy’s assertion that vaccines aren't recommended for pregnant women, highlighting that the CDC identifies pregnancy as a risk factor, thereby qualifying pregnant women for vaccination.

Notably, Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos resigned from the ACIP in protest on Tuesday. Panagiotakopoulos presented data outlining the increased risk of hospitalization for unvaccinated pregnant women with COVID-19 and the adverse health impacts on their infants. "There's a strong recommendation that pregnant women do get vaccinated because it provides protection to the infant," Willis emphasized.

Compounding the issue, the FDA recently approved the Moderna vaccine for use this fall exclusively for individuals aged 12 and older, which could further influence public willingness to get vaccinated. Dr. Martin Makary, head of the FDA, appeared with Kennedy in the controversial May 27 video.

Willis also warned that changes in CDC recommendations and FDA authorizations might affect insurance companies' willingness to cover vaccine costs. Kaiser Permanente had not yet responded to requests for comment, and Willis indicated that low-income residents would need to rely on local pharmacies for vaccinations due to federal funding cuts.