The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is recommending that adults 18 and older, children and pregnant women receive COVID-19 vaccines, contrary to the federal government’s recently narrowed recommendations for the shots.
“History shows us that vaccines have eradicated diseases that were disabling and deadly in the past, and we can keep it that way, if we continue to vaccinate,” said Margot Savoy, chief medical officer of the AAFP.
“Protecting public health is our collective responsibility. This fall and always, the AAFP stands with our members and public health partners to promote vaccine confidence and uptake.”
The Food and Drug Administration in late August approved updated COVID-19 vaccines but only for Americans 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions. Before, the FDA recommended that anyone 6 months and older get the shot.
AAFP is the latest physician group to issue vaccine recommendations that contradict the changed federal policy.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also contradicted federal policy last month by recommending COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 to 23 months old and older children in some risk groups.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) also issued its own vaccine recommendations for pregnant people after the FDA narrowed its approval of COVID-19 vaccines.
ACOG recommends that people receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine, also called a booster shot, before, during, and after pregnancy or when lactating.
“It is well documented that respiratory conditions can cause poor outcomes during pregnancy, with pregnant women facing both severe illness and threats to the health of their pregnancy,” said Steven Fleischman, president of ACOG. “Thanks to vaccines, severe outcomes from respiratory infections are largely preventable.”
The Department of Health and Human Services backed its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in response.
“ACIP remains the scientific body guiding immunization recommendations in this country, and HHS will ensure policy is based on rigorous evidence and Gold Standard Science, not the failed politics of the pandemic,” said HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon in a statement to The Hill.
