ACIP Recommends Flu Vaccines Without Preservative, RSV Vaccine for Infants

The committee also voted, on June 25, to recommend a Merck shot that protects infants against RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus. The vote was 5-2, with one member withdrawing from the panel after a conflict-of-interest review.

In addition, the committee members unanimously voted to update the resolution for the federal Vaccines for Children Program, which provides free or low-cost vaccinations to about half of U.S. children, to include details about the newly approved Merck antibody shot for RSV. 

This vote comes after U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently fired 17 of ACIP’s members and replaced them with eight handpicked members, many of whom hold anti-vaccine beliefs. Public health experts fear that the focus on thimerosal will muddy the messaging that vaccines are safe and effective. 

ACIP regularly meets three times a year to review scientific data and vote on vaccine recommendations. Its recommendations determine how many vaccines manufacturers make, what insurers and Medicaid will pay for, how many shots hospitals and pharmacies will order, and which vaccines providers will offer to patients.

If Americans don’t seek a flu, RSV or COVID-19 shot for themselves or their children this year, the U.S. health system risks becoming overwhelmed and lives will be lost. 

Dr. Vin Gupta, a physician and father of two boys, says that children’s hospitals have seen a 30 percent reduction in available beds since 2008—a capacity issue that would become catastrophic if thousands of children are admitted with a preventable respiratory illness.

Yesterday, 78 medical societies and the ⁦⁦@AmerMedicalAssn⁩ strongly endorsed existing seasonal vaccination guidelines

The leading coalition of health insurers also committed to providing uninterrupted coverage for these same vaccines

Civil society is standing up 💪 pic.twitter.com/fdUQTLUpgh

— Dr. Vin Gupta (@VinGuptaMD) June 26, 2025

To combat any confusion about vaccination plans, healthcare leaders and organizations across the country like AHIP (formerly called America’s Health Insurance Plans), the American Medical Association and the Alliance of Community Health Plans have come together to reaffirm a shared commitment to ensuring COVID-19, RSV and flu vaccines remain accessible and affordable for every American ahead of the fast-approaching respiratory illness season.

“Vaccines for influenza, RSV, and Covid-19 remain among the best tools to protect the public against these illnesses and their potentially serious complications—and physicians are among the most trusted voices to recommend them,” the AMA said in a statement on June 25, which was also backed by 79 other medical associations. “We come together as physicians from every corner of medicine to reaffirm our commitment to these lifesaving vaccines.”

The bottom line: Vaccines are the best way to keep yourself and your family healthy. The AFT recommends talking with your provider or pharmacist to discuss vaccination ahead of the fall.