Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

For healthy people, the risks of the vaccines simply do not outweigh the risks of Covid.

Source?

Their source is social media. No reputable doctor believes that at all. The vascular damage from repeated COVID infections can be profoundly debilitating. There are essentially no downsides to the COVID vaccine.

This idiocracy is going to kill a lot of us and reduce the lifespans of untold millions.

No downsides, except for myocarditis.

I could get that from covid. BTW Massachusetts is saying eff you Robert and following different guidelines.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

For healthy people, the risks of the vaccines simply do not outweigh the risks of Covid.

Source?

Their source is social media. No reputable doctor believes that at all. The vascular damage from repeated COVID infections can be profoundly debilitating. There are essentially no downsides to the COVID vaccine.

This idiocracy is going to kill a lot of us and reduce the lifespans of untold millions.

No downsides, except for myocarditis.

Okay then you do not get the vaccine but do not outlaw it for everyone else. Also your insurance should reflect your choice with additional fees and you have to pay out of pocket for any treatment resulting from vaccine refusal.

Imaginary problem solved!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

For healthy people, the risks of the vaccines simply do not outweigh the risks of Covid.

Source?

Their source is social media. No reputable doctor believes that at all. The vascular damage from repeated COVID infections can be profoundly debilitating. There are essentially no downsides to the COVID vaccine.

This idiocracy is going to kill a lot of us and reduce the lifespans of untold millions.

No downsides, except for myocarditis.

Guys, if I am under 65, can I not get a shot from cvs/walgreens? I am in md. TIA

Anonymous wrote:

For healthy people, the risks of the vaccines simply do not outweigh the risks of Covid.

Source?

Their source is social media. No reputable doctor believes that at all. The vascular damage from repeated COVID infections can be profoundly debilitating. There are essentially no downsides to the COVID vaccine.

This idiocracy is going to kill a lot of us and reduce the lifespans of untold millions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:F.D.A. Official Overruled Scientists on Wide Access to Covid Shots
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/health/fda-covid-vaccines-rfk-jr.html
The agency’s staff scientists pointed out how Covid was still unpredictable and posed a threat to toddlers, but the official decided to restrict shots only to children with risk factors.

Memos released in recent days by the Food and Drug Administration show that the agency’s vaccine chief overruled staff scientists who favored widespread access to Covid shots, setting off a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, state officials and doctors.

Agency staff members had concluded that the F.D.A. should allow a wide range of age groups to receive the vaccines, citing high hospitalization rates among young children with Covid and saying that the virus’s evolution is “complex and remains unpredictable.”

But Dr. Vinay Prasad, the agency official in charge of vaccines and gene therapies at the F.D.A., disagreed, overriding those scientists and deciding to issue very narrow eligibility limits.

We are all doomed.

Catastrophizing. These are the same eligibility rules across the EU

You mean where it’s free and they don’t have to depend on the CDC and FDA to determine if it’s covered by insurance?

It's only free in the EU for people that meet the high-risk eligibility criteria.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:F.D.A. Official Overruled Scientists on Wide Access to Covid Shots
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/health/fda-covid-vaccines-rfk-jr.html
The agency’s staff scientists pointed out how Covid was still unpredictable and posed a threat to toddlers, but the official decided to restrict shots only to children with risk factors.

Memos released in recent days by the Food and Drug Administration show that the agency’s vaccine chief overruled staff scientists who favored widespread access to Covid shots, setting off a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, state officials and doctors.

Agency staff members had concluded that the F.D.A. should allow a wide range of age groups to receive the vaccines, citing high hospitalization rates among young children with Covid and saying that the virus’s evolution is “complex and remains unpredictable.”

But Dr. Vinay Prasad, the agency official in charge of vaccines and gene therapies at the F.D.A., disagreed, overriding those scientists and deciding to issue very narrow eligibility limits.

We are all doomed.

Catastrophizing. These are the same eligibility rules across the EU

You mean where it’s free and they don’t have to depend on the CDC and FDA to determine if it’s covered by insurance?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:F.D.A. Official Overruled Scientists on Wide Access to Covid Shots
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/health/fda-covid-vaccines-rfk-jr.html
The agency’s staff scientists pointed out how Covid was still unpredictable and posed a threat to toddlers, but the official decided to restrict shots only to children with risk factors.

Memos released in recent days by the Food and Drug Administration show that the agency’s vaccine chief overruled staff scientists who favored widespread access to Covid shots, setting off a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, state officials and doctors.

Agency staff members had concluded that the F.D.A. should allow a wide range of age groups to receive the vaccines, citing high hospitalization rates among young children with Covid and saying that the virus’s evolution is “complex and remains unpredictable.”

But Dr. Vinay Prasad, the agency official in charge of vaccines and gene therapies at the F.D.A., disagreed, overriding those scientists and deciding to issue very narrow eligibility limits.

We are all doomed.

Catastrophizing. These are the same eligibility rules across the EU

You are incorrect. In Britain and France the COVID vaccines are still approved in those countries for people who would like to take it. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has limited approval of the vaccine to older adults, meaning others must seek the vaccine off-label and may need to pay out of pocket. That makes access essentially impossible as discussed in the New York Times citation below.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09/04/us/rfk-jr-senate-hearing-health

The situation in the UK and France is analogous to the US, and in many cases results in larger barriers than people will face in the US.

The policies in the UK, France, and other EU countries apply to their national healthcare system. Meaning, if you're not eligible, you will have to find and pay a private doctor to prescribe and administer the vaccine out-of-pocket.

In the US, many people will still be able to simply go to a pharmacy for the vaccine. If your state does not allow pharmacists to administer the vaccine without a prescription, your PCP can write a prescription (and possibly administer the vaccine, too). If you have health insurance, it will likely cover all or most of the cost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:F.D.A. Official Overruled Scientists on Wide Access to Covid Shots
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/health/fda-covid-vaccines-rfk-jr.html
The agency’s staff scientists pointed out how Covid was still unpredictable and posed a threat to toddlers, but the official decided to restrict shots only to children with risk factors.

Memos released in recent days by the Food and Drug Administration show that the agency’s vaccine chief overruled staff scientists who favored widespread access to Covid shots, setting off a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, state officials and doctors.

Agency staff members had concluded that the F.D.A. should allow a wide range of age groups to receive the vaccines, citing high hospitalization rates among young children with Covid and saying that the virus’s evolution is “complex and remains unpredictable.”

But Dr. Vinay Prasad, the agency official in charge of vaccines and gene therapies at the F.D.A., disagreed, overriding those scientists and deciding to issue very narrow eligibility limits.

We are all doomed.

Catastrophizing. These are the same eligibility rules across the EU

You are incorrect. In Britain and France the COVID vaccines are still approved in those countries for people who would like to take it. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has limited approval of the vaccine to older adults, meaning others must seek the vaccine off-label and may need to pay out of pocket. That makes access essentially impossible as discussed in the New York Times citation below.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09/04/us/rfk-jr-senate-hearing-health

Beware making appointments. I made one at a Minute Clinic in Falls Church, called to check, no vaccine. Online systems make reservations for places with no supply. Best to call.

Also, one of my appointment places in MD says Medicare isn't covering mNEXSPIKE. So wanted me to get Spikevax. I said no, use my secondary or cash pay. They are not sure how to do cash pay. I told them ic my secondary doesn't cover pretend I have no insurance. That made them happy. If we are spending an hour driving it's worth $500 to us.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09/04/us/rfk-jr-senate-hearing-health

Two prominent scientists said in whistle-blower complaints filed late Wednesday that they had been removed from leadership positions at the National Institutes of Health after objecting to Trump administration efforts to undermine vaccines, flout court orders, withhold research money and politicize the grant-making process.

The complaints shed light on much of the internal strife at the agency earlier this year, as the Trump administration clamped down on the country’s medical research funding apparatus.

The scientists drew particular attention to what they described as an administration-wide “hostility” toward vaccines that they said had taken hold in the upper echelons of the N.I.H., long one of the world’s leading engines of vaccine research.

The allegations added to a growing chorus of protest from former high-ranking health officials over what they warned were dangerous and unscientific views about vaccines gripping the federal government and potentially opening the door to preventable infections.

Those policies have not only restricted people’s access to vaccines, some officials have said, but also have constrained federally funded research on future inoculations against infectious diseases.

The complaints were filed by Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, who until the end of March had directed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the institute previously run by Dr. Anthony S. Fauci; and Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, who until mid-April had directed the N.I.H.’s Fogarty International Center, which supports global health research.

“If we don’t continue to do the science, then we won’t have the future advances,” Dr. Neuzil said in an interview. “We won’t make vaccines better. We won’t be able to quickly have vaccines against new and emerging infections.”

The Trump administration last week fired Susan Monarez, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who had clashed with the health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., over vaccine policy. Her dismissal set off an exodus of several other C.D.C. officials, who accused the Trump administration of pursuing a vendetta against vaccines.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:F.D.A. Official Overruled Scientists on Wide Access to Covid Shots
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/health/fda-covid-vaccines-rfk-jr.html
The agency’s staff scientists pointed out how Covid was still unpredictable and posed a threat to toddlers, but the official decided to restrict shots only to children with risk factors.

Memos released in recent days by the Food and Drug Administration show that the agency’s vaccine chief overruled staff scientists who favored widespread access to Covid shots, setting off a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, state officials and doctors.

Agency staff members had concluded that the F.D.A. should allow a wide range of age groups to receive the vaccines, citing high hospitalization rates among young children with Covid and saying that the virus’s evolution is “complex and remains unpredictable.”

But Dr. Vinay Prasad, the agency official in charge of vaccines and gene therapies at the F.D.A., disagreed, overriding those scientists and deciding to issue very narrow eligibility limits.

We are all doomed.

Catastrophizing. These are the same eligibility rules across the EU

The problem isn't the covid vaccine approval label details themselves, but the anti-vaccine and anti-science rhetoric and motivations that led to them, and the breakdown of processes within our institutions. The covid vaccine is really the least of my concerns here when you look at everything else RFK and like-minded leaders are doing-- look at Florida as one recent example.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:F.D.A. Official Overruled Scientists on Wide Access to Covid Shots
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/health/fda-covid-vaccines-rfk-jr.html
The agency’s staff scientists pointed out how Covid was still unpredictable and posed a threat to toddlers, but the official decided to restrict shots only to children with risk factors.

Memos released in recent days by the Food and Drug Administration show that the agency’s vaccine chief overruled staff scientists who favored widespread access to Covid shots, setting off a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, state officials and doctors.

Agency staff members had concluded that the F.D.A. should allow a wide range of age groups to receive the vaccines, citing high hospitalization rates among young children with Covid and saying that the virus’s evolution is “complex and remains unpredictable.”

But Dr. Vinay Prasad, the agency official in charge of vaccines and gene therapies at the F.D.A., disagreed, overriding those scientists and deciding to issue very narrow eligibility limits.

We are all doomed.

Catastrophizing. These are the same eligibility rules across the EU

Anonymous wrote:F.D.A. Official Overruled Scientists on Wide Access to Covid Shots
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/health/fda-covid-vaccines-rfk-jr.html
The agency’s staff scientists pointed out how Covid was still unpredictable and posed a threat to toddlers, but the official decided to restrict shots only to children with risk factors.

Memos released in recent days by the Food and Drug Administration show that the agency’s vaccine chief overruled staff scientists who favored widespread access to Covid shots, setting off a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, state officials and doctors.

Agency staff members had concluded that the F.D.A. should allow a wide range of age groups to receive the vaccines, citing high hospitalization rates among young children with Covid and saying that the virus’s evolution is “complex and remains unpredictable.”

But Dr. Vinay Prasad, the agency official in charge of vaccines and gene therapies at the F.D.A., disagreed, overriding those scientists and deciding to issue very narrow eligibility limits.

We are all doomed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These restrictions in vacccine access are awful. Antivaxxers can make decisions about their own bodies and those of their kids, but they shouldn't let their anti-science paranoia prevent Americans who need and want those vaccines from getting them.

They're approved. Anyone can get one with a prescription. At least, once they're distributed to doctors offices.

They aren’t. Please read the last few pages, or a reputable news source.

DP here but what do you mean? This is from NPR. Is that reputable?

The Food and Drug Administration approved the next round of COVID-19 vaccines Wednesday, but imposed new restrictions on who's eligible to get them.

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/08/27/nx-s1-5515503/fda-covid-vaccines-restricted

Right. As the article says, people can get a prescription for the vaccine from their doctor. It might be "off-label," but off-label prescriptions are very common.

Separately, you might need to have it administered at a doctor's office, due to regulations on pharmacists in some states.

But full FDA approval means anyone can get these.

No, they need ACIP to make the final approval. They are gone. They used to post the meeting agenda, open up comments, and broadcast the meeting with public able to make live comments before making the final approval. It was a great system.

No, they don't. Read the articles again. State regulations would allow ACIP-recommended vaccines to be administered by pharmacists without prescriptions, but it does not affect doctors prescribing and administering vaccines.

What are you talking about? State regulations all differ. CVS stopped offering Covid vaccinations in 16 states already. My Maryland ped practice said they don’t know if they will be able to offer Covid vaccines this fall if ACIP doesn’t make the recommendation.

The articles explain this. It's odd you're so concerned yet so unwilling to read the full articles.

They have FDA approval. The new vaccines are still being distributed, but the old vaccines have already been removed from distribution. Depending on the state, pharmacists may be to prescribe and administer them, or they may be able to administer them with a doctor's prescription. In some cases, you might need to have a doctor's office administer them. But FDA approval means you would be able to get them.

This is still a big barrier for some people. Doctors offices also don’t want to waste their appointments for this vaccine which should be able to be given elsewhere.

My doctor’s office has a time when patients can walk in and get vaccinations they need without a separate appointment.

Great for you. My kid’s pediatrician sent a message that they were unsure if they could administer shots this fall without the ACIP recommendation.

Which means they're either blatantly lying or they're idiots. Either way you should probably find a more competent practice.

No this is a large, well-respected pediatric practice, and I value their email briefing hundreds of DMV area parents on the challenges with providing the COVID vaccine this year over your uneducated, internet rando opinion.

Look at the laws and regulations yourself. Even pharmacists in Maryland don't need an ACIP recommendation.

I don't agree. My pediatric practice of 20 pediatricians doesn't agree. If you want to make that argument, you can feel free to write your own op-ed for a legitimate publication saying that there's no issue with access to COVID vaccines this year and show us the citation for that. But you haven't, because you're an ignorant nobody who just wants to push anti-vaxx messaging that puts people's health at risk.

Whether you agree with the laws and regulations or not, that's what they say. There's nothing stopping doctors and pharmacists in Maryland from administering covid vaccines. And even in states like Massachusetts, doctors offices can administer them.

You can take issue with the added complexity that brings in places like Massachusetts, but it's not the same thing as saying you can't get them. And it doesn't apply to Maryland anyway.

I'm sorry your reading comprehension is so weak. I do not disagree with laws and regulations as they relate to vaccines. I disagree with your incorrect interpretation of them and desire to post misinformation, which contradict those of medical professionals in the state of Maryland. Again, post a legitimate citation that supports your opinion. But you can't, because your view is incorrect.

Are you really suggesting that you believe that doctors in Maryland can't administer an FDA approved vaccine? That's part of their basic scope of practice under Maryland and Federal law.

As for pharmacists, look at Maryland Health Occupations Article § 12-508, which admittedly was news to me until someone else alluded to it earlier.

Yes, several people on this thread have posted messages from medical practices stating that they are unclear whether they can administer the vaccine absent the ACIP recommendation. You just choose not to acknowledge those messages and post your antivaxx garbage.

ACIP recommendations, adopted or not by the CDC, are not regulations and are not legally binding on physicians.

The only legal link that's been discussed is that several states have laws or regulations that allow pharmacists to administer vaccines *without a prescription* only if they are ACIP recommended.

Separately, there's also been a question on insurance coverage, but there's no indication that insurance companies will opt to pull or limit coverage.