U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) has taken a proactive stance in ensuring continued access to routine vaccinations, sending letters to major health insurers ahead of a pivotal meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In the letters, Schiff urged companies such as UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, Elevance Health, Cigna, and Kaiser to publicly commit to covering vaccines for illnesses like measles and COVID-19, regardless of the committee’s recommendations. He emphasized that patients should not face out-of-pocket costs for these essential immunizations. Schiff’s move comes in response to recent changes within the ACIP, which have caused confusion among patients and healthcare providers. In May, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, announced that the CDC would no longer recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy pregnant women and children. This decision, coupled with Kennedy’s replacement of ACIP members with less experienced or skeptical individuals, has raised concerns about the committee’s credibility. Schiff highlighted that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates private insurers to cover vaccines recommended by the ACIP, but the statute did not anticipate the committee’s overhaul. In response, some states have allowed pharmacies to follow guidance from medical organizations like the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Meanwhile, America’s Health Insurance Plans has assured that coverage for previously recommended vaccines will continue through the end of 2025. The ACIP is set to review recommendations for COVID-19, Hepatitis B, and the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccines on September 18 and 19. Schiff’s initiative underscores the importance of maintaining evidence-based vaccine policies and ensuring public access to critical healthcare services.
US Democratic Senator asks health insurers to commit to covering vaccines
