In a move designed to expand access to COVID-19 vaccinations, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has released a “standing recommendation” that enables individuals aged 6 months and older to receive this year’s COVID-19 vaccine. This initiative contrasts with the recent FDA guidelines that narrow eligibility to those deemed “higher risk” by the agency.
According to health officials, anyone who has not been vaccinated this year remains at heightened risk of severe COVID illness. “The ability to say, ‘Yes, I have a high-risk condition,’ is backed by data indicating that unvaccinated individuals face greater risks,” stated Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive. This directive is also intended to clarify procedures for pharmacists who have been uncertain due to the FDA’s undefined criteria for “higher risk.”
Pharmacies have largely depended on the CDC’s risk factors list, covering those over 65 and various health conditions. “In the current political climate, healthcare providers were apprehensive about strictly adhering to a non-exhaustive CDC list,” explained Bagdasarian.
Bagdasarian highlighted that last year’s data revealed a 33% increased risk of hospitalization and a 68% higher chance of emergency visits for those not vaccinated. “This recommendation provides a scientific basis for identifying high-risk individuals,” she added.
Clarifying Vaccine Eligibility Amidst CDC Discussions
In response to U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to limit COVID-19 shots to those at “higher risk” in a recent announcement, Michigan is among several states taking action to counteract these federal limits. Kennedy’s decision also terminated Emergency Use Authorizations, restricting vaccine access to those over 6 months old without a prescription.
Pharmacy chains like CVS refer patients to the CDC’s risk factors list, although this list is not comprehensive, as noted by Bagdasarian. “Pharmacies have told us they prefer following FDA guidelines, but seek state guidance to define who qualifies as high-risk,” she said, stressing that these decisions are grounded in science.
The standing recommendation was released shortly after Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an “executive directive” to maintain vaccine availability in Michigan. Dr. Pamela Rockwell, a clinical professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, welcomed this guidance, seeing it as essential for pharmacists needing authoritative support to administer vaccines appropriately.
This development coincides with the CDC’s Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meetings, characterized by intense debate. The newly appointed panel by Kennedy decided against requiring prescriptions for the COVID vaccine but recommended consultation with healthcare providers. The panel’s recommendations, pending CDC adoption, could influence insurer and federal program coverage of the vaccines.
While some private insurers have indicated they will continue to cover the vaccine through year’s end, the full implications of the CDC panel’s recent votes remain uncertain.
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