CDC Updates COVID-19 and Chickenpox Vaccine Guidance Based on ACIP Recommendations

The CDC has modified its guidance on COVID-19 and chickenpox vaccines in response to recommendations from its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), as officially adopted in October 20252 4 5 7 8.

For COVID-19, the CDC moved from a universal booster recommendation to an 'individual-based decision-making' approach for people under 65, which means providers should weigh personal risk factors and patient characteristics when recommending vaccination2 4 5 6 8.

The guidance emphasizes shared clinical decision-making between providers and patients for COVID-19 shots, restoring informed consent as a central component2 4 6.

For chickenpox (varicella), the CDC now recommends toddlers under age 4 get a standalone chickenpox (varicella) shot, rather than a combined MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) vaccine2 4 5 8.

This change is based on evidence that the combined MMRV vaccine leads to a higher risk of febrile seizures in healthy children aged 12–23 months compared to receiving the varicella vaccine separately4 5.

These changes apply immediately, with the CDC's immunization schedules now reflecting them4 7 8.

The ACIP membership was recently overhauled, with several new members appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., some of whom have a history of skepticism about vaccine recommendations2 5.