AMA Pens Letter to American People About Respiratory Vaccine Importance

Today, the American Medical Association (AMA), joined by 79 medical societies, addressed an open letter to the American people stating vaccines are still the best option to protect the public against influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will meet June 25-27 to discuss federal immunization recommendations for COVID-19, HPV, influenza, meningococcal disease and RSV. Almost all private insurance and employer-sponsored health plans, Medicaid and Medicare are required to cover recommended vaccines at no cost.

“With the severe influenza season the U.S. experienced during the 2024-25 respiratory virus season and the recognition that we will likely see another surge in respiratory viruses this fall, we know strong physician leadership is essential to reducing preventable illness, hospitalizations, and death,” the AMA letter said.

The 2024-25 respiratory virus season’s weekly rate of lab-confirmed influenza hospitalizations was higher than any peak weekly rate recorded since the 2010-2011 season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This season also saw 250 pediatric deaths due to influenza, the highest death rate during a non-pandemic season since 2004. Approximately 89% of children that died were not fully vaccinated against influenza but were eligible, compared to 82% during the 2023-2024 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 letter said. “We come together as physicians from every corner of medicine to reaffirm our commitment to these lifesaving vaccines.”

Established in March 1964, ACIP meets three times a year to determine who should be vaccinated against certain diseases and when. However, prior to this week’s ACIP meeting, Kennedy announced in a video posted to X that the COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.

The ACIP panel will also vote on the use of thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines, which has been falsely tied to autism, according to a draft agenda.

“The health and safety of the public remains our top priority, and we will continue to support evidence-based immunizations to help prevent severe disease and protect public health,” the letter said.

The full letter is available here.