Post Reports: "Confused about fall vaccines? We have answers."

Date: September 9, 2025
Host: Elahe Izadi
Guest: Lena Sun, national health reporter at The Washington Post

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the confusion and uncertainty surrounding fall 2025 vaccine guidance in the U.S., especially regarding COVID, flu, and childhood vaccines. National health reporter Lena Sun joins to break down what’s changed in federal policy, why chaos has erupted over eligibility and access, and how listeners can navigate the shifting landscape to protect themselves and their families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why So Much Confusion This Year?

• Unprecedented Policy Changes:
  Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made widespread changes to CDC vaccine recommendations, bypassing the usual scientific panels.

  • “Earlier this year, the Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decided unilaterally to change who is eligible for Covid shots. ... He decided in May by putting a video on X, that, you know what, pregnant women and healthy kids, you shouldn't be getting the shots.”
    — Lena Sun [02:46]

• Upending Established Guidance:
  The long-standing CDC vaccine advisory panel (“the vaccine committee”) was fired and replaced with Kennedy’s appointees, who have questioned settled vaccine science.

  • “He blew up the CDC vaccine panel that's in charge of making recommendations for vaccines. He fired all 17 members. ... At their first meeting in the end of June, they announced that they were going to revisit a lot of things that public health medical experts say are settled science.”
    — Lena Sun [04:28]

• Resulting Uncertainty:
  The previous uniform federal recommendations have fractured into a patchwork across states and providers, causing chaos for patients and providers alike.

2. Who Can Get the COVID Vaccine Now?

• Current Eligibility According to the FDA:
  Only those 65+, people with high-risk conditions, and those with underlying health issues are recommended.

  • “The FDA has said no pregnant women, no healthy children, only those 65 and older, and people with high risk conditions.”
    — Lena Sun [07:17]

• CDC Panel in Limbo:
  The critical CDC advisory committee has not issued updated recommendations. Its next meeting is scheduled for September 18–19, where decisions may change eligibility again.

• State-by-State Patchwork:
  Some states (e.g., Massachusetts, New York) allow broader vaccine access via state guidance; others restrict strictly to FDA guidance.

  • “I had a friend of mine call me up over the weekend, said, call me back, I'm driving from North Carolina to Virginia to get my shot.”
    — Lena Sun [09:23]

• Lesson:
  Where and how you can get a shot depends on your state, your pharmacy, and sometimes even your specific insurance plan.

3. Practical Obstacles for Patients

• Pharmacy Roadblocks:
  Pharmacies may require prescriptions in some states, leading to frustrating and time-consuming delays, even for those eligible.

  • “He has to drive to his doctor's office. And doctor says, well, which vaccine are you getting and what's the dosage? ... Then he has to drive back to the pharmacy to find out. Then he has to drive back to the doctor's office to get the prescription.”
    — Lena Sun [10:03]

• Insurance Uncertainty:
  Insurers are only obliged to cover vaccines recommended by the CDC. Until the CDC panel acts, coverage may be denied or require out-of-pocket payments (up to $225 for a COVID shot at some pharmacies [17:47]).

• Low Pediatric Uptake and Supply:
  Many pediatricians have stopped stocking the COVID vaccine for kids, given low demand and now reimbursement uncertainty.

4. Listener Questions Addressed

• People with Health Risks Still Struggling:
  Even individuals with severe immunosuppression (recent bone marrow transplant, cancer) are experiencing major hurdles safely getting vaccinated.
• Actionable Tips for Listeners:
  • Make multiple calls and appointments.
  • Use online tools like EasyVax or state health department search tools.
  • Self-attest to conditions when possible; most pharmacies won’t require proof.

5. Guidance on Flu Shots

• No Major Changes:
  The CDC continues to recommend flu shots for everyone 6 months and up.

  • “The recommendation for flu vaccine has not changed. Everybody six months and older should still get a flu shot.”
    — Lena Sun [20:57]

• Best Timing:
  Lena recommends waiting until late October for optimal protection, since flu season extends into spring.

  • “If you get your shot in August, September, you know, it's not gonna have that much protection.”
    — Lena Sun [21:18]

6. Co-administration: COVID + Flu + RSV

• Guidance vs. Official Policy:
  Although the FDA suggested (without clear evidence) against getting multiple shots at once, the science shows it’s generally safe—possible slightly higher side effects (e.g., sore arm).

  • “Studies say it is okay to get it at the same time. It doesn't decrease efficacy... It makes sense from a public health perspective if you are a busy parent.”
    — Lena Sun [22:24]
  • “There is no official policy. There's nothing official that says do not get them at the same time. Got it. It is completely okay.”
    — Lena Sun [23:16]

• Practical Tip:
  “Before you get two shots at the same time, drink a lot of water and use your arms after the shot to get everything all zhuzhed around.”
  — Lena Sun [23:24]

7. Childhood Vaccine Schedule and RSV

• Current Schedule Unchanged (for now):
  The new CDC panel may rethink the routine schedules for childhood vaccinations, a move criticized by pediatric experts.

  • “This new panel of Kennedy's folks said that they wanna reexamine the entire childhood immunization schedule.”
    — Lena Sun [23:44]

• RSV Protection:
  RSV, a leading cause of hospitalization in infants, is now preventable through monoclonal antibody treatments, but access and policy may be reversed if panel guidance changes.

  • “What it does is it acts like a vaccine in your body... But the fear is that these two products may no longer be available if this panel decides to restrict or rescind their use.”
    — Lena Sun [25:47]

• Science of Vaccine Scheduling:
  Schedules are meticulously designed for the child’s age/immune profile to maximize protection—not to overwhelm young bodies, but to ensure immunity before susceptibility.

8. Where to Find Trustworthy Vaccine Guidance

• With CDC’s Credibility in Question, Where to Turn?
  Lena recommends consulting other major medical societies with track records of evidence-based guidance:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
  • American Medical Association (AMA)
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

• “I would say now because of the concern about cdc, you could go to these other medical societies... Because the data is there. You know, the data hasn't disappeared.”
  — Lena Sun [28:52]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On chaos in vaccine logistics:
  “The bottom line is it's gonna make it very difficult for...”
  — Lena Sun [11:12]

• On the effect of politics on trust in science:
  “The fear that many experts say is that when you have somebody in the very top job of the health policy apparatus saying things that are, let's say, economical for the truth, it raises these illegitimate questions. You have doubt and you decide, I'm not going to do this. And I think overall, for the sake of public health, many people feel that that will not be a good thing for the country or for the world.”
  — Lena Sun [30:00]

• On practical vaccine-seeking advice:
  “You want to cast a wide net. So doctors and patient advocates stress that you might need to make a lot of phone calls or book multiple online appointments with different providers and go to multiple websites.”
  — Lena Sun [14:18]

• On combating misinformation and building trust:
  “It's very easy to go down the rabbit hole on social media... The fear that many experts say is that...it raises these illegitimate questions. You have doubt and you decide, I'm not going to do this.”
  — Lena Sun [30:00]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Confusion Unpacked: Why is guidance so murky?
  [02:46–05:57]
• Federal vs. State Patchwork & Prescriptions
  [08:15–11:08]
• Listener stories (immunocompromised access issues)
  [12:22–14:09]
• Practical advice for finding vaccines
  [14:18–15:16]
• Cost, insurance, and out-of-pocket challenges
  [16:11–17:59]
• Flu shot guidance
  [20:46–21:39]
• Simultaneous vaccination: COVID, flu, RSV
  [21:40–23:16]
• Childhood schedule and RSV antibody update
  [23:44–26:53]
• How vaccine schedules are designed and under review
  [27:14–28:28]
• Where to find trusted guidance
  [28:52–29:36]
• Reflections on trust and public health
  [29:36–31:10]

Tone & Speaker Style

Elahe Izadi approaches the subject with curiosity, concern, and a conversational tone, providing a relatable entry point for listeners. Lena Sun delivers clear, authoritative, and compassionate explanations, acknowledging uncertainty, systemic failures, and the lived experiences of those struggling to access care.

Summary Takeaways

• The U.S. vaccine recommendation landscape has become fractured and unstable due to dramatic federal leadership changes and the sidelining of scientific advisory processes.
• As a result, Americans are now navigating a state-by-state and pharmacy-by-pharmacy maze.
• Key groups (pregnant people, children, the immunocompromised) are left most vulnerable and confused.
• Trusted sources: Consult major medical associations (AAP, AMA, ACOG), and your own state health authorities for the most evidence-based, up-to-date guidance.
• Stay proactive, make multiple inquiries, and—where possible—be patient amid ongoing change.

For those trying to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy through this “unprecedented moment,” this episode offers essential clarity, practical guidance, and a candid look at what happens when science is disrupted by politics.