Vaccine Recommendations & Guidelines - CDC's vaccine advisory panel voted to make COVID shot an individual decision, preferably with a doctor, instead of recommending it for all adults [1] - The panel opted not to recommend that states require a prescription for the COVID shot [1] - Softer recommendations for vaccines may lead to decreased uptake as patients may perceive them as less important [2] - Some states may break from the panel's recommendations, potentially creating inconsistent guidelines across the country and causing public confusion [3] Vaccine Coverage & Availability - Government providers and private insurers are expected to continue covering COVID vaccines [2] - CVS, a major pharmacy chain, plans to allow online appointments and walk-ins for COVID shots at its stores and clinics, pending CDC director approval [5] Hepatitis B Vaccine - Proposed changes to the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns were tabled due to a lack of sufficient science and data regarding potential side effects [4] Potential Confusion & Uncertainty - The new recommendations may cause confusion for the general public regarding whether or not they should get a COVID vaccine [3] - The timeframe for the acting CDC director to sign off on the recommendations is currently unclear [4]