U.S. CDC's advisory committee meets on vaccine recommendations

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is meeting Thursday and Friday in Atlanta to review and vote on a range of vaccine recommendations.

Thursday's session focuses on Hepatitis B and Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (MMRV) vaccines. On Friday, the committee will discuss COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming fall respiratory season, according to the agenda posted on the CDC website.

The committee is scheduled to vote on changes on vaccine recommendations.

Any changes approved by ACIP are advisory and must be reviewed and signed off by the CDC director before becoming official guidance.

The committee has seen significant changes in recent months, with all new members appointed by the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The ACIP holds three regular meetings each year to review scientific data and vote on vaccine recommendations. Additional meetings may be held as needed, according to the CDC.