As CDC Makes COVID Shots Optional, Where Does India Stand On Boosters?

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stirred global debate yet again by officially removing its universal recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots, leaving the decision to individual Americans. The move marks a major shift from previous US health policy, which advised annual boosters for everyone aged six months and older.

The decision follows months of controversy surrounding the CDC’s leadership and advisory structure. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. replaced the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP) with a new panel that includes some members known for questioning vaccine safety. Acting on their advice, the CDC now recommends “shared clinical decision-making”, urging individuals, especially

older adults and those with existing conditions, to consult healthcare professionals before opting for another booster.

While Americans navigate this new phase of vaccine choice, India has quietly moved past the peak of its COVID-19 vaccination campaign. With weekly booster doses now in the single or double digits, India’s vaccination drive has largely transitioned from mass immunisation to a voluntary, near-symbolic effort. The contrast between the US’s policy upheaval and India’s steady de-escalation highlights how, five years after the pandemic’s peak, global strategies are taking sharply different paths.

CDC Makes COVID-19 Boosters Optional: What Happened?

Earlier this year, the CDC underwent a turbulent leadership period. Susan Monarez briefly served as Acting Director before being officially confirmed in July and then abruptly dismissed in August, reportedly due to disagreements with the new ACIP panel. Jim O’Neill, now Acting CDC Director and Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, formalised the decision to make COVID-19 boosters optional for healthy adults, children, and pregnant women.

The updated guidelines promote informed consent and individual risk assessment. While roughly 85% of US adults completed the initial vaccination series, only around 23% received the most recent booster. The policy change reflects waning demand, evolving epidemiology, and political pressure reshaping public health policy in America.

Timeline: CDC COVID-19 Policy in 2025

Date	Event
January	Susan Monarez appointed Acting CDC Director
27 May	HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removes COVID-19 vaccines from routine schedule for healthy children and pregnant women
30 May	CDC updates guidance to “shared clinical decision-making” for healthy children and pregnant women
June	HHS dismisses all ACIP members, appoints new 12-member panel including vaccine critics
31 July	Susan Monarez confirmed as official CDC Director
27 August	Monarez dismissed after refusing to pre-approve ACIP recommendations
28 August	Jim O’Neill appointed Acting CDC Director; several top officials resign
19 September	New ACIP panel recommends individualised COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged six months and above
6 October	CDC formalises “individual decision-making” approach for COVID-19 vaccines

India’s COVID-19 Vaccination Landscape

While US policy is facing turbulence, India’s COVID-19 booster programme has quietly wound down. Data from the CoWIN portal, analysed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, shows that fewer than 20 doses per week are being administered in 2025, a dramatic decline from 1.7 million weekly doses at the start of 2023.

The so-called “precaution doses” that once made up nearly 90% of vaccinations have almost disappeared. This decline reflects high population immunity, low disease severity, and public fatigue with repeated vaccination campaigns. Unlike the US, India’s transition has been gradual, guided by epidemiological data rather than abrupt policy changes.

India’s COVID-19 Vaccination Timeline (2023–2025)

Period	Approx. Weekly Average Doses	Trend
Q1 2023	500,000 – 1.7 million	Active booster campaigns
Q2 2023	<50,000	Sharp decline begins
Q4 2023	<1,000	Vaccination nearly halted
Q2 2024	<100	Minimal residual doses
2025 (till October)	<20	Symbolic or isolated vaccinations

The last notable surge in boosters occurred in March 2024, with around 42,689 doses administered, 89% of which were precautionary. Since mid-2024, weekly numbers have dropped to single digits, signalling that India’s vaccination drive has entered a maintenance phase, catering primarily to late registrations, immunocompromised individuals, and travellers requiring proof of vaccination.

Why the Two Approaches Differ?

The stark difference between the US and India stems from a mix of public health philosophy, immunity profiles, and political context.

1. Population Immunity: India’s multiple waves of infection have resulted in strong hybrid immunity (vaccination plus natural infection), reducing the urgency for continued boosters.
2. Public Fatigue: Booster fatigue set in early, with limited enthusiasm for repeated shots once cases declined.
3. Policy Design: India’s strategy has always favoured a voluntary, time-bound approach instead of indefinite recommendations.
4. Infrastructure Realities: Logistical constraints also encouraged a more data-driven, targeted vaccination effort, focusing on areas of need.

Meanwhile, the US’s policy shift reflects a balancing act between scientific updates, public sentiment, and political oversight. The CDC’s optional approach places greater emphasis on personal responsibility, particularly for seniors and people with chronic illnesses.

The US’s decision to drop universal booster recommendations may reshape pharmaceutical demand, public health messaging, and even travel health protocols worldwide. For India, the phase-out of booster campaigns marks a pragmatic close to a massive public health operation one that managed to achieve population-level immunity without resorting to mandates.

Other countries can draw distinct lessons from both experiences:

• The US model underscores the importance and difficulty of maintaining public trust in an era of polarised science and politics.
• The Indian model demonstrates how a gradual, data-led withdrawal can balance public health goals with limited resources and pandemic fatigue.

United States vs India: COVID-19 Vaccination Status

Aspect	United States	India
Current Recommendation	Optional, individual decision-making	Voluntary, minimal doses
Weekly Doses (2025)	Variable; not universally tracked	<20 nationwide
Target Population	Seniors, high-risk individuals	Special cases, immunocompromised, late registrations
Vaccination History	85% primary series; 23% latest booster	Peak (2023): 1.7M/week; 2025: negligible
Policy Approach	Sudden shift amid leadership changes	Gradual, data-driven de-escalation
Public Engagement	Mixed; politically charged	Low demand, high acceptance of natural immunity

As the CDC embraces a personal choice model for COVID-19 boosters, India’s quiet exit from its vaccination campaign offers an alternative case study in pandemic management. While the US navigates questions of autonomy and trust, India’s measured strategy shows that immunity, once established, can sustain itself without continued policy pressure.

Five years since the pandemic’s peak, these two democracies are rewriting the rulebook on public health one through political reform, the other through epidemiological calm.