This winter was already shaping up to be one of the strangest cold and flu seasons in recent memory.

With Robert F. Kennedy at the helm of the US Department of Health and Human Services, the federal government has been casting doubt on the value of vaccines in the months leading up to virus season. Even though his department did approve a new flu vaccine for this year, his advisers also recommended removing certain ingredients from flu shots, even though those materials are not used in the vast majority of vaccines.

Key takeaways

• The federal government is not going to be a reliable ally during this year’s cold and flu season, having already taken steps to undermine trust in both the Covid and flu vaccines.
• You can protect yourself this winter — but you’ll have to do it yourself, in cooperation with the people close to you.
• Think about your own risk and how much risk you’re willing to tolerate, communicate clearly with friends and family about your approach, and keep a close eye on your local situation.

They have also removed any specific recommendations for the Covid vaccinations and, instead, told people to depend on “individual decision making.” On the cusp of flu activity picking up in the US, a top Food and Drug Administration official is warning that the vaccine process should be overhauled because it is not sufficient, while making unsubstantiated claims that the Covid shots have killed a small number of children.

And now, the forecast for the next few months is getting worse.

Not only is there disarray among public health authorities, but this year’s cold and flu season is looking to be especially bad. That is partly bad luck; developing a new flu shot every year is always a guessing game, and this year’s shot is not very well matched to the most widespread flu strains. But, it’s also partly a matter of choice, a consequence of the anti-public health mania Kennedy has helped stoke. The number of flu vaccinations administered between August and October was the lowest in the past six years. The number of Covid boosters available to the public has been steadily dropping with each new shot, and now, Kennedy Jr.’s health department has decided to limit access.........

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