Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, requesting an analysis for whether the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s modification of the child and adolescent vaccine schedule to include the COVID-19 vaccine should qualify as a rule for purposes of the Congressional Review Act. 

“The CDC’s modification of the vaccine schedule is irresponsible given the low mortality rates of adolescents with COVID-19 and the unknown long-term side effects of the vaccine. I fear their recommendation with be used to justify a vaccine mandate in schools across the country. The GAO’s ruling will help put every member of Congress on record about the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for children,” said Cotton.

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

May 16, 2023

The Honorable Gene Dodaro

Comptroller General

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Dear Mr. Dodaro,

On February 10th, 2023 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published “Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger,” in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. This action will modify the CDC’s child and adolescent immunization schedule to recommend a 2- or 3-series COVID-19 vaccination for children older than 6 months, among other things.

I am requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis to determine whether this action qualifies as an official “rule” for purposes of the Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. §§801- 808.  

________________________                                                   

Tom Cotton                                                                                         

United States Senator