Five years after COVID-19 hit the United States, officials can largely anticipate how the virus will operate and, with available vaccines, antivirals and at-home tests, the natural seasonal rise in cases is more manageable than at the peak of the pandemic.

But public health advocates and researchers worry that recent “mixed messaging” from the federal level on who should get the new batch of COVID-19 vaccines may disrupt that progress.

“Mixed messaging results in people being confused. It will increase vaccine hesitancy and will undermine our nation’s ability to adequately protect ourselves from COVID,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “We’re seeing some confusion. I think part of the confusion is not knowing what the precise recomm

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