WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has removed its recommendation that healthy children and pregnant women receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to an announcement made Tuesday by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In a video posted on X, Kennedy stated, “As of today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule.” He was joined in the video by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary and National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.
Kennedy called the decision a step toward fulfilling former President Donald Trump’s pledge to “make America healthy again,” and criticized the Biden administration for previously urging additional COVID shots for children despite limited clinical data on boosters.
Dr. Bhattacharya praised the move as “common sense” and “good science,” while Dr. Makary added that “most countries have stopped recommending the vaccine for healthy children,” noting a lack of current evidence supporting the need for it.
Typically, vaccine recommendations are made by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and finalized by the CDC director. However, the agency currently lacks a permanent director, and the advisory committee is not scheduled to meet until later this month, according to NPR.
The decision has sparked concern among some health experts. Dr. Denise Jamieson, a CDC adviser and member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), expressed disappointment. “With COVID still circulating, pregnant women and their babies—who are too young to be vaccinated—are at risk for severe complications,” she told The New York Times. “I’m disappointed that this won’t remain an option for pregnant women who would like to protect themselves.”
The CDC’s website still warns that pregnant individuals are more likely to suffer serious illness from COVID-19 and face increased risks of pregnancy-related complications if infected.
Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of ACOG, emphasized the importance of vaccination during pregnancy. “Newborns depend on maternal antibodies from the vaccine for protection,” he said in a statement. “The science has not changed. COVID infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic and lead to major disability.”
The removal of the vaccine from the CDC schedule may also impact insurance coverage. Both The New York Times and NPR report that insurers often rely on CDC guidance to determine vaccine reimbursement, which may no longer be guaranteed without the agency’s formal recommendation.
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