The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has chosen not to endorse the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated immunization schedule, which no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.
The CDC recently stated that COVID-19 vaccines remain available for healthy children if parents and doctors agree they are needed. However, the removal of the pregnancy-specific recommendation has drawn criticism from some medical professionals.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic who now oversees the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health, announced the change before the CDC formally updated its website.
In a statement released Monday, APhA reaffirmed its support for COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, citing scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness.
“COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been proven safe and effective,” the association said. “Additionally, this vaccine is not associated with any fertility issues in either women or men.”
APhA emphasized that pregnancy is a high-risk condition for severe illness from COVID-19 and that vaccination should continue to be recommended for pregnant individuals.
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