A shake-up in the US vaccine advisory body has left pediatricians concerned about access to routine childhood immunizations, especially for children on Medicaid. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist, removed all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Kennedy replaced the panelists with new members aligned with his views, prompting alarm among medical professionals and public health experts. If the new ACIP members withdraw support for certain vaccines, consequences would be immediate, affecting coverage and availability for children on Medicaid.
As a result, pediatricians are seeing an increase in anxious parents asking about vaccine safety and timing. The conversations have changed this year, with parents seeking reassurance that their babies will still be able to get vaccinated. The US government insurance program for low-income families and people with disabilities, Medicaid, covers 4 in 10 children.
The concern accelerated after Kennedy announced the CDC is no longer recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children and pregnant women. This move prompted a lawsuit by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other physician groups that seeks to freeze Kennedy’s directive.
Pediatricians warn that if vaccines are restricted or no longer covered by insurance, parents may have to choose between paying hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket or leaving their kids unprotected. Health insurers have not yet said how they would alter coverage, but such a move could open the door for private insurers to refuse to cover vaccines.
As of July 5, more than 15,100 cases of pertussis had been identified in US residents this year, according to the CDC. Pediatricians are trying to maintain a sense of urgency without inciting panic, urging parents to get their children vaccinated as soon as they are eligible.
With Kennedy’s newly appointed vaccine advisory committee expected to hold its next public meeting in August, pediatricians remain concerned about the future of childhood immunizations. The possible restrictions on access or reimbursement for vaccines could lead to more preventable illnesses and deaths if not addressed.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/28/health/medicaid-vaccines-kff-health-news