The US federal government has removed COVID-19 vaccines from the list of recommended shots for healthy pregnant women and children, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The decision was made without input from independent outside advisers.
Kennedy announced the change in a video, stating that there is no evidence healthy kids need a repeat booster shot and most countries have stopped recommending it for children. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary and National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya were present during the announcement.
The decision may lead to difficulties for parents seeking vaccination for their children and pregnant people getting vaccinated, as insurance companies may no longer pay for these shots.
Experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have expressed concern over the removal of COVID shot recommendations. They argue that the science has not changed and that COVID infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic.
The decision comes after changes to the availability of next-round COVID boosters, requiring additional testing for vaccines. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to meet later this month to make a new recommendation.
Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/05/27/nx-s1-5413179/covid-vaccine-children-pregnant-rfk-cdc