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4mo ago

HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Weighs Removing COVID-19 Vaccine From Childhood Schedule

Kennedy is also advancing plans to eliminate petroleum-based food dyes, marking significant shifts in U.S. public health policy.

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attends a swearing in ceremony for Dr. Mehmet Oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Washington.
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Overview

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, is considering removing the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC’s recommended childhood immunization schedule, though no final decision has been made.
  • The CDC’s current schedule recommends COVID-19 vaccinations for children as young as six months, with specific dose guidelines for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.
  • Kennedy has cited low pediatric COVID-19 risks and concerns about vaccine-related side effects, such as myocarditis, as reasons for reevaluating the recommendation.
  • Removing the vaccine from the CDC schedule would not prohibit parents from vaccinating their children but could impact pediatric vaccination practices and insurance coverage nationwide.
  • In a related move, Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced plans to eliminate petroleum-based food dyes from the U.S. food supply to address chronic health issues.