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yesterday

Kennedy Removes CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendation for Healthy Children and Pregnant Women

This change risks cutting off free COVID-19 shots for healthy children and pregnant women.

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is seen alongside Director of the National Institutes of Health Jay Bhattacharya and Commissioner of the Food and Drugs Administration Marty Makary at a news conference at the Health and Human Services Headquarters in Washington, DC on April 22.

Overview

  • HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unilaterally announced that the CDC will no longer recommend routine COVID-19 vaccination for healthy children and pregnant women, bypassing its advisory committee process.
  • Last week, the FDA limited approval of new COVID-19 vaccines to people 65 and older or those with underlying health conditions, mandating new clinical trials for healthy adults and children.
  • Removing the shots from the CDC’s recommended schedule means private insurers and programs like Medicaid are no longer required to cover them, potentially reducing access.
  • CDC data show booster uptake remains low, with only 13% of eligible children and 14.4% of pregnant women receiving the latest COVID-19 vaccine.
  • The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to meet in June to discuss fall booster recommendations and may revisit eligibility criteria.