U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced that COVID vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women — a move that sparked swift concern among public health officials who criticized the decision as premature and lacking scientific basis.
In a video posted on the social media platform X, Kennedy said he had removed the groups from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended vaccination schedule. The CDC was not included in the announcement and directed questions to Kennedy and the Department of Health and Human Services, which did not immediately provide further details.
Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, offered no supporting data for the decision, saying annual COVID boosters had been recommended for children “despite the lack of any clinical data.” His remarks appeared to bypass the agency’s traditional process, where vaccine policy changes are typically reviewed by advisory panels of medical experts in open, evidence-based sessions.
“This is a dangerous precedent,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. “There’s no new data or information — just them flying by the seat of their pants.”
Current CDC guidance, in line with recommendations from infectious disease experts, supports annual COVID-19 booster shots for everyone ages 6 months and older. The guidance has evolved as the pandemic has receded, with some experts suggesting future vaccination efforts focus primarily on high-risk groups such as adults 65 and older.
A CDC advisory panel is scheduled to meet in June to formally review and update recommendations for fall vaccinations. Options under consideration include continuing broad availability while prioritizing high-risk populations.
Experts Alarmed by Decision’s Timing and Implications
Kennedy’s decision to revise the recommendations ahead of that meeting drew criticism from physicians and public health leaders who say the longstanding process of scientific review has been cast aside.
“If you can start doing that with this vaccine, you can start doing that with any vaccine you want — including mumps-measles-rubella,” said Osterholm, referring to vaccines that Kennedy has previously questioned.
The announcement has raised logistical and financial questions as well, including whether insurers will continue to cover COVID-19 vaccinations for low-risk groups and whether patients who still want the vaccine will have access.
“The reason we give vaccines to healthy people is to keep them safe,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.
Although COVID has primarily impacted older adults, it has also caused more than 1,300 deaths among children in the U.S., according to CDC data. More than 1.2 million Americans have died from the virus overall.
Concerns for Pregnant Women and Newborns
Health experts were particularly alarmed by the removal of pregnant women from the recommended group. During the height of the pandemic, maternal deaths in the U.S. rose to a 50-year high, with COVID-19 cited as a significant factor. Vaccination has been encouraged not only to protect pregnant women but to pass antibodies to their newborns.
“To say that they are not at any risk is simply incorrect,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said the decision ignores a substantial body of research.
“The science has not changed,” Fleischman said. “COVID infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic and lead to major disability, and it can cause devastating consequences for families.”
Shift in Federal Vaccine Policy
Kennedy’s announcement is the latest in a series of changes to vaccine policy under the Trump administration. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration announced that routine COVID vaccine approvals will be limited to older adults and those with underlying conditions, pending further research on safety and effectiveness for healthy children and adults.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, appeared alongside Kennedy in Tuesday’s video. Both are among a group of health officials who have advocated for a narrower federal approach to COVID vaccination.
During his nomination earlier this year, Kennedy assured lawmakers that he would not alter the federal vaccine schedule. The recent policy shift has led to renewed scrutiny from health professionals, who say the changes risk undermining public confidence and safety.
