U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that the federal government will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children and pregnant women — a move he described as a “common sense” decision based on current scientific understanding.
The policy shift follows a recent update from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which now limits approval of COVID-19 vaccines to adults aged 65 and older and younger individuals with underlying health conditions.
Officials under the Trump administration , with which Kennedy has aligned some of his health policy positions — have argued that the change brings U.S. recommendations closer to those in countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, where annual COVID-19 boosters are advised only for the elderly and immunocompromised.
Kennedy, a longtime critic of vaccines and a promoter of vaccine misinformation, has vowed to reshape U.S. public health policy since taking office. In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), he said:
“I couldn’t be more pleased to announce that as of today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule.”
The FDA also said vaccine manufacturers must now conduct new clinical trials — including comparisons with saline placebos — to maintain approval for use in healthy individuals under 65.
The decision has been met with concern from many public health experts.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University, told AFP the change aligns with international trends, but added:
“I do think, however, that the initial COVID-19 vaccine series should be part of routine childhood immunization.”
Dr. Paul Offit, a leading vaccine expert at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, warned the change could create access barriers for those who still want or need boosters. Under the U.S.’s largely privatized healthcare system, insurance companies might no longer cover the shots if they fall outside federal recommendations.
Perhaps most controversial is the rollback of vaccine guidance for pregnant women. As of Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had not yet updated its website, which still lists COVID-19 vaccination as especially important for those who are pregnant or recently pregnant.
“Pregnant people are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to those who are not pregnant,” the site states — reflecting longstanding concerns about the elevated risks COVID-19 poses during pregnancy.
