The United States government has stopped recommending routine COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children and pregnant women, marking a major shift in its pandemic response.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr announced the change on social media on Tuesday, bypassing the usual review and approval process by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Kennedy, along with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, said the shots have been removed from the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule. This decision comes just a week after tighter rules limited COVID vaccine use mostly to older adults and people at risk of severe illness.
Traditionally, the CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) would meet and vote on any updates to vaccine recommendations before the CDC director made a final decision. However, this committee has not voted on the recent changes, sparking concern among health experts.
William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert from Vanderbilt University, described the move as “turning the process upside down.” He noted the committee was scheduled to discuss these issues in June and expected a more targeted approach to vaccines rather than a full removal.
Some health professionals also worry that bypassing the committee might expose the CDC to legal challenges.
The CDC’s website states that multiple studies involving hundreds of thousands of people have shown COVID vaccines to be safe and effective for pregnant women and their babies. However, Makary said there is no evidence healthy children need regular COVID shots, adding that most countries have stopped recommending vaccines for young children.
Dr. Cody Meissner, a pediatric expert from Dartmouth, supported the decision, saying previous vaccine pushes for children and pregnant women were politically driven. He explained that COVID-19’s severity has reduced among children over time.
US vaccine makers Moderna and Pfizer have not commented on the change.
As the US changes its COVID vaccine strategy, insurance companies and health providers are reviewing their policies to align with new guidelines. This development may influence global views on vaccination, especially in countries like Nigeria still managing COVID-19 health policies.
