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COVID-19

HHS Secretary Revokes CDC's COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendation for Healthy Children and Pregnant Women

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines with a one-minute video announcement on X on May 27, revoking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination for healthy children and pregnant women. This move has left experts concerned and others unsure about the policy's details. Kennedy was joined in the video by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya.

The move has sparked debate among experts, with some arguing that the low rates of serious COVID-19 cases among children justify tightening the federal vaccine recommendation. Others say that the move will make it harder to get vaccinated and cause preventable serious illnesses. Immunization rates are already low, with 13 percent of children and 14.4 percent of pregnant women up to date with the 2024-25 edition of the COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC found in late April.

Key Takeaways:

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revoked the CDC's recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination for healthy children and pregnant women in a video announcement on X on May 27.
  • The move has sparked debate among experts, with some arguing that the low rates of serious COVID-19 cases among children justify tightening the federal vaccine recommendation.
  • Immunization rates are already low, with 13 percent of children and 14.4 percent of pregnant women up to date with the 2024-25 edition of the COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC found in late April.
  • The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) may move towards less sweeping recommendations for vaccinating children in its June meeting.
  • Some experts disagree with Kennedy's recommendation against vaccinating pregnant women, citing evidence that the vaccine protects pregnant women and their infants.
  • A 2024 review of 67 studies found that fully vaccinated pregnant women had a 61 percent lower likelihood of a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy.

Statistics:

  • 13 percent of children are up to date with the 2024-25 edition of the COVID-19 vaccine (CDC, late April).
  • 14.4 percent of pregnant women are up to date with the 2024-25 edition of the COVID-19 vaccine (CDC, late April).
  • 4 percent of COVID-19-associated hospitalisations occurred among children and adolescents aged 17 and younger during the 2024-25 COVID-19 season.
  • A small fraction of children will face serious illness from COVID-19, with rates of COVID-19-associated hospitalisations highest among infants less than six months old.

Sources:

  • "Rfk Jr's view on vaccines comes under fire at contentious US Senate hearing" (Al Jazeera, January 29, 2025).
  • "Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary" (May 20 article).
  • "National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya" (May 27 video announcement).
  • "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage" (January 7).
  • "American Academy of Pediatrics" (recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination for children).
  • "European Medicines Agency" (recommendation for the BioNtech Pfizer vaccine for children).
  • "World Health Organization" (recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination for children with health risks).

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