CDC No Longer Recommends COVID-19 Vaccines for Healthy Children and Pregnant Women
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces removal of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, raising concerns among health experts about public health implications.
Overview
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the CDC will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women, a decision made without CDC input. This announcement, made alongside FDA and NIH leaders, contradicts ongoing public health guidance advocating for annual boosters. Critics, including health experts, express concern over the lack of clinical data supporting this change and its potential impact on vulnerable populations. The CDC's advisory panel is set to meet in June to discuss future vaccine recommendations, but Kennedy's unilateral action raises questions about vaccine access and insurance coverage.
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Analysis
- The article expresses a negative view of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s stance on the COVID-19 vaccine.
- The articles highlight a neutral tone on new COVID-19 vaccination guidelines for pregnant women and children.
- Concerns about public health and individual risk assessment are emphasized in the discussion of vaccination policies.
Articles (26)
Center (10)
"…America’s health is in the hands of a well-established fool."
USA TODAY·1M·"…The new guidelines remove COVID vaccination from the standard immunization schedule for families with healthy children."
CNET·1M·"…Kennedy said that annual COVID-19 booster shots have been recommended for kids 'despite the lack of any clinical data' to support that decision."
Chicago Sun-Times·1M·"…Kennedy's move, like the FDA's last week, is unprecedented in bypassing the transparent, evidence-based process for setting vaccination recommendations."
ARS Technica·1M·"…The decision will make it much harder for parents to get their children vaccinated and for pregnant people to get the shots because insurance companies will likely no longer pay for them."
NPR·1M·"…Some doctors and public health leaders called the move concerning and confusing."
Associated Press·1M·"…Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced the removal of the COVID-19 vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women."
ABC News·1M·"…The change comes after the Food and Drug Administration said on May 20 it plans to require new clinical trials for approval of the annual COVID-19 boosters for healthy individuals under the age of 65."
USA TODAY·1M·"…Kennedy's move, announced Tuesday on X, appears to effectively shortcut a process set up by the agency's outside advisers to discuss and make changes to the CDC's influential vaccination guidance."
CBS News·1M·"…The change from the CDC comes a week after Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced the agency planned to restrict the use of Covid shots to older adults and children and adults with underlying medical conditions."
NBC News·1M·FAQ
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited a lack of clinical data supporting the repeat booster strategy in children and announced the change without CDC input, despite previous CDC recommendations for vaccination starting at six months of age including during pregnancy.
Health experts have expressed concern about the lack of clinical data supporting this decision and worry about the potential negative impact on vulnerable populations, as the decision contradicts ongoing public health guidance advocating for annual boosters.
The decision was made unilaterally by Health Secretary Kennedy without the usual CDC advisory panel vote, which traditionally reviews and votes on such changes before the CDC director endorses or rejects them. This breaks from the established precedent of CDC vaccine policy updates.
The unilateral decision raises questions about vaccine access and insurance coverage for healthy children and pregnant women, potentially complicating who can get vaccinated and whether the vaccine will be covered by insurance without a formal CDC recommendation.
Yes, the CDC's advisory panel is scheduled to meet in June to discuss future COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, which may address or re-evaluate this recent announcement.
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