RFK Jr. says CDC will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccine for children, pregnant women.
Federal health officials announced on Tuesday that the list of vaccinations recommended for healthy pregnant women and children has been updated to exclude COVID-19 vaccines.
In a video posted on X, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared, “I am overjoyed to inform you that the COVID vaccine has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and healthy pregnant women as of today.” “We are now one step closer to fulfilling President Trump’s pledge to restore America’s health.”
Despite the absence of any clinical data to substantiate the repeat booster strategy in children, the Biden administration recommended that healthy children receive an additional COVID-19 vaccination last year, according to Kennedy.
Kennedy was accompanied by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Martin Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, when he announced the decision.
Bhattacharya stated, “It is a sound scientific principle and common sense.”
Makary further stated, “There is no evidence to suggest that healthy children require it at this time, and the majority of countries have discontinued their recommendations for children.”
It appears that the decision was made without the customary input of independent outside advisers. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is not scheduled to convene until later this month to make a recommendation, despite the fact that independent advisers have been reevaluating the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.
Vianca N. Rodriguez Feliciano, the press secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services, issued the following statement in response to inquiries regarding this matter: “HHS and the CDC are dedicated to the health and well-being of all Americans, with a particular emphasis on the children of our nation.”
The government has been recommending the vaccines for virtually everyone, including children and pregnant women, since the vaccines became available. While it is uncommon for children to develop severe COVID-19 symptoms, some do, particularly those who are very young. Additionally, expectant women are at an elevated risk of experiencing severe complications as a result of the virus.
Vaccinating pregnant women also safeguards newborns, who are at a heightened risk of severe complications from the virus but are unable to receive vaccinations themselves.
“It is extremely alarming,” stated Dr. Sean O’Leary, the chairman of the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in an interview with NPR. “I believe that it will be perplexing for not only parents, but also for public health professionals and medical professionals.” This eliminates the option.
According to Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the organization is “extremely disappointed” by the decision to eliminate the recommendation for COVID injections during pregnancy. The decision will significantly complicate the process for parents to vaccinate their children and for expectant women to receive vaccinations, as insurance companies are unlikely to continue to reimburse for these services.
“We have witnessed the direct dangers of COVID-19 during pregnancy and for newborns who rely on maternal antibodies from the vaccine for protection as ob-gyns who treat patients on a daily basis,” he stated in a statement. “The science remains unchanged.” It is evident that COVID infection during pregnancy can result in significant disability and catastrophic consequences.
The announcement is made one week after the administration implemented modifications that could significantly limit the availability of the subsequent round of COVID enhancers. The government will now mandate additional testing for the vaccines to be approved for use by individuals who are not at a high risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their age of 65 or older or their risk factors for other health issues.
