COVID-19 Vaccine No Longer Recommended for Healthy Children and Pregnant Women

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces policy change, drawing criticism from medical experts

Hey Small Biters,

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a significant shift in COVID-19 vaccination policy: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children and pregnant women. This decision marks a departure from previous guidance that advocated for widespread vaccination across all age groups.

The announcement was made via a video posted on social media, featuring Kennedy alongside National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary. The trio cited a lack of clinical data supporting the need for repeat boosters in these populations as the rationale for the change.

Critics argue that the decision bypasses established scientific review processes. Traditionally, vaccine recommendations are evaluated by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which had not yet convened to discuss changes to COVID-19 vaccine guidance for these groups. The next ACIP meeting is scheduled for June.

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