On May 27, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Junior announced the removal of Kovid -19 vaccination recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women from the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vaccination Schedule Center. The decision marks a significant change in the US public health policy and has created widespread debate among medical professionals, public health officials and general public.
In a brief video posted on the social media platform X, Kennedy said, “Aaj Tak, CDC has been removed from the recommended vaccination schedule for healthy children and healthy pregnant women.” He was a Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dr. Marti Makeri and National Institute of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jeeled by J Bhattacharya, who echoed Bhavna, emphasizing that the decision was “based on general knowledge and good science.
The step comes despite the previous guidance of the CDC, which recommended the annual Covid-19 vaccination for individuals six months and above. The CDC’s advisory committee on vaccination practices (ACIPs) were scheduled to meet in June to meet the recommendations of declining vaccination, including possible updates for high -risk groups, in June. However, the unilateral decision of Kennedy has pre -determined the process by ignoring the traditional advisory mechanism.
Critics of the decision argue that it establishes scientific consent and can have harmful effects on public health. Dr. Tina Tan, President of the infectious Disease Society of America, expressed concern, said, “Kovid-19 infection could have very serious consequences in pregnant women, resulting in hospitalization, pre-term labor, pre-eclampsia, heart injury, blood clots, high blood pressure and kidney damage.” He added, “Not vaccinating them is a sheer madness and will contribute to a significant increase in potential sickness and mortality.
This decision also raises questions about the future of insurance coverage for vaccination Covid-19. Historically, the vaccination schedule of the CDC has served as a base to determine which vaccines are covered by insurance without cost-sharing. With the removal of the Covid-19 vaccine from the recommended schedule for healthy children and pregnant women, uncertainty is whether insurance providers will continue to cover these vaccinations for these groups.
Supporters of Kennedy’s decision argue that it reflects a more targeted approach to vaccination, focusing on high -risk population rather than a comprehensive mandate. They say that the decision aligns with practices in other countries, which have limited recommendations of the Covid-19 booster for older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions. FDA Commissioner Dr. Makeri said that many countries have already stopped recommending regular Kovid -19 vaccination for healthy children, suggesting that the US is aligning with global standards.
This policy change is part of the extensive restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including significant employees of various agencies and reorganization. Critics argue that these changes can weaken the country’s ability to respond effectively to public health crises. Senator Patty Murray described the plan as a “absurd suggestion”, which “defines general knowledge,” cited the outbreak of “bird flu, measles and phentineel epidemic.
So far, the CDC website still lists Kovid -19 vaccination for healthy children and pregnant women in its vaccination program. It remains to be seen how the agency will respond to Kennedy’s decision and whether it will update its guidance to reflect the new policy. The situation continues, and further development is expected in the coming days.