In a move that has puzzled and alarmed the medical community, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rescinded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendation to vaccinate healthy children and pregnant women against the coronavirus in a one-minute video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on May 27.
Kennedy appeared alongside US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty McCurry and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya. The secretary did not clarify whether the decision included only first doses or booster doses, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the new policy.
Mixed responses from doctors and experts
As of the publication of the video, the US Department of Health's website has not made any apparent change in its recommendations, still emphasizing that vaccines are "available to everyone starting at 6 months of age," noting that they are "the best way to protect against COVID-19."
The CDC's website was last updated on Jan. 7 - before Kennedy took office - and reiterates the general recommendation for vaccination.
While some experts have argued that lower rates of severe infections in children may justify reducing the scope of the federal recommendation, others have warned that the move could hinder access to vaccines for children and pregnant women, especially if insurance companies refuse to cover them based on the new policy.
Current immunization rates remain low, with only 13% of children and 14.4% of pregnant women receiving the updated dose of the 2024-2025 vaccine, according to the CDC.
Kennedy: Not enough clinical data to support pediatric booster doses
Kennedy justified his decision by saying that last year the Biden administration recommended vaccinating healthy children "despite the absence of any clinical data to support a repeated booster strategy," contradicting the recommendations of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which recommends annual doses for children without the need for new clinical trials for each version, similar to the flu vaccine.
"There is no evidence that healthy children need the vaccine," Marty Makary said, which has sparked widespread controversy. Although most children do not face a serious risk from the virus, some doctors point out that a number of them still develop complications, and that hospitalizations during the 2024-2025 season involved 4% of children and adolescents. The data also showed that infants under six months are the most likely to be hospitalized due to the virus.
Pregnant women are a target for prevention - and criticism of the Kennedy decision
When it comes to pregnant women, medical colleges have expressed their displeasure with the new recommendation. The president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stated that "Covid infection in pregnant women can lead to severe disabilities or tragic outcomes," emphasizing that "vaccination during pregnancy provides dual protection for mother and infant."
A 2024 study of 67 studies showed that fully vaccinated pregnant women were 61% less likely to develop Covid.
Similar international policies?
Makari noted that his country's policy is "similar to most countries in the world," as many countries recommend vaccinating children only if they have chronic diseases or weak immunity. Researchers from American and European universities have confirmed that most countries have become content with vaccinating at-risk groups, especially with the decline in the severity of mutations and the spread of community immunity.
The next step: Are the experts on board?
The Advisory Committee on Immunization is scheduled to meet in June, and some doctors expect the committee to approve less sweeping recommendations, perhaps closer to Kennedy's new recommendations. But pregnant women are likely to remain among those recommended for vaccination, especially given the sharp contrast between officials' statements and the available scientific evidence.
Analysis: Is RFK Jr. reshaping U.S. health policy?
The new decision reflects a radical shift in the US government's approach to Covid, especially with Kennedy - a longtime vaccine skeptic - at the helm of the Department of Health. While some point out that the decision moves closer to current epidemiological realities, others warn that it could put vulnerable groups at risk and undermine public confidence in public health.
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