NEW YORK (AP) – The nation’s premier public health agency has released a new recommendation indicating that healthy children and pregnant women may opt for Covid-19 vaccinations, allowing those groups to move away from previous stronger language advocating for mandatory shots.
This update arrives shortly after U.S. Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., made an announcement that the Covid-19 vaccine would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.
However, the revised guidance on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website conveys a more nuanced message, stating that vaccination for these groups is optional.
“The communications from earlier this week seemed to signal a complete reversal of the CDC’s statements, which could be seen as recommendations for these vaccines within these demographics,” remarked Jason Schwartz, a health policy researcher at Yale University. “It’s not as severe as it once seemed.”
Kennedy shared these changes in a 58-second video posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday. The CDC had no representatives present in the video, and officials have directed inquiries regarding the announcement to Kennedy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
On Thursday, the CDC updated its website. The agency stated that the vaccine could be administered to children aged six months to 17 who do not have moderate to severe immune system issues. Rather than issuing a recommendation, the CDC now suggests that parents may wish to consult with their healthcare provider about vaccinating their children.
A subtle adjustment on the CDC page for the Adult Vaccination Schedule reveals similar changes to the recommendations for pregnant women, which have now been removed from the standard recommendations for adults.
“The recommendations for the Covid-19 vaccine for healthy children under 18 and pregnant women have been eliminated from the CDC’s vaccine schedule,” stated a spokesperson for HHS. “CDC and HHS encourage individuals to discuss their personal healthcare choices with their providers.”
This type of recommendation, often referred to as shared decision-making, requires health insurers to cover vaccinations. According to the CDC, however, experts note that vaccination rates often decrease when health officials employ this language and when doctors do not strongly advocate for vaccination to their patients.
Pediatric vaccination rates for Covid-19 have already been low, with only 13% of children and 23% of adults vaccinated in 2024-25. According to CDC data.
Discussions regarding changes to these recommendations are ongoing. As the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic has diminished, experts are exploring the possibility of focusing vaccination outreach efforts on individuals over the age of 65.
A CDC Advisory Panel is scheduled to meet in June to consider recommendations for fall vaccinations, which may prioritize high-risk groups while offering low-risk individuals the option to receive the vaccine. The committee’s workgroup has supported this concept.
However, Kennedy, a well-known anti-vaccine advocate prior to his appointment as health secretary, opted not to wait for the Science Panel’s review.
Schwartz mentioned that the changes in vaccine recommendations, their timing, and the announcement methodologies have created confusion, “which has been extremely detrimental to the success of the vaccination program.”
“If the public is entirely unclear about the federal government’s stance and what scientific evidence indicates, it undermines our understanding of the safety and importance of these vaccines,” he continued.
Dr. Susan Cresley, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, expressed relief that families keen on obtaining Covid-19 vaccinations for their children still have that option.
“Nonetheless,” she added, “the deeply flawed process behind these recommendations raises significant concerns about the integrity of the nation’s immunization framework and the commitment of federal leaders to ensure families have access to essential vaccinations.”
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Source: apnews.com