RFK Jr. advocates against administering COVID vaccines to children and pregnant women.
Federal health officials announced Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccines have been removed from the recommended immunization schedule for healthy pregnant women and children.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made the announcement in a video posted on various platforms, stating, "We're now one step closer to realizing President Trump's promise to make America healthy again." He was joined by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary and National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.
Kennedy's statement follows the Biden administration's previous recommendations for healthy children to get vaccinated despite the lack of clinical data supporting the need for repeat boosters in children, according to Kennedy.
The decision will make it challenging for parents to get their children vaccinated and for pregnant individuals to access the shots, as insurance companies could stop covering them due to the removal from the recommended schedule.
Independent advisers have been reconsidering COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, but the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has yet to meet this month to make a recommendation.
When asked about the issue, Department of Health and Human Services press secretary Vianca N. Rodriguez Feliciano shared a statement emphasizing the department's commitment to preserving the health and well-being of all Americans, particularly children.
Children do not typically experience severe illness from COVID-19, but some do, especially very young children, and pregnant women remain at higher risk for serious complications from the virus. Vaccination during pregnancy also protects newborn babies who cannot receive vaccinations themselves and are at high risk for severe complications from the virus.
The move has faced criticism from medical professionals who argue that removing COVID-19 vaccines from these groups could increase health risks, particularly for pregnant women who are at elevated risk of severe disease and whose vaccination can offer protection to newborns.
The decision comes a week after the administration made changes that could restrict the availability of the next round of COVID-19 boosters. The government will now require additional testing for vaccines to be approved for use by anyone other than those at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19.
[1] CDC, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Meeting Schedule, https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/index.html[2] AAP News, AAP Position Statement -- COVID-19 Vaccines and Children, https://www.aappublications.org/news/2021/05/27/positionstatementCOVIDvaccination05242021[5] American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG Statement on COVID-19 Vaccines During Pregnancy, https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2021/05/acog-statement-on-covid-19-vaccines-during-pregnancy
- The removal of COVID-19 vaccines from the recommended immunization schedule for children and pregnant women by federal health officials has sparked debate among medical professionals, who argue this decision may increase health risks, particularly for pregnant women and newborn babies.
- The change in COVID-19 vaccine recommendations has created a challenge for parents wanting to vaccinate their children and pregnant individuals seeking shots, as insurance companies could potentially stop covering them following the removal from the recommended schedule.
- Meanwhile, government policies continue to evolve in response to the ongoing pandemic. Last week, new requirements were introduced for additional testing of vaccines before they can be approved for use by anyone other than those at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
- Health and wellness, as well as policy-and-legislation concerning COVID-19 vaccines and children, have become a hot topic in current general-news discussions, with many looking to organizations such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for guidance on these matters.
