In a move that marks a significant shift in public health policy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday it is removing COVID-19 vaccines from the list of shots recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.
The decision was announced by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a video posted on X. He was joined by the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary and National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.
Kennedy Jr. called the change “common sense and good science,” although no new scientific data was provided to support it.
Health experts have warned the rollback could limit access to COVID-19 vaccinations, as insurers may stop covering the cost. They cite studies that have shown vaccination during pregnancy can protect both mother and baby, especially since newborns are too young to be vaccinated themselves.
The decision appears to bypass the standard review process through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is not scheduled to weigh in on COVID-19 vaccines until later this month.
Public health leaders said the abrupt policy change will sow confusion among parents and doctors and reduce vaccination rates among vulnerable populations.
