The United States halts recommendation of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women and healthy children under directive from Health Secretary Kennedy
In a controversial announcement, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed on Tuesday that the United States has halted its recommendation for routine COVID-19 vaccinations for pregnant women and healthy children, marking a significant departure from the traditional guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Kennedy explained in a video statement, alongside FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, that COVID-19 vaccines have been removed from the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule.
This decision comes just a week after the introduction of stricter vaccination criteria, which now focus primarily on high-risk groups, such as the elderly and individuals with chronic illnesses.
The move is part of a broader effort led by Kennedy to restructure the U.S. healthcare system in alignment with President Donald Trump’s vision of reducing the size of the federal government and promoting individual freedom in healthcare decisions.
In the video, Kennedy stated:
“The Biden administration encouraged healthy children last year to receive an additional COVID shot, despite limited clinical data supporting a strategy of repeated boosting for this group.”
Meanwhile, the CDC still maintains on its official website that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective before and during pregnancy, citing studies conducted on hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide, which have shown that the vaccine is beneficial to both the mother and the unborn child.
This decision is expected to spark a broad public health debate on the balance between government policy and individual liberty, as discussions continue regarding the long-term effectiveness and necessity of COVID-19 vaccines for certain age groups.
