The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has removed Covid-19 vaccines from its recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and healthy pregnant women. In contrast to the CDC’s former stance that the shot is safe for children and pregnant women, the announcement signals that the Trump Administration believes more research is needed.
The decision was unveiled in a video posted to X by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was joined by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. The three officials said the move reflects a “common sense” strategy that aligns US policy with countries like Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom, all of which currently limit Covid-19 vaccination recommendations to high-risk populations.
Citing a lack of clinical data supporting routine Covid-19 boosters for low-risk groups, Kennedy said the change is a course correction from previous recommendations from the Biden Administration that he believes were overly broad and not supported by clinical data. The officials emphasized that Covid-19 vaccines remain available for those over 65 and individuals with underlying health conditions, but will no longer be promoted for universal use among healthy children or pregnant women without additional, more rigorous clinical trials.
Only 13% of children and 14% of pregnant women got the most recent booster, Makary noted in the video, adding “We need to follow the data, not double down on mandates that the public is increasingly rejecting.”
The decision bypassed the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which was scheduled to meet in June to review fall vaccine guidance.
Dr. Tina Tan, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, called the policy change “complete madness,” and said it ignores well-established data showing that Covid-19 poses serious risks to pregnant women and that vaccination is both safe and protective for them and their babies.
According to the CDC’s website, pregnancy increases the risk of severe illness from Covid-19, including hospitalization, intensive care, and preterm birth. The agency has also consistently cited studies indicating that Covid-19 vaccines are effective and pose no known safety risks during pregnancy.
However, as of April, only 23% of US adults have received the updated 2024–25 Covid-19 vaccine, according to the CDC. And only 13% of children are getting the shots now.
Beyond the medical debate, the policy change could have downstream effects on insurance coverage. Many insurers base vaccine reimbursements on CDC recommendations, and the removal of Covid-19 vaccines from the routine immunization schedule could mean some patients will need to pay out of pocket.
Commissioner Makary earlier this year implemented more stringent approval processes for future Covid-19 vaccines, requiring placebo-controlled trials for healthy populations before broad authorization.
The head of the CDC was not included in the announcement because there is no current head of the CDC.
Dr. Susan Monarez, who served as acting director from Jan. 23 through March 24, is no longer serving in that position and a replacement has not been named, which left the announcement of the Covid recommendation change to HHS Sec. Kennedy. The CDC website shows only deputy directors.
