The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced on Tuesday the elimination of the COVID-19 vaccine of the Disease Control Centers and the Prevention Immunization Program for “Pregnant Children and Women”, a measure that could alter the guidance for doctors, as well as some insurance coverage.
Kennedy, one of the most recognized vaccine skeptics in the nation, made the announcement in a Video publication on your x accountWhere he stopped among the Commissioner of the Food and Medicines Administration, Marty Makary and the Health Director of the National Health Institutes, Jay Bhattacharya, which are doctors.
“Now we are one step closer to realizing the promise of President Trump to make the United States again healthy,” Kennedy said in the video.
Although the text published together with the video pointed out that HHS had taken measures on Tuesday, the official immunization program on the CDC website had not changed from Tuesday afternoon.
The CDC immunization program is not only a guide for doctors, but also determines insurance coverage for most private plans and Medicaid expansion programs.
It is not clear what federal health officials consider “healthy” children or pregnant women.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., together with the Food and Medicines Administration Commissioner, Marty Makary and the Director of National Health Institutes Jay Bhattacharya, seen in an X position where he announced the elimination of the COVID-19 vaccine of the centers for the control and prevention of immunization diseases for healthy children and pregnant women.
Health and Human Services through X
CDC lists pregnancy as an underlying condition, so women who expect a child to be theoretically eligible for the shot even under the new FDA vaccine frame published last week.
Last week, the FDA announced that it planned to limit access to future COVID-19 shots only to people over 65 years of age or those with a underlying health condition.
ABC News asked HHS clarity about Tuesday’s announcement.
Medical leader ‘a little careless for this announcement’
Kennedy’s announcement cut a process in which the independent panel of CDC advisers votes for any new or updated recommendation to the immunization schedule. The Vote panel is expected to be on the June meeting. In mid -April, The panel had arguedAnd it seemed to support, a recommendation that all 6 months should receive an annual COVID vaccine or change to a model where only those who had high risk would be eligible.
In general, the director of the CDC, the new vaccine recommendations, but with the active director, the role of director, while Susan Monaz expects the confirmation of the main work of the CDC, Kennedy announced the new recommendations. Kennedy recently made changes in vaccine recommendations for those who travel abroad to an area with a high risk of infections with the agency notification, “with the pending confirmation of a new director of the CDC, these recommendations were adopted by the HHS secretary on May 13, 2025 and now they are official recommendations of the CDC.”
A leader of a medical group that is generally involved in the process of changes in the immunization schedule said he was “a little blind for this announcement.”
“They did not consulted us on this,” Dr. Sean O’Leary, president of the Infectious Diseases Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, referring to the elimination of the COVID-19 vaccine of the immunization programming recommended for children.
“My biggest concern is about the process. This really ignores a process based on long -standing evidence that has been used to make vaccine recommendations in the US [CDC’s advisory panel] To elaborate these recommendations, “said O’Leary.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America said the decision will have a negative impact.
“Many health insurers trust federal recommendations to determine coverage, and this decision could make it significantly difficult for millions of Americans to access vaccines they want for them and their families,” society said in a statement on Tuesday.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said it is “worried and extremely disappointed by the announcement.”
“” After this announcement, we are concerned about our patients in the future, which can be less likely to choose vaccination during pregnancy despite the clear and definitive evidence that demonstrates their benefit. We are concerned about access implications and what this recommendation will mean for the Insurance coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine for those who choose to get vaccinated during pregnancy, “the group said in a statement on Tuesday.”
The number of children who have received the updated COVID vaccine has been limited from the maximum pandemic. It is estimated that 13% of children received the most recent COVID vaccine, The latest CDC data At the end of April. At the same time, last year, the rate was 14.2%.
The covid vaccination rate among pregnant women has also remained lower and 14.4% received the most recent COVID vaccine, The latest CDC data At the end of April. At the same time, last year, the rate was 12.3%.
Previous comments from Kennedy about the COVID-19 vaccine, children’s vaccine schedule
Kennedy has often shared opinions about vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, which disagree with the consensus of public health researchers and the conventional scientific community.
In May 2021, Kennedy asked the Federal Government to revoke their authorization from all COVID-19 vaccines; In December 2021 he falsely claimed that the COVID-19 vaccine was “the deadliest vaccine ever made.”
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks as Secretary of Education Linda McMahon listening during a Make America Healthy Again commission event in the White House in Washington, on May 22, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Images
Kennedy’s announcement occurs weeks after he promised the senators who supported the child vaccination calendar during his confirmation testimony with the Senate Finance Committee at the end of January.
“Support vaccines. Support the childhood schedule,” Kennedy said at that time.
“If confirmed, I will do nothing as HHS secretary to make people difficult or discourage He told the committee following the questions of the senators after their testimony.
Kennedy has previously advocated the recommended vaccine schedule for children.
He has fought for changes through the defense of children’s health, a group that founded but resigned as president and legal advisor to become HHS secretary. Last week, he launched his report “Make America Healy Again”, which included calls for greater scrutiny of the children’s vaccine calendar.
Although the report establishes that vaccines protect children from infectious diseases, it also states that parents are concerned about their “appropriate use” and “possible role” in chronic diseases among children.
“Despite the growth of the children’s vaccines schedule, there has been limited scientific investigation into the links between vaccines and chronic diseases, the impacts of vaccine injury and conflicts of interest in the development of the vaccine schedule. These areas justify future investigations,” says the report.
Dozens of studies I have not been able to find a link between a greater number of vaccines and more chronic diseases among children.
Earlier this month, Kennedy said during an audience in the house that “his opinions about vaccines are irrelevant,” and then added “I don’t think people should receive advice, medical advice on my part.”
