Kennedy Rolling Back COVID Booster Recommendations

WASHINGTON — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Tuesday the COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be recommended for healthy children or pregnant women.

The announcement is considered unprecedented as federal vaccine recommendations are ordinarily made through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and based on input from an advisory committee composed of experts on immunization.

A number of health care providers said after Kennedy’s unilateral action that they were concerned there was no transparency in the decision process and they feared insurers will begin removing coverage for the vaccines.

Among them was Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Infectious Diseases.

“Those who want to vaccinate may no longer be able to, as the implications for insurance coverage and access remain unclear,” he continued. “What is clear is that pregnant women, infants and young children are at higher risk of hospitalization from COVID, and the safety of the COVID vaccine has been widely demonstrated.”

Kennedy made the announcement via a video posted on X, in which he was flanked by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who heads the National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Marty Makary, who leads the Food and Drug Administration.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to announce that as of today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the C.D.C. recommended immunization schedule,” Kennedy said.

“Last year, the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another COVID shot, despite the lack of any clinical data to support the repeat booster strategy of children,” the health secretary said. 

“That ends today. It’s common sense and it’s good science,” Bhattacharya said, chiming in.

“There’s no evidence healthy kids need it today,” Makary agreed.

Kennedy closed by stating, “We’re now one step closer to realizing President Trump’s promise to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’”

A number of pediatricians, however, beg to differ, pointing out that very young infants face the highest risks for hospitalization from COVID, their potential for complications being similar to that of older adults.

According to data compiled by the CDC, 41% of children ages 6 months to 17 years who were hospitalized with COVID between October 2022 and April 2024 did not have a known underlying condition.

And as recently as last week, a CDC expert said COVID “is a major cause of pediatric hospitalizations, particularly in children under 2 (years), many of which don’t have any underlying medical conditions.”

In addition, an American Academy of Pediatrics analysis of data collected by Kennedy’s own HHS found that 11,199 children were admitted to the hospital with COVID during the 2024-’25 respiratory virus season, 7,746 of whom were under 5 years old.

The Academy also pointed out that the decision to exclude healthy people who are pregnant means infants under 6 months no longer would have protection despite having COVID hospitalization rates similar to people ages 65-74 years. It also leaves pregnant people vulnerable, as the CDC considers pregnancy a risk factor for severe disease.

“As ob-gyns who treat patients every day, we have seen firsthand how dangerous COVID-19 infection can be during pregnancy and for newborns who depend on maternal antibodies from the vaccine for protection,” said Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in a written statement. 

“We also understand that despite the change in recommendations from HHS, the science has not changed,” Fleischman said. “It is very clear that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic and lead to major disability, and it can cause devastating consequences for families. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe during pregnancy, and vaccination can protect our patients and their infants after birth.”

Kennedy’s announcement on Tuesday also appears to fly in the face of assurances he gave Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a medical doctor by profession, who currently serves as the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Cassidy had publicly wavered over whether to support Kennedy’s confirmation as HHS secretary, but became one of his staunchest advocates after the nominee assured him he would not undercut public faith in vaccines.

Cassidy has not publicly commented on Kennedy’s announcement.

The new policy follows an FDA decision last week to impose a new framework for COVID vaccines, essentially limiting booster shots to the elderly and at-risk individuals. The agency also said it is now requiring manufacturers to conduct clinical trials to show whether the vaccines benefit healthy younger adults and children.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and on X @DanMcCue