The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has ended its recommendation for routine COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children and pregnant women, according to U.S. health officials. In a video shared on X, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed the removal of these groups from the CDC’s immunization schedule.
Kennedy, a known vaccine skeptic and head of the department overseeing the CDC, stated this move supports President Donald Trump’s vision of reducing federal oversight. “We are now one step closer to realizing @POTUS’s promise to Make America Healthy Again,” he said.
Previously, the CDC had recommended COVID-19 vaccines for everyone six months and older. Its website still cites global studies affirming the safety and benefits of vaccination during pregnancy. However, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary emphasized there is no evidence supporting routine COVID vaccination for healthy children, noting that most countries have already stopped recommending it for this age group.
The Department of Health and Human Services stated that, with the pandemic now in the past, the country is shifting its focus forward. The change follows the FDA’s recent announcement that new clinical trials will be required for annual COVID booster approval in healthy individuals under 65, effectively reserving future shots for higher-risk populations. Vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer have yet to comment.
