The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has removed pregnant women and healthy children from its list of groups recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccines, according to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy shared the news in a video posted on X, stating the CDC had revised its guidance. Standing beside National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, Kennedy cited a lack of clinical data supporting the previous recommendation that healthy children receive COVID booster shots.
He described the decision as “common sense and good science,” but did not provide specific studies to support the change.
Despite the announcement, the CDC’s official website still includes pregnant women among those at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The site also continues to state that the vaccine is “safe and effective.” Similarly, the CDC Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the CDC through private partnerships, still urges pregnant individuals to stay up to date on COVID vaccinations.
The decision has sparked sharp criticism from medical professionals and public health experts. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued a strong response. Its president, Dr. Steven Fleischman, said the science remains unchanged and warned that the move could lead to serious health consequences.
“COVID infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic,” Fleischman said. “This decision is extremely disappointing and puts families at risk.”
Dr. Tina Tam, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, added that the CDC’s change could make it harder for people to get vaccinated. Since many insurance companies base coverage decisions on federal guidelines, removing these groups from the recommendation list could reduce access.
“It limits choices and will negatively affect many Americans,” Tam warned.
The shift is part of a broader change under the Trump administration, which recently announced stricter testing requirements before vaccines can be recommended for groups outside the high-risk population, such as the elderly or people with chronic conditions.
Kennedy’s role in leading the Department of Health and Human Services has drawn widespread concern. A former environmental attorney with no formal medical training, Kennedy has long been a controversial figure, particularly for his involvement in the anti-vaccine movement. His appointment was met with public disapproval, including from members of his own family.
In 2021, Kennedy called the COVID-19 vaccine “the deadliest vaccine ever made,” a statement widely debunked by scientists and health authorities. In his May 27 social media post, he said the new CDC guidance brings the country “one step closer” to fulfilling his promise to “Make America Healthy Again.”
The decision is likely to intensify debate around vaccine policies and public trust in federal health recommendations, especially as the U.S. prepares for future COVID variants and potential surges.
