“HHS to Stop Recommending Routine Covid Shots for Children, Pregnant Women”
The Trump administration is preparing to withdraw routine federal recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in children, teenagers, and pregnant women, according to individuals familiar with the plans. The move represents a significant policy shift in the federal government’s approach to COVID-19 immunization and could impact vaccine uptake, insurance coverage, and public health messaging.
Officials within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are reportedly coordinating the change alongside the upcoming release of a broader vaccine regulatory framework. While the precise language and timing of the updated guidance remain unclear, sources suggest that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s current blanket recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines in individuals six months and older may be rescinded or revised to instead emphasize individualized, risk-based consultation between patients and healthcare providers.
Spokespersons for the HHS, CDC, and White House declined to comment as of press time.
A Shift from Earlier Federal Strategy
Currently, the CDC advises that all individuals aged six months and older receive COVID-19 vaccines, including during pregnancy, as part of routine preventative care. However, Secretary Kennedy—who has long been an outspoken critic of certain vaccine technologies and mandates—is now exercising his authority to re-evaluate those guidelines.
According to FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, who spoke Thursday at a legal and regulatory conference, the administration’s position is grounded in an evolving view of risk-benefit calculations, particularly in low-risk populations.
“Separate from my role as a regulator at the FDA, I am not encouraging or insisting young, healthy children to get a COVID shot unless there is new evidence that emerges that suggests there is a clear benefit,” Makary said.
Implications for Manufacturers and Insurers
This change could diminish demand for COVID-19 shots, especially among pediatric and maternal populations where uptake has already declined. According to the CDC, as of April 2025, only 13% of children and 14% of pregnant women have received the latest COVID-19 booster.
The vaccines currently authorized or approved for pediatric use include messenger-RNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, and a protein-based vaccine from Novavax. All three companies declined or did not respond to requests for comment.
The reduction or removal of federal recommendations may also influence whether private insurers continue to cover the cost of these vaccines, particularly outside of high-risk populations.
A New Regulatory Framework
In addition to changes to CDC recommendations, the FDA is preparing to unveil a new regulatory framework for vaccine approvals. Though details remain limited, officials indicate that future COVID-19 vaccine approvals may require more rigorous clinical data, including placebo-controlled trials. The Maryland-based company Novavax, for instance, has been asked to submit additional evidence as it seeks full approval for its vaccine.
“We want to see vaccines that are available for high-risk individuals,” Makary said. “And at the same time, we want some good science. We want some good clinical data.”
Response and Concerns
Vaccine advocates have raised concerns that the move could undermine public confidence and leave vulnerable individuals unprotected. Richard Hughes, a vaccine policy attorney, said the decision might affect immunocompromised individuals who rely on others being vaccinated for protection.
“It could have a behavioral impact on whether people choose to get vaccinated,” Hughes said, noting that public guidance plays a key role in shaping decisions.
The decision also represents a political and symbolic break from Operation Warp Speed, the Trump-era initiative that accelerated the development and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. While it remains unclear whether recommendations will be eliminated entirely or simply softened, the administration’s pivot signals a broader reorientation of federal public health policy regarding COVID-19.
Further details about both the vaccine guidance and the FDA’s updated approval framework are expected in the coming days.
Rewritten. Source article posted here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/diseases-and-conditions/hhs-to-stop-recommending-routine-covid-shots-for-children-pregnant-women/ar-AA1ERf4K
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