US Removes COVID-19 Booster Recommendations for Kids, Pregnant Women

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the removal of COVID-19 booster shots for healthy children and pregnant women from the CDC's recommended immunization schedule, a decision made unilaterally and unprecedented in scope. Kennedy criticized the previous administration's push for repeat boosters despite limited clinical data supporting their benefit in these groups. The decision, supported by FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, will likely reduce vaccine access as insurance companies and government programs may no longer cover the shots. Experts highlight that COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to effectively protect children and pregnant women from severe illness, with data demonstrating significant booster effectiveness in preventing emergency care visits among children and reducing hospitalization risks for infants born to vaccinated mothers. The CDC currently lacks an acting director, and this change bypassed usual advisory processes, prompting concerns about the impact on public health and potential legal challenges. This policy shift aligns with a recent FDA framework limiting COVID-19 booster eligibility to older adults and high-risk individuals, while the vaccine's removal from routine recommendations marks a significant reversal in U.S. COVID-19 vaccination strategy.