Medical Groups Urge Insurers to Cover COVID Shots for Pregnant Women After CDC Rollback

More than two dozen major medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association, are urging insurers to continue covering COVID-19 vaccinations for pregnant patients without added costs or barriers, citing the importance of protecting both mothers and infants from complications. This appeal follows a controversial move by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who announced that the CDC would no longer recommend routine COVID-19 vaccination for healthy children and pregnant women, bypassing standard scientific review processes and dismissing the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel. Despite Kennedy’s announcement, the CDC updated its guidance to maintain COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children based on shared decision-making, and insurance coverage for vaccines has so far continued unchanged. However, the administrative shakeup and conflicting messages have created uncertainty about future coverage, as insurers typically align benefits with CDC recommendations. Medical groups warn that limiting access could threaten maternal and infant health, referencing evidence of increased risks for pregnant women and their babies from COVID-19 infection. The situation remains fluid, with insurers still covering vaccines for now but potential changes on the horizon.