In a significant policy shift, U.S. health authorities have ceased recommending routine COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children and pregnant women. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the change via a social media video on May 27, stating that these groups have been removed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended immunization schedule.

This decision aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader initiative to reduce federal government involvement in healthcare. Kennedy, a known vaccine skeptic, emphasized that the move brings the U.S. closer to the administration’s goal of reshaping the health system.

The policy change also follows the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent decision to require new clinical trials for annual COVID-19 booster approval for healthy individuals under 65, thereby focusing future vaccinations on older adults and high-risk populations.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary supported the change, citing a lack of evidence necessitating routine COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children. He noted that most countries have already stopped recommending such vaccinations for that age group.

Despite the policy update, the CDC’s website continues to state that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and beneficial during pregnancy. However, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which traditionally reviews and votes on changes to vaccine recommendations, was not consulted in this decision. This departure from standard procedure has raised concerns among public health experts.

Vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer have not yet responded to the announcement. The impact of this policy shift on vaccination rates and public health remains to be seen.