The CDC Opposes RFK Jr.'s COVID Vaccine Guidance, Saying Children 'May Receive' Their Shots
"Shared clinical decision-making vaccinations are individually based and informed by a decision process between the health care provider and the patient or parent/guardian," states the CDC. "Where the parent presents with a desire for their child to be vaccinated, children 6 months and older may receive COVID-19 vaccination, informed by the clinical judgment of a healthcare provider and personal preference and circumstances."
This means that health insurance providers will still be required to cover the COVID-19 vaccinations for kids in this age group. According to the New York Times, this also means the shots will continue to be available to the 38 million low-income children under the Vaccines for Children program.
But what about pregnant people? According to the NYT, the CDC's official position is "no guidance." This contradicts a still-live CDC web page updated Sept. 10, 2024, stating that pregnant people are at increased risk for COVID-19 and resulting complications such as preterm birth or stillbirth. That same web page also states that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is safe and effective and that these vaccines are not associated with fertility problems in women or men.
What RFK Jr. had to say
In a shift to federal public health guidance, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on May 27 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer encourage COVID-19 vaccinations for pregnant people and healthy children. The pivot, shared by Kennedy in a 58-second video posted to X, formerly Twitter, marks a significant departure from the CDC's stance just two weeks ago, when it reiterated the importance of high-risk groups, which included expecting parents.
"I couldn't be more pleased to announce that as of today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule," Kennedy said, flanked by Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.
The trio framed the decision as a return to evidence-based policymaking. Makary said "no evidence" supports healthy children benefit from routine COVID vaccination, while Bhattacharya called the update "common sense and good science."
The update comes just after a similar policy announcement from the Trump administration, which last week stated it would no longer recommend annual COVID shots for younger adults and children. Instead, older adults (65 and up), and anyone over six months with underlying conditions like diabetes, obesity, chronic respiratory diseases or cancer will be prioritized in vaccination efforts.
Meanwhile, pregnant people appear to have been reclassified under RFK Jr.'s guidance and are no longer encouraged to get COVID-19 vaccines.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to meet on June 25 to finalize COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for this fall.
What does this new COVID-19 vaccine guidance mean for families?
The new CDC versus RFK Jr. guidance may leave parents or pregnant people wondering how to move forward. While the change reflects a broader approach based on individual risk assessment, it also places more responsibility on families to navigate complex medical decisions without the same level of clear federal direction.
The new CDC guidelines state that children 6 months and older may receive the COVID-19 vaccination as long as a healthcare provider and parent agree.
The guidance is more unclear for pregnant people. This change reopens the debate about whether vaccination during pregnancy remains a protective measure or an unnecessary risk.
What should you do now?
Here are a few tips for navigating the latest vaccine guidance changes and making the most informed decisions for yourself and your family.
Talk to your doctor
Any medical decisions, especially during pregnancy and for young children, should be consulted with your primary care provider or OB-GYN. They can help you determine individual needs and risks.
Assess your risk factors
The COVID-19 vaccination guidelines state that it is "especially important to get your 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you're ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19 or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine." The same goes for children and adults who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, but guidelines vary based on age and vaccination history.
You may also want to check COVID levels in your area to further assess your risk.
Stay informed
As federal health guidance evolves, it's important to monitor updates from reputable and trusted medical sources, including your state health department and professional medical associations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MRNA Stock Jumps on CDC's Revised RSV Vaccine Recommendations
Shares of Moderna MRNA rose nearly 6% yesterday after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ('CDC') adopted new recommendations for the use of RSV vaccines in the upcoming respiratory virus season. The revised recommendations lower the recommended age for RSV vaccination. Now, adults aged 50-59 who are at higher risk of severe illness from the disease are advised to receive a single dose of the vaccine. The previous CDC guidance recommended RSV vaccines for people aged 75 and older, as well as those aged between 60-74 who were at high risk of the disease. Per the CDC's website, this recommendation was officially adopted last week by the current HHS secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Although the CDC director typically accepts or rejects such recommendations, the position is currently vacant, so Kennedy fulfilled that role. President Trump has backed Susan Monarez as his nominee for the post, but her appointment is still pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate. The broader recommendations come as a surprise because the members of the CDC's advisory committee — who initially made the recommendation earlier this year — were all removed by RFK Jr. last month. Year to date, the stock has lost 27% compared with the industry's 2% decline. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The expanded CDC recommendations widen Moderna's addressable market for its RSV vaccine, mResvia. By lowering the recommended age group, the guidance opens up a new segment of eligible patients who were previously excluded. Moderna is one of a handful of companies marketing an RSV vaccine. Though mResvia was initially approved last year for use in people aged 60 and older, the FDA expanded its label last month to include high-risk individuals aged between 18-59. Despite commercially launching the vaccine last year, mResvia sales were modest as it was approved and recommended later in the contracting season. By that point, many people had already completed their vaccinations with either GSK's GSK Arexvy or Pfizer's PFE Abrysvo. RSV vaccines gained traction in 2023 with the initial approvals of Arexvy and Abrysvo — the first FDA-approved RSV vaccines. At the time, the CDC issued blanket approvals for use among individuals aged 60 and older. However, the CDC later narrowed that guidance, which trimmed the target market last year. That, combined with the earlier availability of GSK and Pfizer's offerings, gave both companies a dominant position over Moderna. Both GSK and Pfizer vaccines are already approved for use in individuals aged 60 and older. While GSK's Arexvy is approved for use in high-risk individuals aged 50-59, PFE's Abrysvo is approved for use in high-risk people aged 18-59. The Pfizer vaccine is also approved for use in infants through maternal immunization. Moderna, Inc. price | Moderna, Inc. Quote Moderna currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (GSK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Pfizer Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Washington Post
34 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Melania Trump meets with patients, visits garden at Washington children's hospital
WASHINGTON — First lady Melania Trump was set to visit with sick patients at Children's National hospital in Washington on Thursday as the children made Fourth of July arts and crafts ahead of the holiday. Trump, continuing a tradition of support by first ladies for the pediatric care center, was also expected during her visit to visit a rooftop 'healing' garden she dedicated during the first Trump administration to first ladies of the United States.
CNN
35 minutes ago
- CNN
New York may have America's top pizza, but LA is at its heels, Italian judges say
The best pizza in the United States comes from a wood-fired oven on New York's Lower East Side, an Italian pizza-ranking guide has announced. For the second year running, the Naples-based 50 Top Pizza judged Una Pizza Napoletana the winner in its annual assessment of American bakers. The ranking focuses strictly on Neapolitan-style pizza — the thin, round, fastidiously prepared variety from the city that considers itself the cradle of pizza — but to aficionados, it's the only type that matters. In a one-two punch, the Big Apple also claimed the top individual pizza slice, with the honors going to L'industrie Pizzeria, run by Massimo Laveglia and Nick Baglivo. Last year, Una Pizza Napoletana was also rated No. 1 in the whole world. The global rankings are due to be released later this year. Una Pizza Napoletana is owned by Anthony Mangieri. Born and raised in New Jersey, Mangieri opened his first pizzeria on the Jersey Shore in 1996. Food and Wine magazine has called Mangieri 'one of the country's most skilled practitioners of the Neapolitan style' of pizza, and New York magazine called him a 'one-man Opus Dei' for authentic pizza. The organization behind the ranking, 50 Top Pizza, cited the rich flavor of his pizzas and the his straightforward approach to making them, with only a few dishes on offer and a single location. Mangieri said that perfecting his technique has been his goal since he first started making pizzas at age 15. While his focus remains the same, he said the world of pizza has changed dramatically in the nearly 30 years since he established his first restaurant. 'When we opened, no one was making the style of pizza that we make,' he told CNN Travel. Now, he says, you can find good pizza all over the world, and American diners have come to appreciate fine Neapolitan pizza. He attributes his success to a strong work ethic that limits distractions. 'It is not a concept restaurant — it is not one of 20 things that I'm doing,' Mangieri said of the restaurant on Orchard Street in New York. 'It's a life's work.' Restaurants in Los Angeles and San Francisco snagged the next two spots on the list of top pizzerias in the US, which also included nine other New York pizzerias. Pizzeria Sei, the No. 2 pizzeria in the US, is run by William Joo, whom the organization deemed 'very talented.' And American pizza 'legend' Tony Gemignani came in third with his Tony's Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco. Other cities known for their pizza also made appearances on the list, including New Haven where the restaurant Zeneli was singled out. California fared particularly well, with honors also going to pizzerias in San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Berkeley. But the gospel of Neapolitan pizza has traveled widely, and the ranking also included restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky, and Charlotte, North Carolina. The ranking was announced at the West Edge in New York's Chelsea Market on Tuesday. Have a hankering for more pizza news? The organization will announce the best pizzerias in Italy on July 15 and the world's best pizzerias in September. The top 10 pizzerias in the US according to 50 Top Pizza: 1 Una Pizza Napoletana - (New York) 2 Pizzeria Sei – (Los Angeles) 3 Tony's Pizza Napoletana – (San Francisco) 4 Jay's – (Kenmore, New York) 5 Ribalta – (New York) 6 Robert's – (Chicago) 7 Don Antonio – (New York) 8 Ken's Artisan Pizza – (Portland, Oregon) 9 Truly Pizza – (Dana Point, California) 10 La Leggenda – (Miami)
