In a unprecedented move to advance the protection of public health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services has done something dramatic. He has recently rescinded the CDC’s guidance recommending COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children as well as pregnant women. This decision comes amidst highly charged discussions about whether or not COVID-19 vaccines are needed and safe for these populations. These debates have dominated the public health discourse ever since the pandemic began.
The revocation is just the latest sign of a mounting vaccine strategy skepticism. With each new data point, researchers are working to understand how COVID-19 is impacting various marginalized communities. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) advises that children get yearly boosters just as they would for routine COVID-19 vaccinations. Vaccination rates for young children and pregnant women remain shockingly low. The CDC just released data indicating that only 13 percent of children are up to date with the 2024-25 version of the COVID-19 vaccine. For pregnant women, that number is 14.4 percent.
Kennedy’s claim did not clarify that he was talking about primary vaccinations. He failed to specify whether he was talking about promoting booster shots for children and pregnant women. This ambiguity has created uncertainty and alarm among public health leaders and practitioners.
Risk of COVID-19 During Pregnancy
The consequences related to COVID-19 infection during pregnancy are dire. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, emphasized the potential dangers, stating, “It is very clear that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic and lead to major disability, and it can cause devastating consequences for families.”
Increasingly, research has shown that maternal vaccination can substantially shield infants in the days and weeks after birth. The good news is that a review commissioned in early 2024 showed enough promise. For fully vaccinated pregnant women, the risk of contracting COVID-19 while pregnant was 61 percent lower. What this data indicates is that vaccination protects mothers from severe illness and its protection is being passed down to newborns.
Immunization rates are still dangerously low, calling into question public trust and awareness of the demonstrable benefit of vaccines. The majority of hospitalized infants under six months were born to mothers without vaccinations. This underscores the significant dangers associated with widespread under-vaccination of pregnant people.
“Growing evidence shows just how much vaccination during pregnancy protects the infant after birth.” – Steven J Fleischman
The Current State of Children’s Vaccination
Amid these discussions, Tara C. Smith, an epidemiologist at Kent State University, noted that COVID-19 was among the top ten causes of death in children during the peak of the pandemic from 2020 to 2022. This statistic further shows that the virus still continues to pose a significant danger to younger populations. Smith stated, “Though we may no longer be at that stage … we vaccinate for influenza, so why not continue to do so for COVID?”
As health officials consider their next steps, William Schaffner pointed out that “by now, 95 percent of us have had experience with COVID, either through the vaccine or through illness or both.” He explained that the newer current variants were extremely mild relative to previous variations. This historic change will shape health recommendations for years to come.
The ACIP is already preparing to revisit its recommendations in the June meeting. Or they would be looking into ways to create more tailored vaccination approaches to reach children. Schaffner noted, “If you listened to the discussions in the most recent previous meeting, they very much seemed to be moving in a more targeted approach.”
Confusion and Controversy
Kennedy’s sudden move has faced a tsunami of skepticism from all sides by well-respected public health experts. Despite these advantages, critics say that it goes against all the prior guidance from federal public health agencies. Dr. Peter Hotez remarked on this inconsistency: “They literally contradicted themselves over the course of a couple of days.”
Brooke Nichols deepened the conversation by addressing an important, albeit inconvenient truth. She observed that several countries limit access to COVID-19 vaccines among children to those with underlying health conditions or are immunocompromised. This creates equity and access issues for marginalized populations in getting vaccinated.
Kennedy’s anti-revaccination stance is indicative of a growing distrust toward established science regarding frequent vaccinations among minors. He remarked, “Last year, the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another COVID shot, despite the lack of any clinical data to support the repeat booster strategy in children.”
With debates still raging, collaboration has proven to be essential. It will take the help of every healthcare provider and every patient to ensure informed decisions about vaccinations are made. Dr. Marty Makary emphasized this point by stating: “The decision about vaccination should be between a pregnant woman and her doctor.”
