In a move that recalibrates the nation's COVID-19 vaccination strategy, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has declared that healthy children and pregnant women will no longer be routinely recommended to receive the COVID vaccine. This significant policy adjustment was announced on May 27, 2025, and represents a departure from previous guidance, which had advocated for vaccinations starting at six months of age.
The updated recommendations come amid a broader discussion about the necessity and frequency of COVID vaccinations, especially for populations at lower risk of severe disease. Kennedy, in a video statement, criticized the lack of clinical data supporting repeated booster shots for children and called the new direction "common sense" and "good science."
Critics of the expansive vaccination policy have long pointed out the minimal risk of serious illness from COVID-19 in healthy children and pregnant women. Concerns have also been raised about potential side effects, including myocarditis, a heart inflammation condition more commonly observed in younger adults. These considerations have influenced the decision to revise the vaccine guidance.
Supporting the move, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Dr. Marty Makary, at the helm of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), echoed Kennedy's sentiments. Makary highlighted a lack of evidence for the necessity of the vaccine in healthy kids, noting that most countries have ceased recommending it for children.
The new policy stipulates that while routine shots are no longer advised for healthy individuals under 65, those with certain underlying health conditions will still be eligible for vaccination. Dr. Vinay Prasad of the FDA remarked on the wide-ranging list of health issues that may still necessitate vaccination, indicating that many will continue to be recommended for the shots.
Typically, alterations to vaccine recommendations involve a consultation with the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices before any HHS Secretary action. However, Kennedy's direct exercise of authority, notably during a time when the CDC lacks a permanent director, is both uncommon and significant.
Adding to this policy shift, the FDA has also announced that it will no longer automatically approve annual COVID booster shots. Dr. Prasad emphasized the need for rigorous clinical studies to substantiate the benefits of boosters, especially for younger, lower-risk adults. This position is supported by former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, who has called for randomized clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of new vaccine boosters.
The uptake of COVID vaccines in the U.S. has seen a decline, with only 23 percent of eligible individuals receiving the booster last year. The broad eligibility criteria, designed to ensure widespread access amidst the complexities of the U.S. health insurance system, have been cited as a contributing factor to the waning public participation.
Kennedy's stance on COVID vaccines has been a matter of public record; in 2021, he labeled them as the "deadliest vaccine ever made" and petitioned for their authorization to be revoked. However, his position appears to have evolved post his presidential election victory in 2024. He has since stated that while he would not "take away anybody’s vaccine," the emphasis should be on personal choice informed by scientific safety and efficacy data.
As the nation responds to this recalibration of vaccine policy, the conversation continues to evolve around the balance between public health directives and individual choice.
