HHS Considers Dropping COVID Vaccine Recommendations for Pregnant Women and Children

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is reportedly considering the removal of recommendations for routine COVID-19 vaccinations for pregnant women, teenagers, and children. The Wall Street Journal reported this development on May 15, with sources familiar with the matter suggesting that changes could be forthcoming.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which operates under HHS, currently recommends that anyone aged six months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of their previous vaccine history. However, it remains unclear whether HHS plans to eliminate these recommendations entirely or simply encourage patients to consult their healthcare providers about the risks and benefits of vaccination.

As of late April, only about 14% of pregnant women and 13% of children had received the latest COVID-19 vaccine, according to CDC data. In the United States, three COVID vaccines have been authorized: those from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, both messenger RNA-based, and a protein-based vaccine by Novavax.

Moderna and Novavax declined to offer comments on the situation, while HHS and Pfizer did not respond to inquiries from Reuters for further information. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously expressed skepticism about vaccines, stirring concerns among public health advocates.

Dr. Marty Makary, the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has also voiced concerns regarding various public health approaches during the pandemic. The FDA is expected to unveil a new strategy for vaccine approvals in the coming weeks, further complicating the existing framework.

Executive Director Leland Lehrman of the newly established MAHA Institute announced the potential changes during an event, stating, ‘Today the secretary is announcing that HHS and the CDC are going to stop recommending routine COVID shots for children and pregnant women.’ This statement elicited applause from attendees.

Dorit Reiss, a law professor at UC Law San Francisco, expressed concern over the lack of a formal process for such a significant change, indicating that it could lead to insurance providers refusing to cover COVID vaccinations. Critics are worried that this may diminish access to vaccines for vulnerable populations, particularly pregnant individuals who may face higher risks from COVID-19.

In light of ongoing debates around COVID vaccinations, discussions among health experts have suggested that future recommendations may target only those at highest risk. This includes individuals over age 65 and young children with underlying medical conditions. Some critics of the proposed changes argue it could leave immunocompromised people more exposed to the virus.

This potential policy shift could represent a drastic departure from previous pandemic protocols and raise questions about the federal government’s commitment to pandemic preparedness and vaccination efforts.