Shocking twist: CDC cancels COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for children and pregnant women – what does this mean for you?
The sudden decision, which shocked the medical community and sparked a wave of questions from parents, was announced on May 27, 2025. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced via social media platform X that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommends routine COVID-19 vaccination for healthy children and pregnant women.
This change, the removal of the vaccine from the recommended immunization schedule, marks a new chapter in the fight against the pandemic, but it also raises controversy and uncertainty. What is behind this decision, and how will it affect you and your family?
An unexpected announcement COVID-19
On the evening of May 27, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed Minister of Health, made an announcement that took many by surprise: the CDC no longer recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children and pregnant women. This decision, published in a post on X, means that the vaccine is no longer part of the recommended immunization schedule for these groups. Previously, the CDC strongly recommended vaccination for everyone over 6 months of age, emphasizing its importance in preventing severe forms of the disease.
This change comes just a week after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced stricter requirements for COVID-19 vaccines, limiting their use to the elderly and those at high risk of severe disease. The CDC’s decision appears to be part of a broader strategy to shift to a risk-based approach that focuses on protecting the most vulnerable groups.
Why did this happen?
The CDC’s decision reflects the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its onset in 2020, the virus has changed significantly. New strains, such as KP.3.1.1 and XEC, have become less virulent, and widespread immunity — thanks to vaccination and natural infection — has led to fewer hospitalizations and deaths. According to the CDC, there were more than 916,300 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and more than 75,500 deaths in 2023, but by May 2025, these numbers had dropped significantly.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and Dr. Cody Meissner of Dartmouth University, who supported the change, argue that there is insufficient evidence to justify routine vaccination of healthy children. “The virus has become less dangerous, and the emphasis on vaccinating all children and pregnant women was perhaps excessive,” Meissner noted in an editorial. Low vaccination rates among healthy children — less than 10% received an annual booster dose — also likely influenced the CDC’s decision.
However, not everyone agrees with this approach. Dr. William Schaffner, an ACIP consultant from Vanderbilt University, called the decision-making process “upside down.” Vaccination recommendations are usually thoroughly discussed and voted on by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), but in this case, the decision was announced directly, causing concern among some experts.
Controversy surrounding the process
The departure from the standard ACIP voting procedure was one of the most controversial aspects of this decision. The ACIP, which is made up of independent experts, usually reviews scientific data and votes on changes to vaccination recommendations, after which the CDC director makes the final decision. In this case, Kennedy’s announcement bypassed that process, drawing criticism from experts such as Dorit Reiss, a law professor at the University of California, San Francisco.
“Bypassing the advisory committee could undermine trust in the CDC and create legal risks,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
In addition, this change could affect access to vaccines. Insurance companies such as CVS Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association are already considering how this decision will affect vaccination coverage. Without the CDC’s recommendation, vaccines may become less accessible to some families, especially under the Vaccines for Children program.
Impact on pregnant women and children
This change is particularly significant for pregnant women. Previously, the CDC emphasized the importance of vaccination during pregnancy to protect mothers and newborns from severe forms of COVID-19. Studies published on the CDC website (CDC Pregnancy Studies) show that vaccination is safe and effective, reducing the risk of hospitalization and passing antibodies to the baby. However, given the reduced severity of the disease, the CDC likely believes that routine vaccination is no longer warranted for healthy pregnant women.
For children, the vaccine has also proven to be safe and effective in preventing severe forms of the disease. However, low vaccination rates among healthy children and the reduced risk of severe COVID-19 may have prompted the CDC to revise its recommendations. This does not mean that the vaccine is unsafe, but it does highlight that its benefits for healthy children may be less significant under current conditions.
Keep an eye on local COVID-19 case numbers.
The decision to vaccinate should be personal and made together with your doctor. Parents have the right to make an informed choice, and talking openly with healthcare professionals will help you make the right decision.
The current pandemic situation
By May 2025, the COVID-19 pandemic had changed significantly. The virus had become endemic, and its severity had decreased due to widespread immunity. Hospitalizations and mortality had declined significantly compared to 2020–2021, and most cases were mild. This likely influenced the CDC’s decision to focus on protecting the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, for whom two doses of the 2024–2025 vaccine are recommended, six months apart (CDC Vaccine Recommendations).
What’s next?
The CDC’s decision to abandon routine vaccination of healthy children and pregnant women is a turning point that reflects a new phase of the pandemic. However, it also raises important questions: Will the incidence of disease increase among these groups? How will this affect access to vaccines? Will there be consequences for public confidence in vaccination?
For parents and expectant mothers, this change may cause both relief and concern. It is important to stay informed, follow CDC updates, and consult with doctors. The pandemic has taught us that flexibility and awareness are key to protecting the health of our families.
A new chapter in the fight against COVID-19 lies ahead, where targeted measures and individualized approaches are becoming a priority. Time will tell whether this strategy will prove successful, but one thing is clear: we are entering an era where science and choice go hand in hand.
Monkeypox who declares global emergency
Gleb Perov is the founder and chief meteorologist of POGODNIK, a leading weather forecasting service in Eastern Europe. With over 15 years of hands-on experience in meteorology and climate analysis, he has worked private weather services.
Gleb is the author of numerous scientific and analytical publications on climate, magnetic storms, and atmospheric processes. He regularly collaborates with major international agencies such as NOAA, ECMWF.
