RFK Jr. ends COVID vaccine recommendation for healthy kids and pregnant women

US changes coronavirus vaccine policy

The United States changed its policy regarding coronavirus vaccine just weeks ahead of the CDC advisory panel meeting on the topic. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says CDC no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children or pregnant women. LiveNOW's Christina Evans spoke about the decision with Amesh Adajla, senior scholar at Johns Hopkins University.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, a controversial announcement made weeks before a CDC advisory panel was set to weigh in.

The shift was made public in a brief 58-second video posted on Kennedy’s official X account. The announcement appeared to override longstanding CDC guidance that urges annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans aged 6 months and older. 

Kennedy did not appear alongside any CDC officials, and the agency referred all questions to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Why did Kennedy pull vaccine guidance now?

The backstory:

Kennedy, a longtime critic of childhood vaccination prior to joining the Trump administration, has repeatedly clashed with federal health experts. In the video, he criticized the CDC’s prior stance, saying COVID-19 shots had been pushed for children "despite the lack of any clinical data."

Appearing alongside Kennedy were FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya—two Trump appointees who have backed a more limited approach to COVID vaccination.

Kennedy’s move comes as federal agencies were preparing to revisit the issue. The CDC’s advisory committee is scheduled to meet in June and had been expected to propose narrowing vaccine guidance to high-risk groups. But Kennedy said he decided not to wait.

What they're saying:

Kennedy did not provide supporting documentation or specific risk-benefit data in his video statement. CDC officials declined to comment on the decision and referred reporters to HHS.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at an event. As U.S. Health Secretary, he recently announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

Health experts have warned that vaccine guidance should be grounded in peer-reviewed evidence and consensus, not unilateral executive action. However, Kennedy has pushed for a more decentralized approach to public health decisions since his appointment.

Timeline:

Here’s how the decision unfolded:

• Spring 2024–Spring 2025: Annual COVID-19 boosters recommended for all Americans 6 months and older
• May 2025: FDA limits routine approvals to seniors and high-risk younger people
• May 28, 2025: Kennedy posts video stating CDC guidance no longer includes healthy children or pregnant women
• June 2025 (scheduled): CDC advisory panel to meet and consider revised fall vaccine guidance

What's next:

It remains unclear whether Kennedy’s announcement will be formalized in CDC policy documents ahead of the June advisory panel meeting. 

HHS has not released detailed data to support the decision, and additional guidance for providers and parents is expected to follow. The FDA has already scaled back vaccine access for low-risk groups, signaling broader administration support for this pivot.