New Recommendations on COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children
In a recent update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has adjusted its guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations for children. The new recommendations state that healthy children can receive the vaccine, moving away from previous language that suggested they should be vaccinated.
This change comes shortly after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health, announced that vaccinations would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. Despite this shift for children, the updated guidelines still maintain vaccination recommendations for pregnant women, which has raised concerns among some medical professionals.
Currently, CDC officials have not addressed inquiries regarding these new guidelines. In a brief announcement shared on social media, Kennedy emphasized the importance of giving parents control over vaccination decisions for their children. The updated CDC website suggests that parents consult their doctors before deciding on vaccination, rather than making it a firm requirement.
This approach, known as shared decision-making, allows health insurance to cover vaccinations. However, health experts are wary, noting that vaccination rates typically drop when health authorities adopt less assertive language. Currently, vaccination rates for COVID-19 in children are low, with only 13% of children and 23% of adults vaccinated for the upcoming 2024-2025 cycles.
As discussions regarding vaccination recommendations evolve, there’s growing interest in focusing efforts on older adults, who are more at risk of severe outcomes from the virus. A CDC advisory panel is scheduled to meet in June to discuss vaccinations for the fall, potentially recommending them for high-risk groups while offering options to those at lower risk.
Kennedy, who has long been critical of vaccine mandates, chose to announce these changes without waiting for the advisory panel’s input, reflecting a significant shift in the conversation around COVID-19 vaccinations in children.
