Federal health officials have rescinded longstanding recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children and pregnant women.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on X that the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer recommended for healthy pregnant women and healthy children.
The agency’s formal documents do not provide guidance on whether pregnant women should receive the vaccine, instead suggesting that parents consult with healthcare providers regarding vaccination for their children.
Despite these changes, it is expected that insurers will still be required to cover COVID-19 vaccinations for children if their parents choose to have them vaccinated.
These new vaccination guidelines were published on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website late Thursday.
### Insurers Left in the Dark
There remains uncertainty regarding whether insurers will be mandated under federal law to pay for vaccinations for pregnant women following this decision.
The announcement has drawn criticism from leading pediatric and obstetric organizations, with many doctors insisting that no new evidence justifies the alteration of recommendations for healthy pregnant women and children.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists voiced concerns about potential confusion for patients, providers, and payers due to this lack of clarity.
Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, stated that the science supporting COVID-19 vaccinations during pregnancy remains unchanged, underscoring that vaccination offers protection to both the expectant mother and the newborn.
In his remarks, he cautioned that COVID-19 can be particularly severe in pregnant women, asserting that infection can lead to dire consequences.
Similarly, Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, criticized the change for its confusion and lack of transparency regarding the evidence behind the new recommendations.
Dr. Kressly emphasized that vaccination continues to be a vital tool for protecting families against COVID-19 and its complications, including long COVID.
Concerns were also raised regarding the timing of the announcement, with experts suggesting that the administration should have waited for guidance from a committee of experts advising the CDC on immunization recommendations.
### California’s Position
In response, the California Department of Public Health reiterated its support for the previous recommendation, stating that COVID-19 vaccines should be accessible to all individuals aged 6 months and older who wish to get vaccinated.
The CDC is currently experiencing challenges with senior leadership and lacks an acting director, which may contribute to the recent shifts in vaccine recommendations.
Typically, the CDC director makes final decisions on vaccination guidance after receiving input from its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, comprised of doctors and scientists.
Despite the official recommendations, vaccination rates among children and pregnant women remain relatively low.
As of late April, only 13% of children and 14.4% of pregnant women had received the most recent COVID-19 vaccine, compared to about 23% of the overall adult population and 27.8% of seniors over the age of 65.
Moreover, the CDC estimates that between 31,000 and 50,000 COVID-related deaths have occurred since October, alongside 270,000 to 430,000 hospitalizations.
### Changes to Vaccine Guidance
The recent CDC guidance has altered previous recommendations stating all individuals ages 6 months and older should receive the updated COVID vaccine.
The latest vaccine version released in September is labeled as the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine.
As of Thursday, the CDC’s pediatric immunization schedule has shifted to indicate that vaccination decisions for healthy children aged 6 months to 17 years should be made based on “shared clinical decision-making.”
This approach signifies that healthcare providers and parents or guardians are meant to discuss vaccination on a case-by-case basis, factoring in clinical judgment and personal circumstances.
The CDC’s updated information suggests that if parents wish for their child to be vaccinated, they may proceed with vaccination informed by their healthcare provider’s clinical judgment.
This adjustment has elicited skepticism from health experts.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the vaccine-skeptic secretary of Health and Human Services, has claimed a consequential lack of clinical data supporting the repeated booster strategy for children.
Nevertheless, prior presentations by CDC officials have demonstrated that updated vaccines can provide substantial protection against COVID-related emergency care visits for both children and adults.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco, expressed a desire for the CDC to maintain a broader recommendation for COVID vaccination for everyone over 6 months.
He argued that existing data does not suggest a need to restrict vaccinations for children.
Chin-Hong labeled the proposal for shared decision-making as vague and likely to hinder vaccination uptake.
In line with this sentiment, Dr. Kressly pointed out that the shared clinical decision-making model lacks clear guidance, ultimately disadvantaging both physicians and families.
### Concerns Over Insurance Coverage
Leading up to the new guidelines, concerns were raised that the proposed changes could lead to insurers terminating coverage for COVID vaccines for healthy children.
This apprehension escalated when Kennedy publicly remarked that the recommendation for healthy children and pregnant women had been removed from the CDC’s immunization schedule.
However, despite the CDC’s decision to drop the recommendation for healthy children, they have maintained the vaccine’s presence on the pediatric immunization schedule.
This means that eligible children are still expected to have their vaccinations covered by insurance, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
### Response from Pharmacies and Insurers
Several questions remain regarding implementation.
Providers might begin requiring parental consent for vaccinations for healthy children and pregnant women.
Additionally, access to vaccinations through pharmacies might face new challenges.
In statements from CVS Pharmacy, it was highlighted that they abide by federal guidance and state laws surrounding vaccine administration and are keeping an eye on any changes made by the government regarding vaccine eligibility.
Likewise, Aetna, a CVS-owned insurer, reported that it will consider any necessary adjustments in coverage based on federal changes.
On the other hand, Blue Shield of California has confirmed that it will not alter its policies regarding COVID-19 vaccine coverage.
In a statement, they specified that, regardless of federal policy shifts, the decision to vaccinate lies between members and their healthcare providers and confirmed that prior authorization is not required.
California law mandates that health plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care must cover COVID vaccines without prior authorization, ensuring consumers incur no costs if they use in-network providers for the services.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-05-31/cdc-radically-changes-its-covid-vaccine-recommendations-heres-what-you-need-to-know
