The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially removed routine COVID-19 vaccinations for pregnant women and healthy children from its immunization schedule, signaling a major shift in federal health policy.
The announcement, confirmed Tuesday, marks a significant departure from previous recommendations that prioritized widespread vaccination across all age groups and demographics. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared the update in a video on the social media platform X, noting that the change aligns with the Trump administration’s broader effort to scale back federal health mandates.
Kennedy, a longstanding critic of vaccine policy, said the decision reflects evolving scientific priorities and the need for a more focused approach to public health. “This is about recalibrating our strategies based on current data and long-term goals,” he said.
The move comes just days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it will now require new clinical trials before approving annual COVID-19 booster shots for healthy Americans under 65. Under the revised guidance, boosters will be prioritized for older adults and individuals at high risk of severe illness.
The shift effectively curtails mass vaccination campaigns for large segments of the population, narrowing future recommendations to those most vulnerable. While many have welcomed the decision as a return to more individualized healthcare strategies, it has also sparked concern among some public health experts who caution against weakening protections against future variants.
Major vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer have yet to respond to the changes.
The decision represents a new chapter in the federal response to COVID-19 — one focused less on universal precaution and more on targeted protection.