Why Public Health Groups are Concerned About Changes to COVID Vaccine Recommendations

Recent changes to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are raising alarms among public health experts. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to remove COVID vaccines from the CDC’s list for pregnant women and children bypassed the CDC’s advisory committee and lacked public explanation or supporting data.

Experts, including Dr. Richard Besser, stress that vaccination during pregnancy protects both mothers and infants and warn that the move could create inequities, limiting vaccine access for lower-income families. Coupled with cuts to FDA and CDC communication staff, public health leaders are concerned these shifts will undermine transparency, equity, and the nation’s ability to respond effectively to future health risks. Read the interview from PBS here.