Leading physician groups condemn RFK Jr.'s decision to drop COVID-19 vaccine guidance for children, pregnant women

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. © U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

When U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., announced Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, many of the country’s leading physician groups sounded alarm and responded with direct criticism.

From family medicine to infectious disease and obstetrics, professional societies agreed that the decision could threaten patient health, undermine science-based policymaking and complicate vaccine access for millions of Americans. Most emphasized that the science behind the vaccines has not changed — only the politics.

Tina Tan, M.D., FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP © IDSA

“This decision bypassed longstanding processes through which the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC — an external body of highly vetted experts — conducts a robust review of scientific evidence in open, public meetings to make vaccine recommendations for people of all ages,” said Tina Tan, M.D., FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). “It is concerning that such a significant policy change was made unilaterally outside an open, evidence-based process with no regard for the negative impact this will have on millions of Americans.”

The announcement — made via a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, by Kennedy, flanked by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D. — removed COVID-19 vaccination from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) recommended schedule for two groups long considered medically vulnerable.

“It’s common sense, and it’s good science,” Bhattacharya said in the video.

Physician leaders across specialties disagreed.

Jen Brull, M.D., FAAFP © AAFP

Family medicine physicians were among the first to publicly respond. In a statement issued May 28, Jen Brull, M.D., FAAFP, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), called the move a “dangerous setback.”

“Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives,” Brull said. “The recent announcement of intended changes to the recommended immunization schedule for children and pregnant persons circumvents the established process for vaccine review and recommendations and, if fully implemented, would be a dangerous setback.”

Jason M. Goldman, M.D., MACP © ACP

Brull also noted the changes would “undermine access, impact insurance coverage and impede progress made toward improving public health.”

The American College of Physicians (ACP) said the HHS announcement “bypasses our country’s standard, transparent vaccine review process,” and “ignores evidence showing that these populations … can be at heightened risk of severe illness from COVID-19.”

“The integrity of medical practice depends on rigorous adherence to evidence-based decision-making,” said ACP President Jason Goldman, M.D., MACP. “We urge the administration to reconsider this recommendation and allow the long-standing process of transparent and open data review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to occur for the sake of the health of the United States.”

Access and insurance at risk, say infectious disease and OB-GYN experts

Physician leaders are particularly worried that the policy shift could affect insurance coverage. Federal immunization recommendations often determine whether vaccines are fully covered under both public and private health plans. Without that guidance, payers could begin denying coverage for COVID-19 shots in children and during pregnancy for those who still want them.

Steven Fleischman, M.D., MBA, FACOG © ACOG

“This takes away choices and will negatively impact [patients],” Tan said. “IDSA strongly urges insurers to maintain coverage for COVID-19 vaccines so that all Americans can make the best decisions to protect themselves and their families against severe illness, hospitalization and death.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) also raised concern for patients who may now forgo vaccination due to confusion or reduced access.

“The science has not changed,” said ACOG President Steven Fleischman, M.D., MBA, FACOG. “COVID-19 infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic and lead to major disability … We are very concerned about the potential deterioration of vaccine confidence in the future.”

Fleischman cited growing evidence that maternal vaccination protects infants after birth — especially those younger six months old who aren't yet eligible for their own vaccinations.

Sean O’Leary, M.D., MPH © AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases

Pediatricians warn of confusion and consequences

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) was similarly blunt. Sean O’Leary, M.D., MPH, who chairs the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases, told NPR the decision was “really concerning.”

“I think it’s going to be confusing, not only for parents, but also for public health professionals and medical professionals, as well,” O’Leary said. “This takes away choice.”

Although children are less likely than adults to suffer severe COVID-19 illness, infants and immunocompromised children remain at risk — and pediatricians emphasize that some kids do experience severe or long-lasting effects, including long COVID.

A departure from norms — and data

Under typical circumstances, any change to the recommended immunization schedule would be developed by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel of independent experts that review evidence in public meetings.

That process, though, was skipped. The next ACIP meeting is not scheduled until June 25-26.

Kennedy’s move came just days after the Trump administration imposed new regulatory hurdles for future COVID vaccine boosters, drawing further criticism from scientists and public health officials.

Although HHS officials have offered few details, a department spokesperson said in a written statement that “HHS and the CDC remain committed to gold standard science and to ensuring the health and well-being of all Americans — especially our nation’s children.”

Physician groups urge HHS to reverse course.

“We urge the administration to reconsider this recommendation and allow the long-standing process of transparent and open data review … for the sake of the health of the United States,” Goldman said.

For now, physicians across specialties are left grappling with how to guide patients amid yet another shift in vaccine policy, one that they say was made without them.