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RFK Jr. announces the removal of COVID-19 vaccines from immunization recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, sparking concerns over vaccine skepticism and public health trust.
RFK Jr., HHS Secretary
The COVID-19 vaccine is no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, according to a Tuesday announcement from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Kennedy is a longtime vaccine skeptic who was appointed as HHS secretary by President Donald J. Trump to "Make America Healthy Again." So far, in addition to taking on some of the conventional wisdom around vaccines, Kennedy has targeted food dyes and remade health agencies via leadership firings, massive workforce reduction and organizational restructuring.
Kennedy announced the COVID-19 vaccine’s removal from the CDC recommended immunization schedule in a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, which is owned by Trump ally Elon Musk. In the video, he is flanked by NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D.
“Last year, the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another COVID shot, despite the lack of any clinical data to support the repeat booster strategy in children,” Kennedy said.
An expert physician panel discusses how vaccine policy has gone wrong under the Trump administration, why misinformation has flourished and what individual physicians can do to win back patient trust.
“That ends today,” added Bhattacharya. “It's common sense, and its good science."
Added Makary: “There's no evidence that healthy kids need it today, and most countries have stopped recommending it for children."
Also on Tuesday, Kennedy announced in a joint statement with the health minister for Argentina, that both countries were withdrawing from the World Health Organization over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed serious structural and operational shortcomings that undermined global trust and highlighted the urgent need for independent, science-based leadership in global health,” the statement read.
Many physicians and public health officials fear anti-vaccination leadership of HHS will erode patient trust in the science of vaccination, and have been alarmed by some of the decisions federal health agencies have made since Kennedy assumed control. In 2025, vaccine panel meetings have been canceled or rescheduled, senior officials involved with vaccines have been forced out or resigned, NIH grants to study vaccine hesitancy have been terminated, and ordered placebo-controlled studies for certain vaccines.
Georges Benjamin, MD, the executive director of the American Public Health Association, said in April that Kennedy should resign or be fired.
“As a physician, I pledged to first do no harm and to speak up when I see harm being done by others. I ask my colleagues to join me and speak up,” Benjamin said in a statement. “Secretary Robert Kennedy is a danger to the public’s health and should resign or be fired.”
