It turns out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still recommending COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children, according to its newest immunization schedule, released on May 29. This comes just days after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., along with leaders from the FDA and NIH, announced that the U.S. would no longer push routine COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy kids and pregnant women. So while there’s been some mixed messaging, the CDC’s official guidance hasn’t changed — for now, they’re still advising vaccination.
So, can kids still get the COVID vaccine?
Yes — if parents choose to. The new guidance says that children can still get the COVID-19 vaccine, but it’s now more of a personal choice. The decision should be based on your child’s specific health needs, your family’s situation, and your doctor’s advice. Earlier this week, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., along with the heads of the FDA and NIH, shared in a video that COVID shots have been taken off the CDC’s routine vaccine schedule for healthy kids. So while the CDC isn’t pushing it anymore, the option is still available if it feels right for your family.
“If a parent desires their healthy child to be vaccinated or if a pregnant woman desires to be vaccinated, their decision should be based on informed consent through the clinical judgment of their healthcare provider,” said Andrew Nixon, Health and Human Services spokesman.
