CDC still recommends childhood COVID vaccines, despite RFK announcement
WASHINGTON −The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still recommending COVID vaccines for healthy children, according to the CDC's latest published immunization schedule.
The schedule, published late on May 29 by the public health agency, comes after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr − alongside the heads of the FDA and the NIH − earlier this week said the U.S. would stop recommending routine COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women.
More: White House blames 'formatting' for errors in RFK Jr.'s MAHA report. Authors push back.
The new guidance says parents who want to vaccinate a child for the coronavirus "may receive COVID-19 vaccination, informed by the clinical judgment of a healthcare provider and personal preference and circumstances."
Kennedy Jr., FDA commissioner Marty Makary and NIH director Jay Bhattacharya had said in a video that the shots were removed from the CDC's recommended immunization schedule.
More: A new COVID variant is sweeping through China. Here's what to know about NB.1.8.1
The CDC, following its panel of outside experts, had previously recommended updated COVID vaccines for everyone aged six months and older, and current recommendations are in line with those made before.
'The CDC and HHS encourage individuals to talk with their healthcare provider on any medical decisions,' HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said in an email to the Washington Post.
More: FDA sets new COVID booster guidelines for healthy adults under 65
More: Want a COVID vaccine? It could cost you $200.
"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,' Nixon said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CDC recommends COVID vaccine for kids, despite RFK announcement
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