RFK Jr. attacks pediatricians' group over vaccine recommendations
The AAP, however, said it had retained its guidance for young children to get the shots because they are still at risk of severe cases of the disease. 'COVID-19 continues to result in hospitalization and death in the pediatric population,' the group said in a release explaining its recommendations, adding that 'children younger than 2 years old are especially vulnerable to severe COVID-19 and should be prioritized for vaccination.'
The pediatric group did not immediately respond to POLITICO's request for comment regarding Kennedy's remarks.
Earlier Tuesday, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon accused the pediatricians of 'freelancing its own recommendations, while smearing those who demand accountability' in a statement to POLITICO.
AAP President Susan J. Kressly defended her group's guidance in response, saying they were 'based only in the science, the needs of children, and the care that pediatricians have for the children in every community.'
Despite the disagreement over vaccination of young children, both the new CDC guidance and the pediatricians continue to recommend shots for children with underlying conditions that could put them at risk for severe disease. Both have also scaled back recommendations for healthy children older than 6 months, saying that parents of children without underlying conditions should decide on vaccination in consultation with their pediatrician .
Why it matters: The pediatricians' split with the CDC underscores the depth of the distrust between the medical establishment and Kennedy — a longtime vaccine skeptic who once said the Covid vaccine was 'the deadliest vaccine ever made' in defiance of scientific consensus.
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