Latest news with #RFKJr.
18 hours ago
- Health
CDC keeps Covid vaccine recommendation for healthy children
In a break with HHS Secretary RFK Jr.'s recent announcement over removing Covid vaccines for children, the CDC released its latest immunization schedule recommending the vaccine for healthy children.
New York Post
19 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
CDC contradicts RFK Jr. — says kids can still get COVID-19 shots
Children as young as 6-months-old may still receive COVID-19 vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised Thursday — contradicting Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s announcement that the shot would be 'removed' from the childhood immunization schedule. 'Where the parent presents with a desire for their child to be vaccinated, children 6 months and older may receive COVID-19 vaccination, informed by the clinical judgment of a healthcare provider and personal preference and circumstances,' the CDC's latest guidance on vaccines for children, released Thursday, stated. The shift to so-called 'shared clinical decision-making' — a change from the CDC's previous recommendation that 'all children should' receive at least one dose at 6 months — will compel health insurance companies to keep covering the cost of the vaccine, according to the agency. Advertisement The CDC's latest guidance on COVID shots for kids appears to contradict Kennedy's announcement that the vaccine would be 'removed' from childhood vaccine schedules. AP On Tuesday, Kennedy indicated the COVID-19 vaccine would no longer be recommended by the CDC for healthy children and pregnant women. 'I couldn't be more pleased to announce that as of today the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule,' RFK Jr., said in a video posted on X. Advertisement 'We're now one step closer to realizing President Trump's promise to make America healthy again. 'Bottom line: it's common sense, and it's good science,' the HHS secretary added. The CDC still lists the shot on its vaccine schedule for adults, but does not provide guidance on whether pregnant women should take it. 'No Guidance/Not Applicable,' reads the COVID-19 shot update for pregnant women. Advertisement The HHS did not respond to The Post's request for comment. Kennedy and many of his fellow top health officials, such as FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, have long raised suspicions about the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to low-risk populations. Secretary Kennedy/X A spokesperson for HHS told the New York Times that Biden-era guidance for the shot had been 'removed' from the CDC's schedule, but did not address why the public health agency did not entirely remove it — as RFK Jr. suggested would happen. 'The old COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children under 18 and for pregnant women have been removed from the CDC. vaccine schedule,' the spokesperson said. 'The CDC and HHS encourage individuals to talk with their health care provider about any personal medical decision. Advertisement 'Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy, HHS. is restoring the doctor-patient relationship. If a parent desires their healthy child to be vaccinated, their decision should be based on informed consent through the clinical judgment of their health care provider.' Kennedy and many of his fellow top health officials, such as Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, have long raised suspicions about the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to low-risk populations.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
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
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
North Carolina agriculture commissioner speaks out against raw milk consumption; ‘puts human health at risk'
RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) — North Carolina's top agriculture leader is weighing in on the national debate over the safety of raw milk. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, a Republican, released an op-ed on Friday in which he offered his opinion on the consumption of raw milk. This debate has garnered national attention as figures like U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have advocated it as a healthier alternative to widely available pasteurized milk. The milk traditionally sold in most grocery stores has been pasteurized, meaning it has been heated to at least 161 degrees to kill the majority of pathogens that could be transferred from a cow to a human through milk. Raw milk is not heated in this way. 'Grade A Milk is one of the safest food products available because food science, specifically pasteurization, has made it that way,' Troxler wrote. 'The development of pasteurization has proven effective in killing bacteria in milk that caused tuberculosis, Q fever, diphtheria, severe streptococcal infections, typhoid fever and other foodborne illnesses. 'In 1938, 25% of disease outbreaks due to contaminated food and water were milk related. Today, thanks to pasteurization, it is less than 1%. Of that 1%, it should be noted that 70% of today's milk-related numbers are linked to raw milk.' Troxler emphasizes that studies have repeatedly shown that raw milk is not healthier or safer than pasteurized milk, stating that numerous studies have shown that 'raw milk puts human health at risk' and that the FDA and CDC advise against human consumption of raw milk. He acknowledged that there is a loophole allowing for the sale of raw milk if it is marketed as being for pets. So-called 'pet milk' is not regulated by the FDA in the same way as milk for human consumption. 'RFK Jr. is bad medicine': 400 NC doctors urge rejection of RFK Jr. to lead DHHS It is a not-so-well-kept secret that this loophole provides access to a completely untested and minimally regulated product that people are consuming and giving to their children. With regulatory responsibility over food safety, Grade A milk and even the safety of animal feed falling to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, I cannot turn a blind eye to what we know is going on with the sales of raw milk, especially since children are involved. Science says raw milk is not safe. Raw milk is 150 times more likely to cause an outbreak than pasteurized milk. Even with our best efforts and diligent work, foodborne illnesses, stillbirths and miscarriages will occur if we allow the retail sale of raw milk. Steve Troxler Troxler adds that raw milk can transmit avian influenza, commonly called bird flu. His department has documented cases of pets dying after drinking raw or unpasteurized milk. 'Raw milk offers no scientifically proven safeguards,' Troxler wrote. 'The risk of consuming raw milk far outweighs any perceived health benefits being claimed. The bacteria found in raw milk are not probiotics.' According to Troxler, the FDA and CDC have found no meaningful difference between the nutrition found in raw milk and pasteurized milk. While the agriculture commissioner says he understands that farmers might see raw milk as another avenue to make money, he says the liability is too high as an outbreak linked to raw milk is unlikely to be covered by insurance and could create a financial burden that would significantly impact farmers. 'As I have looked over the data and information, the science shows me raw milk presents a significant public health risk particularly to children, people with compromised immune systems and the elderly,' Troxler wrote. 'Having seen the impacts of food-borne illnesses and being charged with food safety for humans and pets, my conscious leads me to push for changes to legislation that will protect the most vulnerable among us – our children.' While Kennedy has nationally advocated for relaxing regulations on the sale of raw milk, more Americans favor those regulations than don't, according to Associated Press polling. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
a day ago
- Health
- USA Today
CDC still recommends childhood COVID vaccines, despite RFK announcement
CDC still recommends childhood COVID vaccines, despite RFK announcement The Covid-19 vaccine remains on the CDC's revised schedule of childhood vaccinations. Show Caption Hide Caption RFK Jr. says COVID-19 vaccine no longer recommended for some The COVID-19 vaccine is no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced recently the government would stop recommending routine Covid vaccinations. 'The CDC and HHS encourage individuals to talk with their healthcare provider on any medical decisions,' a Kennedy spokesman told the Washington Post. WASHINGTON −The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still recommending COVID vaccines for healthy children, the Washington Post reported May 30, citing 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 that 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. The CDC, following its panel of outside experts, 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 Post. "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.
