CDC removes COVID vaccine from recommended immunizations for pregnant people

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., along with NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary, announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has removed the COVID vaccine from the recommended immunization schedule for healthy pregnant people. The change contradicts the advice of leading professional medical groups. Pregnant and postpartum individuals have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including higher risk for preterm birth, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). ACOG recommends that pregnant people stay up to date on their COVID vaccines.

Notably, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) typically updates the immunization schedules, Secretary Kennedy did not share the decision to change the guidance with CDC staff before it became public, nor did he wait to receive the recommendations for the fall 2025 vaccine schedule from a CDC advisory panel.