CDC Clarifies That Kids May Receive COVID-19 Vaccine Through Shared Clinical Decision-Making

Following the announcement from Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr that the CDC will no longer be recommending that healthy children and pregnant individuals receive routine COVID-19 vaccinations, the CDC has updated its Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule. Notably, the new schedule still lists COVID-19 vaccines as something healthy individuals aged 6 months to 17 years “may receive” through “shared clinical decision-making.”^1-4

The CDC publishes routine vaccination recommendations for the United States population. | Image Credit: © Tada Images - stock.adobe.com

According to the updated guidance, shared clinical decision-making is undertaken on an individual basis, informed by conversations between the child’s parent and/or guardian and a health care provider. Whether informed by the clinical judgment of a health care provider, personal preference, or unique circumstances, if a parent presents with a clear desire for their child to be vaccinated, children 6 months and older may receive a COVID-19 vaccination.^2,5

When Pharmacy Times^® reached out to HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs for comment, Emily G. Hilliard, press secretary of HHS, cited a recent post from the X account of the department decrying news reports of a reported contradiction between the CDC and Kennedy—though also affirming the right to vaccinate following health care provider consultation—and referred to comments from FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, MD, MPH, claiming that evidence is lacking for the vaccination of healthy children.¹⁰

“As part of the Trump administration’s commitment to common sense, the COVID-19 vaccine will be removed from the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule,” Hilliard said in a statement. “With the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, it is time to move forward.”¹⁰

Conflicting Guidance Elicits Uproar From Health Care Providers, Physicians

The new CDC guidance differs significantly from past recommendations, aligning with the sentiment of Kennedy’s HHS. COVID-19 vaccines are no longer broadly recommended by the agency for everyone 6 months and older, as they were in the past. Furthermore, the CDC has removed recommendations in its Adult Immunization Schedule stating that pregnant individuals should receive a COVID-19 vaccination.^6,7

However, the discrepancy regarding childhood vaccinations that currently allows for the population to receive COVID-19 vaccines—despite Kennedy’s public opposing view—has sown confusion and elicited condemnation from sectors of the health care landscape. The changes in guidance could have far-reaching complications, with implications for future insurance provider coverage for COVID-19 vaccinations and a possible lack of protection for younger individuals, who carry their own unique risks when infected with COVID-19.^1,2

Leaders from the American College of Physicians (ACP) have released a statement opposing the myriad recent changes to FDA and CDC recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccines. In the statement, ACP emphasized its view that important public health recommendations such as these should avoid politicization while aiming to provide the highest standard of scientific backing to ease public concerns. Doing so can avoid public mistrust in health officials that has become preeminent in health care since the pandemic began.⁸

“A risk-based strategy for COVID-19 boosters has merit, but estimation of risk must weigh other factors beyond a person’s age and personal health conditions, such as social circumstances, living situation, work responsibilities, and family dynamics,” wrote Jason M. Goldman, MD, MACP, president of ACP, and Darilyn V. Moyer, MD, MACP, executive vice president and CEO of ACP. “Providing the opportunity for someone to be vaccinated based on the best available scientific evidence and their personal situations supports the concepts of liberty and choice.”⁸

Possible Impacts to COVID-19 Vaccine Insurance Coverage

Effects on patient insurance coverage are of paramount concern to not only ACP but also patients and health care providers. Under the Affordable Care Act, preventive services, including immunizations recommended for routine use in children, adolescents, and adults by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), are required to be covered. As the ACP leaders write, getting in front of formal ACIP recommendations in the form of a directive from Kennedy to remove children and pregnant individuals from COVID-19 vaccine recommendations—before ACIP has even had a chance to meet to discuss new guidance—puts insurance coverage for millions of these patients into flux.^8,9

“This could jeopardize payment coverage for millions of Americans who could not otherwise afford the vaccine to protect themselves, their families, and their fellow citizens,” Goldman and Moyer wrote.⁸

For now, pharmacists and other health care providers should adhere to the protocol outlined by shared clinical decision-making and engage in thoughtful conversations with a child’s parent or guardian regarding the decision to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. As COVID-19 vaccine guidance is under intense scrutiny from HHS and recommendations for appropriate populations to vaccinate continue to fluctuate, the best resource for up-to-date and truthful vaccination counseling remains their pharmacist or local physician. COVID-19 vaccines remain safe and effective at preventing severe disease, and individuals who are at high risk for serious disease should receive a vaccination upon the advice of their health care provider.

REFERENCES

1. Halpern L. CDC to end COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for healthy children, pregnant women. Pharmacy Times. Published May 27, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/cdc-to-end-covid-19-vaccine-recommendation-for-healthy-children-pregnant-women

2. CDC – Vaccines & Immunizations. Child immunization schedule notes. Last Updated May 29, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/child-adolescent-notes.html#note-covid-19

3. Jewett C. C.D.C. contradicts Kennedy and keeps advice that children may get Covid shots. The New York Times. Published May 30, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/health/cdc-covid-vaccines-children-pregnant-women.html

4. Tin A. CDC now says kids ‘may receive’ COVID-19 vaccines, should talk to their doctors. CBS News. Updated May 30, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-kids-covid-19-vaccine-recommendation/

5. CDC – Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP shared clinical decision-making recommendations. Last Updated January 7, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/acip/vaccine-recommendations/shared-clinical-decision-making.html

6. CDC – COVID-19. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Last Updated January 7, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html

7. CDC – Vaccines & Immunizations. Adult immunization schedule by medical condition and other indication. Last Updated May 29, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-medical-condition.html

8. American College of Physicians. ACP leaders warn that abrupt changes to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations could jeopardize payment coverage and place millions of Americans at risk. Embargoed for release: June 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM. Accessed under embargo June 2, 2025. https://www.newswise.com/articles/acp-leaders-warn-that-abrupt-changes-to-covid-19-vaccine-recommendations-could-jeopardize-payment-coverage-and-place-millions-of-americans-at-risk/?sc=dwhr&xy=10026574

9. CDC – High Quality Care – Access and Delivery. Preventive services coverage. Last Updated February 16, 2024. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/high-quality-care/hcp/resources/preventive-services-coverage.html

10. Hilliard GE. Exclusive Statement from the Department of Health and Human Services to Pharmacy Times. HHS Public Affairs. Received June 2, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025.