Published: 2 June  2025, 10:54 am

In a major shift in U.S. COVID-19 policy, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have revised their COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, limiting eligibility to individuals aged 65 and older and those with specific underlying health conditions. The vaccine is no longer recommended for healthy children or pregnant women, a decision that has sparked both support and criticism within the public health community.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr announced the CDC’s updated guidance, highlighting the absence of robust clinical data supporting repeat booster shots in low-risk populations, particularly children and healthy pregnant women. The CDC had previously recommended the vaccine for all individuals aged six months and above. This policy change bypassed the CDC’s usual advisory panel process, drawing concern from medical professionals and public health advocates about transparency and long-term access.

 Critics argue that the move could put vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and infants who benefit from maternal immunity, at increased risk.

The announcement comes at a time when vaccine uptake is already waning in the U.S. Only one in eight children and fewer than one in four adults have received the most recent booster dose, reflecting growing vaccine fatigue and hesitancy.

Meanwhile, the FDA has also reinforced warnings about myocarditis associated with mRNA vaccines, noting that while most cases are mild, the long-term effects are still being studied. Vaccine producers have pledged to work with regulators to supply additional safety data as required.

In parallel, a large U.S. study has shown that antibiotics offer no clinical benefit to hospitalised COVID-19 patients with non-severe illness and may even lead to harmful outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of targeted antimicrobial use, highlighting that unnecessary prescriptions contribute to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.

These sweeping policy changes underscore a broader recalibration of the COVID-19 response, striking a balance between emerging safety data and the need for targeted protection. They also arrive shortly after the World Health Organisation signed a historic pandemic agreement on 20 May 2025, highlighting the continued importance of coordinated global health efforts.