The secretary for health and human services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Washington -The US Health and Human Services -Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has changed the Federal Government’s recommendation for the Coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday and said that healthy children and healthy pregnant people no longer have to get it.
Kennedy, a long -time vaccine skeptic who had to convey several shops with Republican senators to secure confirmation, did not explain why he made the change in a low video.
“I could no longer please be able to tell you that the Covid vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women from today was removed from the vaccination schedule recommended by the CDC,” said Kennedy. “Last year, the bids administration asked healthy children to receive another covid shot despite the lack of clinical data to support the repetition strategy in children.”
Jay Bhattacharya and Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration, Martin A. Makary, both spoke shortly during the National Institute of Health Director The social media video To say that you have supported the decision. But neither showed recent studies on Covid-19 boosters nor after evidence of security problems.
“It is common sense and good science,” said Bhattarya.
kennedy made several promises to the Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy -Chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Work and Pensions -to secure Cassidy’s voice so that Kennedy could be confirmed as HHS Secretary.
Among this was Kennedy “maintained the centers for control and the advisory committee for the control of diseases for recommendations for immunization practices without changes”.
Cassidy’s office did not answer a request for comments.
“Extremely disappointed”
Organizations of the public healthcare system express concerns about the change in politics.
Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, President of the American College of Obstricians and Gynecologists, said that the organization was “concerned and extremely disappointed with the announcement that HHS will no longer recommend Covid vaccination during pregnancy”.
“As an OB-Gynem who treat patients every day, we saw first-hand, such as a dangerous covid infection during pregnancy and for newborns who depend on maternal antibodies from the vaccine, to protect it,” wrote Fleischman. “We also understand that science has not changed despite the change in HHS recommendations.
“It is very clear that a covid infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic and can lead to greater disability and can cause devastating consequences for families. The Covid vaccine is safe during pregnancy, and vaccination can protect our patients and their infants.”
Dr. Sean O’Leary, Chairman of the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics, wrote in an explanation HHS ‘”Decision deals with a long-established, evidence-based procedure to ensure the security of vaccines and ignores the specialist knowledge of independent medical experts, including members of CDC committees, which in relation to use the four -grapes for the fall. ”
“By eliminating the recommendation, the decision could remove families of the election,” wrote O’Leary. “Those who want to vaccinate can no longer be able because the effects on insurance protection remain unclear. It is also unclear whether the health care staff are justified to be vaccinated.”
“It is clear that pregnant women, infants and small children are exposed to a higher hospital stay of Covid, and the security of the Covid vaccine has been widely demonstrated.”
Former general surgeon under Trump critically
Dr. Jerome Adams, the general surgeon during the first administration of Trump, wrote in A detailed social media contribution Kennedy’s announcement is “considerable concerns because it overlooked both available evidence and the complexity of public health.
“The shift of vaccination mandates to complete prohibitions does not reflect medical freedom. It represents a different form of state intervention that limits the individual selection and access to evidence -based care,” wrote Adams. “A balanced approach would prioritize the well -founded decision -making and ensure that vaccines are still available for those they need and at the same time respect personal autonomy.
“In the hope that this change in guidelines will be implemented, anyone who is a really high risk can still easily get a vaccine, and we do not let politicians transmit to” personal choice “through science, health and earlier proclamations.”
The executive director of the American Public Health Association, Dr. Georges C Benjamin wrote in a statement that “(V) batteries offer the best protection against severe symptoms and death in connection with the Covid 19 virus for all population groups.
“This decision of the secretary Kennedy consists of children, pregnant mothers and their babies, which is exposed to the risk of unnecessary suffering that is avoidable. Many questions remain how HHS leadership plans to implement this poorly thought -out announcement that is not supported by the scientific evidence and our national experience.”
An HHS spokesman wrote in an email to Newsroom that “the Covid 19 vaccine is removed from the recommended vaccination schedule of the CDC as part of the commitment of the Trump government for common sense”.
“With the Covid 19 pandemic behind us, it’s time to go forward,” wrote the speaker. “HHS and the CDC are still obliged to science the gold standard and ensure that the health and well-being of all American initiative especially use the children of our nation-common common sense.”
