In a subtle but significant shift, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations—removing language that previously advised healthy children and pregnant women should get vaccinated. Now, the guidance simply states they may receive the vaccine, signaling a more neutral stance and putting the decision in the hands of individuals and their healthcare providers.

A Softer Approach to Vaccination

The CDC’s new guidance suggests a move toward shared decision-making, especially for lower-risk groups. For children aged 6 months to 17 years who are otherwise healthy, vaccination is no longer explicitly recommended but is listed as an option. The same goes for pregnant women, who are no longer included in the CDC’s routine adult immunization schedule.

The change means doctors and parents can discuss and decide together whether a child should get the COVID-19 shot, rather than follow a blanket federal recommendation.

Kennedy’s Announcement Sparks Confusion

This update follows an announcement earlier in the week by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who posted a 58-second video on X (formerly Twitter), stating that healthy children and pregnant women would no longer be advised to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Notably, no CDC representatives appeared in the video, and CDC officials have since referred questions about the change to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Secretary Kennedy himself.

What This Means for Insurance and Access

Despite the softened language, the CDC confirmed that this kind of “may” recommendation still requires health insurers to cover the vaccine, meaning it will remain free to the public. However, health policy experts warn that when public health messaging becomes vague, vaccination rates tend to drop.

“Doctors are less forceful, and patients may be unsure whether the shot is important,” said Jason Schwartz, a health policy researcher at Yale.

COVID Vaccination Rates Remain Low

Even before this change, uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine has been modest. According to the CDC, only 13% of children and 23% of adults have received the 2024–25 COVID vaccine.

As the pandemic becomes less severe, many health experts have started calling for a more focused strategy, targeting older adults and those at high risk of complications—rather than the entire population.

Backlash Over the Process

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) expressed relief that COVID-19 vaccines remain available to families who want them. However, AAP President Dr. Susan Kressly criticized how the decision was handled.

“The deeply flawed process raises serious concerns about the stability of our national immunization efforts,” she said.

The CDC’s advisory panel is expected to meet in June to finalize recommendations for the fall COVID vaccine rollout. Until then, the public is left navigating a confusing landscape shaped by political decisions and shifting medical guidance.

Source: AP News – CDC removes language that says healthy kids and pregnant women should get COVID shots

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This cough was a sign that her daughter might have mycoplasma pneumonia, an infection caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae. According to the CDC, cases began rising in the U.S. during the spring and summer, and this trend has continued into fall. In Dallas, Sharma noticed a significant increase in cases after children returned to school.

“Kids are spreading it to one another in schools, and they are likely bringing it home to their families,” Sharma explains.

Mycoplasma pneumonia often presents with upper respiratory symptoms, but some children may also experience red eyes or rashes, along with headaches.

Caleb Ward, a pediatric emergency medicine doctor at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., reports a tenfold increase in mycoplasma pneumonia cases this year. The good news is that many cases are mild, which is why it’s often referred to as “walking pneumonia.”

“People may assume they just have a mild cold, but they might actually have mycoplasma pneumonia,” Ward says.

New York City has also experienced a surge in cases. Dr. Adam Ratner, who heads the pediatric infectious diseases division at NYU and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, notes that while the infection typically affects children and teens aged 5 to 17, there has been a noticeable rise in cases among younger children aged 2 to 4 during this current spike.

“That’s consistent with what we are seeing nationwide,” Ratner says, and he is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Infectious Diseases.

Most children can be treated at home. Parents should ensure their kids stay hydrated, give age-appropriate fever medication as needed, and encourage plenty of rest. For children over one year old, honey can help soothe a cough.

Parents should contact a doctor if they notice their child has difficulty breathing, isn’t drinking enough fluids, seems excessively sleepy, or has a fever lasting more than five days.

Mycoplasma pneumonia is easily treated with antibiotics, but it’s important to use the correct one. Amoxicillin, commonly prescribed for other types of pneumonia, is ineffective against mycoplasma pneumonia; instead, a macrolide antibiotic like azithromycin is necessary.

Sharma advises that kids can return to school once they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever reducers, provided they feel well enough.

However, it’s important to note that symptoms such as cough and runny nose can persist for weeks, and children may continue to spread the bacteria during this time. This is one reason why outbreaks of mycoplasma pneumonia tend to last a long time.

Now is a good time to remind children—and ourselves—to wash our hands frequently and cover our coughs and sneezes, as the winter respiratory virus season is just beginning.

Source

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