Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced a change to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine. This comes more than five years after the onset of a pandemic that not only affected the health of millions but forever shifted the nation’s view of government advice and control. The update removes the COVID vaccine from the immunization schedule for both healthy children and healthy pregnant women. This is a logical move that should have happened years ago.
The dialogue surrounding COVID-19, vaccines, and boosters has always been fraught with tension. But it is imperative that political pressure does not override common sense, no matter which side is in office.
With this CDC update, the keyword is “healthy.” It has been known for a while that immunocompromised individuals are much more likely to get severely ill and even die if they catch COVID-19. This is true of other diseases as well. A weakened immune system puts anyone at greater risk of complications, a hospital stay, or even long-term repercussions.
That healthy children and healthy pregnant women are no longer on the recommendation list for COVID-19 immunization isn’t proof of some Trump-era anti-science agenda. In fact, the opposite is true. Importantly, this update does not ban healthy children or healthy pregnant women from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine or boosters. But for those who fall into this healthy category, they (and in the case of children, their parents) can make the decision on their own or with advice from a primary care physician.
Both the legacy media and even health officials created the illusion that all individuals needed the vaccine and boosters immediately, even if they were not part of the target population. In late 2021, the vaccine was finally approved for younger age groups. Data from 2020 and into 2021 clearly showed children were at a much lower risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Unsurprisingly, as age increased, so did risk. And polling data from the time showed parents, approximately three in 10, didn’t want their children vaccinated at all.
It’s as clear now as it was back then that children were required to bear much of the pandemic burden, with virtual learning and cancellation of sports and other activities. The rush to vaccinate children added another layer of stress on those who didn’t have a say in the first place. Among the many lessons of the pandemic is how adults in power failed the children in this country.
As a mother, I can relate to the desire to wait to vaccinate children for COVID-19, as we did with our oldest. And since I was pregnant with my second child during most of 2020, I can relate to the desire to wait to vaccinate while pregnant. Even though a vaccine didn’t exist at the time of my pandemic pregnancy, my ob-gyn discussed my overall risk of suffering from COVID-19. As a healthy pregnant woman, I had a low risk, and no extreme measures were taken. And the new update from the CDC shows nothing has changed in terms of risk for healthy individuals who are not of advanced age.
CDC NO LONGER TO RECOMMEND COVID-19 VACCINE FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN OR PREGNANT WOMEN
It is almost impossible to discuss COVID-19, vaccines, and boosters with those who embrace the most extreme viewpoints on the subject. But there is simply no room for broad conclusions that claim everyone needed or currently needs a vaccine or that no one needed or needs a vaccine. There are clear benefits to the COVID-19 vaccine, but it is not a foolproof way to keep from getting COVID-19. Even the vaccinated can still get sick, though the severity of the illness is likely to be greatly reduced.
If we look to the data to show the benefits of the vaccine, data must also be referenced when revising CDC guidelines, as was done this week. This overdue update is worth applauding.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a contributor to the Magnolia Tribune.