Organizations like the CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists play a significant role in shaping the recommendations your doctor or midwife gives you during pregnancy. When the CDC updates its guidance, it influences clinical care, insurance coverage, and how providers counsel patients. In this episode, we explore the recent decision to no longer recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for children and pregnant women. Learn what this means for your prenatal care and how you can navigate this update with your provider.

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The Controversy Surrounding Vaccines

Vaccines are a complex and often controversial topic. Today’s focus is on an important update regarding the COVID-19 vaccine recommendation during pregnancy and how this new guidance affects your prenatal care.

The History of the COVID-19 Vaccine

The novel SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged towards the end of 2019 and spread globally. Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center tracked data until March of 2023 and reported 676 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide and over 6.8 million deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic was the worst global pandemic since the 1918 Spanish Flu. Fortunately, COVID-19 has significantly eased and is no longer as severe or deadly as it once was.

The FDA can issue an emergency use authorization for a vaccine if it deems the benefits outweigh the risks and that there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives. Emergency use makes the approval process shorter and less involved than required for full FDA approval. Once the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines, an aggressive campaign was launched to encourage people to get vaccinated. The vaccine debate morphed into a political issue, and we are still seeing some of this controversy play out.

Prior Recommendation

SARS-CoV-2, like any virus, evolves and mutates over time. These mutations create different variants of the original virus. As a result, the COVID-19 vaccine is updated annually to target new variants of the virus. The messaging from health organizations has been consistent to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. According to the CDC, protection from the COVID-19 vaccine decreases with time, and COVID-19 vaccines are updated to give you the best protection from the currently circulating strains.

Before May 27, 2025,  the CDC recommended that all eligible persons aged 6 months and older, including pregnant and lactating individuals, receive an updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC stated that vaccination can occur in any trimester, and emphasis should be placed on receiving the vaccine as soon as possible to maximize maternal and fetal health. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists endorsed this recommendation.

The Role of the CDC and ACOG

It is essential to understand the roles of the CDC and ACOG and how their recommendations impact your prenatal care.

The CDC plays a central role in shaping public health policy in the United States, including the development of vaccine recommendations. These are developed with input from an expert advisory panel called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which reviews the latest evidence on safety, effectiveness, and population-level impact. Once the CDC adopts these recommendations, they will influence how vaccines are offered nationwide. Medical organizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), typically align their clinical guidance with the CDC. Therefore, when the CDC recommends a vaccine during pregnancy, ACOG typically supports this recommendation and advises OB-GYNs to discuss it with their patients.

These recommendations also affect insurance coverage. The Affordable Care Act requires most health insurance plans to cover vaccines the CDC recommendeds. When the CDC removes a vaccine from the schedule, it may affect whether insurance companies cover that vaccine.

I often include recommendations from organizations like the CDC and ACOG because understanding the guidance behind your doctor’s or midwife’s advice can help you have more informed conversations and make confident decisions about your pregnancy. These public health agencies issue broad recommendations intended for the general population. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what is best for you and your baby.

The Update

On May 27, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, announced that the CDC will no longer recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children and pregnant women. Dr. Martin Makary, the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, joined Kennedy.

In the statement, Kennedy said, “Last year, the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another COVID shot despite the lack of any clinical data to support the repeat booster strategy in children.” Dr. Bhattacharya added, “That ends today. It’s common sense and it’s good science.” Dr. Makary concluded, “There is no evidence healthy children need it today, and most countries have stopped recommending it for children.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices isn’t scheduled to meet until later this month. We can expect updates to both the Adult and Child Immunization Schedules.

Politics and Public Health

There is likely to be disagreement about this new recommendation. Vaccines, particularly the COVID-19 vaccine, have long been a politically charged topic. The current administration has sparked strong reactions, and the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services has drawn both criticism and support. Regardless of your political views, the most important focus is understanding what this update means for your prenatal care.

ACOG and the AAP Respond to the Policy Change

The president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a statement in response to RFK, Jr.’s announcement, voicing disappointment in the policy change.

“ACOG is concerned about and extremely disappointed by the announcement that HHS will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. As ob-gyns who treat patients every day, we have seen firsthand how dangerous COVID-19 infection can be during pregnancy and for newborns who depend on maternal antibodies from the vaccine for protection.” You can read the complete statement here.

The American Academy of Pediatrics responded by stating the federal government’s removal of COVID-19 vaccines from the routine immunization schedule for healthy children and people who are pregnant ignores independent medical experts and leaves children at risk.

Although organizations like ACOG and the AAP offer guidance, individual providers may differ in their interpretation and application of this new recommendation. Your doctor, midwife, or pediatrician may still recommend the vaccine. We may see that change in the future if ACOG or the AAP decide to align with the CDC.

Is More Data Coming?

Even when the COVID-19 vaccine was recommended during pregnancy, concerns remained about its safety. Pfizer launched a clinical trial, and another study, conducted at Harvard, focused specifically on evaluating the vaccine in pregnant women. With the CDC no longer recommending the vaccine during pregnancy, it may be more difficult to complete or fund this research. Both trials fell short of their original enrollment goals. Plus, fewer pregnant women are likely to receive the vaccine moving forward. Hopefully, the researchers still analyze and publish the data already collected, even if the studies do not reach their original targets or timelines.

Other Vaccines Recommended During Pregnancy

A significant driver of any vaccine during pregnancy is to create passive immunity for your baby by passing antibodies to them in utero. With the change in the recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine, there are still three vaccines ACOG recommends during pregnancy:

Making Informed Choices About Vaccines

We want assurance that any intervention is 100% safe, especially during pregnancy. This is where making informed decisions can be challenging. It is much easier to follow the recommendations of your doctor or midwife. It takes effort to educate yourself on these topics, consider all the risks and benefits, and make an informed decision. Like any intervention, getting a vaccine should come with informed consent. A key component of true informed consent is the option to opt out. Vaccines are not an all-or-nothing choice. You can choose to get some and not others. With many vaccines, you have choices beyond whether or not to get them. Some vaccines are available from multiple manufacturers, allowing you to choose one over another if you prefer. You also have choices when it comes to the timing of when you get a vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccine is still available, and you can still receive it if you wish. There are three COVID-19 vaccines available for the 2024-25 COVID-19 season; two have full FDA approval, and one is available under an emergency use authorization. Please note that your health insurance may not cover the cost of the vaccine. You can learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy here.

Talk to Your Doctor or Midwife 

If you have questions or concerns about any vaccine, please consult your doctor or midwife. Even if you are unsure where you stand after listening to this, having a basic understanding of the recommendations can help you feel more confident discussing your options and making informed decisions about your care.

Additional Resources

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