WATCH: Lawmaker says Kennedy made ‘ill-informed decision’ in reversing COVID vaccine guidance
June 24, 2025
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4:47Now PlayingWATCH: Lawmaker says Kennedy made ‘ill-informed decision’ in reversing COVID vaccine guidance
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as posted by the channelRep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made an “ill-informed decision” in reversing the routine recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women and healthy children under 18.
Kelly said multiple major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Infectious Diseases, were concerned or opposed to this change to the vaccine guidance.
Kennedy said Kelly’s understanding of the new COVID vaccine guidance was wrong.
“We're not depriving anybody of choice,” Kennedy said. “If a pregnant woman wants the COVID-19 vaccine, she can get it.”
The secretary added that HHS is no longer making the recommendation “because there was no science supporting that recommendation.” Kelly said this was not true.
During her questioning, Kelly repeated her question over whether the HHS COVID-19 vaccine webpage reflects the agency’s current view on COVID-19 vaccines.
“I imagine it does,” he said. “I haven’t seen the website.”
“It’s kind of troubling that you’re unaware of what your own department's website states on the safety and efficacy of the vaccination.”
Kelly then read what was listed on the HHS webpage, as well as what appeared on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, regarding COVID-19 vaccinations, on May 12, which recommended the vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older in the U.S. The CDC webpage also said the vaccine was “especially important” for certain groups of people, including pregnant women.
“We do not recommend [COVID vaccines] for pregnant women or children,” Kennedy said, after Kelly read the CDC’s language.
“It appears CDC was not consulted,” Kelly said. The lawmaker then asked if Kennedy consulted CDC about its policy change.
“We absolutely consult CDC on every policy regarding vaccination,” he said.
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