BCHC joins statement expressing concern about HHS’ new COVID-19 vaccine recommendations
June 2025
Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) and several other health organizations have joined a statement to express concerns about the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) decision to eliminate COVID-19 vaccination recommendation for healthy children and healthy pregnant women.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the recommended immunization schedule on Thursday and included shared clinical decision making between clinicians and families for children, there is no recommendation for pregnant women. The implications are serious: without the official recommendation for routine use, the announcement has created uncertainty about insurance coverage and payment for COVID-19 vaccines, potentially impacting affordability and making it less accessible for many families.
Secretary Kennedy previously assured the public that he would not take away vaccines. Last week’s action does exactly that – limiting access to a potentially life-saving intervention and removing the ability of millions of families to make informed decisions about how best to protect themselves and their loved ones. This decision was made without input from the public or the scientific community and one month before the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was scheduled to vote on updated COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.
It raises the possibility that access to other routine vaccines could similarly be restricted at the discretion of the Secretary, without expert input or scientific justification.
This action sets a troubling precedent, undermining the established vaccine recommendation process, excluding expert and public input, and casting doubt on the transparency and scientific integrity of future immunization policy decisions.
The implications of this policy shift also remain unclear. The lack of information about implementation timelines, impacts on programs like Vaccines for Children, and inconsistencies with recent FDA guidance – particularly regarding the well-documented COVID-19 risks during pregnancy – will create confusion among families and healthcare providers.
We urge the Department of Health and Human Services to immediately clarify its position committing to a transparent, science-driven process that includes input from public health experts and the families these decisions affect.
