PIDS Statement on Federal COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for Children

The Secretary of Health and Human Services stated on May 27 that the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children and pregnant individuals would be removed from the CDC recommended vaccine schedule. That announcement included no additional safety data nor identified any concerns that prompted this change. Days later, the CDC site kept the COVID-19 vaccine on the recommended vaccine schedule for healthy children though changed this recommendation to “shared decision making” between the healthcare professional and the family.

We applaud the CDC for keeping the COVID-19 vaccine on the immunization schedule as this directly impacts whether private insurance and publicly funded programs provide payment and helps ensure that all children, regardless of socioeconomic status, will be able to receive the vaccine.

The scientific data support the continued recommendation for COVID-19 vaccine use in children. Data presented by the CDC at the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting in April confirmed that healthy children continue to be impacted significantly by COVID-19. Roughly 50% of those less than 4 years-old who are hospitalized for COVID-19 have no underlying conditions, and infants less than 6 months old had higher hospitalization rates than other age groups under 65 years old. COVID-19, like influenza, can cause severe, life-threatening illness in healthy children.

We stand alongside the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in strongly recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant individuals. The data demonstrate this vaccine is safe and effective for pregnant women, protecting their health directly as well as decreasing premature births and allowing for greater levels of protective antibodies to be passed across the placenta to the baby. Eliminating this recommendation will negatively impact not only mothers but will also impact their newborn children. Maternal vaccine provides important protection for these infants.

The approach used in making this decision, bypassing the ACIP, is concerning and undermines a well-established, evidence-based robust system to evaluate and approve life-saving vaccines. The ACIP process allows for gathering of necessary data on proposed vaccines, requests for additional data from vaccine manufacturers if needed, and input from a broad variety of stakeholders – including the public – when formulating recommendations in a scientific and transparent process.

As leaders in the development, assessment, and delivery of vaccines, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society will continue to advocate for our patients, their families, science, and the availability of appropriate vaccines for all individuals.