**CDC Recommends COVID Shots for Children Over Six Months Amid Controversy**

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued new guidance that children over six months old can receive COVID-19 vaccinations following a consultation with a healthcare provider. This recommendation comes in direct opposition to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent announcement aiming to discontinue COVID-19 booster shots for healthy children.

In an update posted online late Thursday, the CDC's adjusted guidelines add complexity to the evolving federal stance on COVID-19 shots. Healthy children between six months and 17 years old may receive vaccines. However, the decision should be informed by a healthcare provider's clinical judgment along with the personal preferences and circumstances of the patient or their guardians.

As of Friday afternoon, not all CDC webpages reflect this change. For instance, a page regarding vaccine recommendations during pregnancy, last updated in the previous year, still advises that pregnant women get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The revised advice encourages a collaborative approach between patients and providers, emphasizing what is best for each individual. According to Richard Hughes, a partner at Epstein Becker Green and a vaccine law specialist, this shared decision-making model is intended to foster open dialogue about vaccination choices.

The American Academy of Pediatrics expressed relief that the new vaccine scheduling accommodates families wanting to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. However, Kennedy's declaration that the CDC no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women created confusion and frustration within much of the medical community.

Kennedy's stance has significant implications, as the CDC's immunization recommendations significantly impact how physicians advise their patients and how insurers cover vaccination costs. By moving away from recommending COVID-19 shots for these groups, Kennedy may be complicating efforts to maintain vaccination coverage, despite his earlier promises not to impede access to vaccines.

The decision could present additional challenges in getting insurers to cover COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy kids and pregnant women. Public health experts worry that removing the recommendation may result in higher costs and reduced accessibility, particularly for groups at increased risk of severe complications from the virus.