USA Today Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has responded to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ decision to release its own vaccine recommendations that contradict federal guidance.
The AAP, a professional organization of over 65,000 board-certified pediatricians, said in June that it would publish its own vaccine schedule. The move came after Kennedy Jr. announced that the COVID-19 vaccine would no longer be included in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended immunizations for healthy children and pregnant women.
Kennedy Jr.’s declaration drew ire from some in the medical community as it went against previous expert guidance and bypassed the normal scientific review process. Under the new guidance, the only people recommended for COVID-19 vaccines are those over 65 and individuals with existing health issues.