The CDC Moves to Shared Decision-Making on COVID Vaccines for Kids
While Secretary RFK Jr recently said that he was removing COVID vaccines for healthy children from the recommended immunization schedule, that fortunately didn’t mean that they were going away completely.
The CDC has moved to a shared decision-making model for COVID vaccines for kids.
The CDC Moves to Shared Decision-Making on COVID Vaccines for Kids
Does that mean that Secretary RFK Jr has backtracked on what he said a few days ago?
Not really.
The CDC is no longer giving a strong recommendation that children get COVID vaccines…
“Unlike routine, catch-up, and risk-based recommendations, shared clinical decision-making vaccinations are individually based and informed by a decision process between the health care provider and the patient or parent/guardian.”
ACIP Shared Clinical Decision-Making Recommendations
Of course, they aren’t saying that you shouldn’t get your kids a COVID vaccine either!
“For routine, catch-up, and risk-based recommendations, the default decision should be to vaccinate the patient based on age group or other indication, unless contraindicated. For shared clinical decision-making recommendations, there is no default—the decision about whether or not to vaccinate may be informed by the best available evidence of who may benefit from vaccination; the individual’s characteristics, values, and preferences; the health care provider’s clinical discretion; and the characteristics of the vaccine being considered. There is not a prescribed set of considerations or decision points in the decision-making process.”
ACIP Shared Clinical Decision-Making Recommendations
They are saying that you should talk to your provider and decide what is best for your child.
And yes, these vaccines should be covered by insurance plans.
“This coverage requirement includes shared clinical decision-making recommendations when they have been adopted by CDC and are listed on the immunization schedules.”
ACIP Shared Clinical Decision-Making Recommendations
But with all the confusion created by Secretary RFK Jr, we will have to see if anyone will want them…
Reasons to Get Your Child a COVID Vaccine
Why would they?
Like adults, remember that COVID vaccines and boosters are still recommended for kids with any kind of risk factors!
Additionally, younger children, especially newborns, infants, and toddlers, are also at risk for serious, life-threatening complications if they get COVID.
Of course, you never hear about these kinds of complications from Secretary RFK Jr, do you?
Nor does he talk about how COVID vaccines reduce the risk of MIS-C and long covid in kids.
He only hypes what he thinks are the dangers of COVID vaccines, which makes it hard to talk to parents about the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated.
And no, COVID isn’t gone.
New variants are out there and may still cause outbreaks at any time.
COVID Vaccines for Kids Shared Decision-Making Resources
Still need help deciding on getting a COVID vaccine for your kids?
“For many families, the Covid vaccine will remain an important way they protect their child and family from this disease and its complications, including long Covid. Pediatricians are ready to have those conversations with families to keep children healthy so they can thrive.”
AAP Statement on COVID Vaccine Recommendations for Children
You can learn more about the risks and benefits in these trusted resources:
No serious side effects for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in young children
Infant Recovers from COVID-19, Fights Related Inflammatory Syndrome MIS-C
Risks and benefits that clearly favor getting pregnant women and younger kids a COVID vaccine.
References
ACIP Shared Clinical Decision-Making Recommendations https://www.cdc.gov/acip/vaccine-recommendations/shared-clinical-decision-making.html
RFK Jr. Misleads About Safety of COVID-19 Vaccine in Children https://www.factcheck.org/2025/05/rfk-jr-misleads-about-safety-of-covid-19-vaccine-in-children/
AAP Statement on COVID Vaccine Recommendations for Children https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2025/aap-statement-on-covid-vaccine-recommendations-for-children/
I think it's important to get covid boosters for my kids, but it's hard to find them where I live. The demand for them in my community is so low that my pediatrician's office and my local pharmacy can't keep them on hand. I think they said that between the size of the batches they would get, and the need to refrigerate the covid vaccines, they can't maintain the supply for the few of us that want them.