HONOLULU (KHON2) — There has been a major shift in federal health policy as the CDC will no longer recommend COVID vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. cited a lack of clinical data as the reason to drop the recommendation for healthy kids and pregnant women to continue receiving a COVID vaccine.
The decision sparked debate nationwide and in Hawaii.
“I’m willing to meet everyone halfway and make sure the science is good. Of course, that’s what we do. But these guys are going to kill Americans by making it harder to get vaccinated. And then there’s going to be a lot of hell to pay, because innocent people who can’t get the vaccine if they want it, I think they’re going to have the right to sue the federal government, in my opinion,” Gov. Josh Green said.
Green also raised concerns about access and noted that insurance companies may not cover COVID shots for those who still want them.
“If people don’t qualify based on the new recommendations from the CDC, it’s very possible that insurers will not cover vaccines for, say, a 51-year-old who wanted to get vaccinated,” he said.
Local pediatrician Dr. Theresa Wee said gathering clinical data — especially on healthy children — is a good idea, but she is also worried about public opinion on more traditional vaccines.
“What we’re seeing in our office is a growing hesitation towards vaccinating their children in all vaccines, not just a COVID vaccine,” Wee said. “The bottom line is to talk to your primary care doctor who really is the one that you trust.”
The CDC has not updated its online schedule as of May 27 and the term healthy has not yet been defined.