Illinois Doctors Sound Alarm on Dropping Covid-19 Vaccine Recommendation for Kids, Pregnant Women – ryan

Health Organizations and Doctors in Illinois Are Expressing Concern over the Decision by US Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. To stop recommending Covid-19 Shots for Healthy Children and Pregnant Women, Calling it “Shortsighted” and Warning it COULD Limit Health Care Choices for Families.

Dr. Corinne Kohler, A Family Practice Physician and President-Elector of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, noted that the vaccine is not only innded to severe illness but Also to stop the virus.

“One of the Other Impacts in Not Immunizing, Especialy Children, is that they are such a vector for viral dysaases,” Kohler Said. “When they’re not immunized, and this if they have had mild or asymptomatic illness, they are still Spreading, especilly to our vulnerable populations.

“Think it is very shorts.

Kennedy Announed the Shift Tuesday in a 58-Second Video Posted on the Social Media Site X. No One from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was in the video, and cdc reference to Kennedy and HHS. Kennedy, A Leading Anti-Vaccine Advocate before Becoming HHS Secretary, CLAIMED ANNUAL COVID-19 Booster Shots have been recommended for Kids “Despite the Lack of any Clinical Data” to support.

US Health Officials, Following Recommendations by Infectious Disease Experts, HAD previously urged annual Covid-19 boosters for all americans ages 6 months and Older. The CDC website Cites Data Showing Vaccination Reduces Risk of Severe Illness and Says ITS Important to Stay Up to Boosters Because Protection Decreas Over Time.

Still, Changing the Recommendations is not Completely Out of the Blue. As the pandemic has you will, experts have increasingly discussed the postsibiation of Focusinity Vaccination Efforts on People 65 and Older, WHO Are Among Those at Risk for Death and Hospitalization.

or CDC Advisory panel is set to meet in june to make recommendations about the fall shots. One of its Options is suggesting Shots for High-Risk Groups But Still Giving Lower-Risk People the Choice to Get Vaccinated. Kennedy opted Not to Wait for the CDC’s Recommendations.

Vaccination has been recommended for Pregnant Women, in Part, Because Its a Way to Pass Immunity to NewBorns Who Are Too Young for Vaccines and Vulnerable to Inflections. Acciting to the CDC, From October 2022 to April 2024, Young Infants were More Likely to be hospitalized from Covid-19 than any age group other than those 75 and older.

For Pregnant Women, Covid-19 Can Also Increase the Risk of High Blood Pressure and Preterm Birth, Kohler Said.

Those looking to protest thermves and their Families with a vaccine May have more hurdles to overclome after kennedy’s decision, kohler said, as insurance companies to stop covering the shot, Limitting availability.

“That is going to the positionbly impact vaccine availability in terms of what is covered,” she said.

That Concern was Shared by Dr. Sean O’Leary, Chair of the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the Itasca-Based American Academy of Pediatrics. In a stateent, he said the cdc cououl be stripping families of Choice.

“Those Who Want to Vaccinate May No Longer Be Able to, As the implications for insurance coverage Remain Unclear,” O’Leary Said. “Its Also Unclear Whether Health Care Workers Would Be Eligible to Be Vaccinated.”

He Said the Decision bypassses a “Long Estabished, Evidence-Based Process” to Ensure Vaccine Safety and IGORES the expertise of Medical Experts. “What is Clear is that pregnant Women, Infants and Young Children are at Higher Risk of Hospitalization from Covid, and the Safety of the Covid Vaccine Has Been Demonstrated,” He Said.

Between October 2024 and March, Children and Teenagers Accounted for About 4% of Hospitalizations Related to Covid-19Accntification to the CDC. Pediatric Deaths Are Rare, But Children Haven’t Been Spared. The coronavirus has been the underlying cause in more than 1,300 childhood Deaths in the US SINCE The Pandemic Began, Accounting to CDC Data.

In 2023, an Oxford University Study Found that Between 2021 and 2022, Covid-19 was a leading cause of the Death Among Those 19 and Under in the us, Ranking Eighth Overall. It ranked first in deaths caussed by infectious or respiratory Diseases.

Researchers Said The Study Suggests Public Health Measures like Vaccinations and Staying at Home Wen Sick Have an Important Role to Play in Limititation of the Virus.

Despite Kennedy’s Announcement, Kohler Said She Will Still Encourage People to Get Vaccinated.

“The Vaccine Still Helps Prevent Serious Illness, Hospitalization and Deaths, especilly in vulnerable populations,” she Said.

CONTRRITBATING: Associated Press