Sarah Bennett
As of August and September 2025, there is confusion and frustration among parents and healthcare providers regarding COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. The CDC no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to 2 years and older children whose parents want them vaccinated. The CDC also recommends a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults aged 18 and older, especially those aged 65 and above or at high risk for severe COVID-19. The FDA has approved new shots from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax for these high-risk groups, but with restrictions for children and adults. These conflicting guidelines have left people wondering if they need to wait for a vaccine or seek alternative ways to access them.
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What You'll Learn
Confusion over vaccine recommendations for children
In May, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped recommending COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant people and healthy children, a significant change from its previous stance. The CDC now states that children aged 6 months to 17 years may receive the vaccine based on parental preference and healthcare providers' clinical judgment. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), however, continues to recommend vaccination for young children, citing their vulnerability to severe COVID-19.
The approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has further complicated the situation. While the FDA's authorizations cover Moderna for those aged 6 months and older, Pfizer for ages 5 and older, and Novavax for ages 12 and older, the CDC's August 27 announcement stated that the vaccines were only approved for those over 65 and high-risk individuals over 6 months. This has led to concerns about access for young children and conflicting advice from federal agencies and medical groups, which may result in a decline in vaccination rates.
Some pediatricians and family medicine doctors have expressed their readiness to administer COVID-19 vaccines "off-label," but questions remain about insurance coverage for individuals outside high-risk groups. The conflicting recommendations have highlighted the distrust between the medical establishment and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic who has been accused of overhauling federal vaccine policy.
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Vaccines for pregnant women
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy pregnant women, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises all pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19. According to ACOG, the COVID-19 vaccines are "completely safe" for use during pregnancy and offer protection during pregnancy and after the infant is born. The organization also recommends that pregnant women get vaccinated against influenza and RSV.
The CDC recommends a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults ages 18 and older, including pregnant women, those who are breastfeeding, and those trying to conceive. The CDC's advice differs from that of ACOG, which suggests that all pregnant women, regardless of their health status, should receive a COVID-19 booster or seasonal dose.
Pregnant women are also encouraged to get vaccinated against RSV, especially those who are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant or who are not giving birth within two weeks of receiving the vaccine. The CDC's FoodNet program has reduced the required surveillance of foodborne pathogens, which some experts warn could increase the country's vulnerability to outbreaks.
In addition to protecting pregnant women from severe illness, the COVID-19 vaccine can also provide passive protection to newborns for several months. Pregnant women are advised to consult with their doctors to make informed decisions about vaccination during pregnancy.
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Availability of vaccines
The availability of vaccines depends on various factors, including regulatory approvals, supply, and distribution networks. In the case of COVID-19 vaccines, there have been several developments and changes to availability over time.
As of 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. However, these approvals came with certain restrictions and caveats. The vaccines are approved for individuals aged 65 and older and those younger with underlying health conditions that increase their risk of severe COVID-19. This includes people with asthma, cancer, heart or lung problems, obesity, depression, a history of smoking, or physical inactivity.
The CDC has made recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 period, targeting the Omicron variant and its circulating strains. The CDC recommends these updated vaccines for most adults aged 18 and older, including those previously vaccinated or infected with COVID-19. Additionally, the CDC emphasizes the importance of vaccination for individuals aged 65 and older, those at high risk, and pregnant or breastfeeding individuals.
However, there has been conflicting advice regarding vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and children. In May, Kennedy, a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement, announced that COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be advised for healthy pregnant women and children. This decision was met with opposition from major medical associations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 6 months to 2 years.
The availability of COVID-19 vaccines for children has become more complicated. Parents are advised to consult with pediatricians to determine whether their child should receive the vaccine. If the child is healthy, obtaining the vaccine may be more challenging as it would be considered off-label use, and physicians may be hesitant to administer it.
Regarding the distribution of vaccines, there may be variations in different states and pharmacies. Some states have regulations that only allow pharmacists to administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). As a result, pharmacies in those states might not be able to provide vaccines until they receive the committee's recommendation. It is recommended that individuals stay updated with the latest information from official sources and consult their healthcare providers to determine their vaccine eligibility and the best course of action.
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Annual COVID-19 shots
As of 2025, the annual COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for specific groups of people. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax for all seniors. However, for younger adults and children, the vaccines are restricted to those with at least one high-risk health condition, such as asthma, obesity, or smoking. This shift in guidelines has created confusion and concerns about access and eligibility for the vaccines.
Previously, the United States recommended an annual COVID-19 shot for all Americans aged 6 months and up. The updated guidelines now advise annual shots for children aged 6 months to 2 years and advise them for older children as well. The CDC recommends a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults aged 18 and older, especially those aged 65 and above, those at high risk for severe COVID-19, and those who have never received a previous COVID-19 vaccine.
The 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines are designed to fight the newest COVID-19 variants, providing protection against the strains likely to cause infections during the fall and winter seasons. The need for annual COVID-19 shots is influenced by the evolving nature of the virus and the decreasing immunity over time.
The annual COVID-19 shots are part of ongoing efforts to protect against serious illnesses and stay up to date with vaccine protections. The timing of receiving the annual shot is important, as protection from the vaccine decreases after a few months, and cases typically peak during the winter. While there may be concerns about eligibility and access, public health officials recommend getting both the COVID-19 and flu shots to protect against respiratory virus variants.
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Different vaccines and their effectiveness
As of 2025, the COVID-19 vaccines available in the US include Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna, and Novavax. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first COVID vaccine to receive FDA Emergency Use Authorization in December 2020, with Moderna's vaccine following soon after. Both vaccines showed around 95% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 infections in their Phase 3 clinical trials. The Novavax vaccine, a protein adjuvant vaccine, demonstrated 90% efficacy in clinical trials and was fully approved by the FDA in May 2025 for individuals 12 years and older.
The 2024-2025 updated vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna were designed to target new variants of the virus, including different iterations of the Omicron strain. These updated vaccines were approved based on preclinical studies of their efficacy against circulating strains. While vaccinated individuals may still become infected, the vaccines aim to prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Research also suggests that vaccinated individuals who get infected are less likely to experience Long COVID symptoms compared to unvaccinated individuals.
In late August 2025, the FDA announced that it had approved updated versions of the COVID-19 vaccine but restricted their use to specific groups. These new restrictions limit the shots to adults 65 and older and those with underlying conditions or health problems that increase their risk of severe COVID-19. This decision was based on the consensus among government and independent scientists that routine vaccination may not be necessary for healthy younger adults and older children due to their strong immunity.
It is worth noting that the effectiveness of vaccines can vary depending on various factors, such as the accuracy of predictions about circulating virus strains. For example, the flu vaccine's effectiveness can range from 32 to 78% in preventing infections requiring hospitalization, depending on how well the predictions match the circulating strains.
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Frequently asked questions
The CDC recommends a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults ages 18 and older. If you are not in a risk group, it is still advised to get the vaccine as it helps protect you from severe illness, hospitalisation, and death.
The CDC no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women. However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) continues to recommend COVID vaccination during pregnancy. It is advised to consult your doctor for guidance.
The CDC no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children. Parents will have to consult with paediatricians to determine whether their child should get a vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to 2 years and older children whose parents want them vaccinated.
Yes, the CDC recommends waiting for at least three months after a COVID-19 infection before getting the vaccine.
