U.S. health officials say COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy should be a personal choice. Photo by Alex Hofford/EPA
Federal health officials have pulled back a key recommendation that pregnant women get the COVID-19 vaccine -- causing sharp criticism from doctors and other experts.
The announcement came Tuesday from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who said the government will no longer recommend COVID shots for healthy children or pregnant women.
Dr. Marty Makary, head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said Wednesday that the decision should be made between a pregnant woman and her doctor.
"The data on the COVID vaccine booster in pregnant women is a mixed set of data," Makary said in an interview. "Now, I think the decision should be between a doctor and a pregnant woman."
