RFK Jr. says it may be “better” if fewer children receive the flu vaccine
In a recent interview with CBS News, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his views on the changes to childhood vaccine recommendations announced by the Trump administration. Kennedy stated that it may be a “better thing” if fewer children receive the flu vaccine, following the CDC’s scaling back of key childhood vaccination recommendations.
The Centers for Disease Control recently announced that vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus, meningococcal disease, flu, and COVID are now recommended only for children at high risk of serious illness or after consultation between doctors and parents. This marks a significant shift from the previous recommendation of the flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older.
Kennedy clarified that the vaccines are not being taken away from anyone, and those who wish to receive them can still do so. However, there is now an additional step involved, as consultation with a physician is required before getting the flu vaccine, rather than it being freely administered at a pharmacy.
When asked if fewer people getting the flu vaccine could lead to more children dying from the flu, Kennedy referred to a meta-review conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration, which found no evidence that the flu vaccine prevents serious disease, hospitalizations, or death in children. However, this viewpoint is not universally accepted by the medical community, as other studies cited by the CDC have shown the benefits of the flu vaccine in reducing the risk of death and hospitalization in children.
Despite the conflicting opinions on the effectiveness of the flu vaccine, data from the CDC revealed that approximately 90% of children who died from the flu in 2024 were not vaccinated. This raises questions about the potential consequences of fewer children receiving the flu vaccine under the revised recommendations.
The full interview with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be aired on “CBS Evening News” with Tony Dokoupil. As the debate on childhood vaccination recommendations continues, it is essential for parents to consult with healthcare providers to make informed decisions about their children’s health.
