Consider This from NPR The CDC changed its COVID vaccine guidance. What does that mean for you?
11 snips
May 29, 2025 
Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, discusses the CDC's recent changes to COVID vaccine guidelines. He addresses concerns about access for healthy children and pregnant women, emphasizing the importance of vaccination for maternal and infant health. Hotez also critiques the clarity of insurance coverage and the potential financial implications for those uninsured. The conversation highlights the ongoing challenges in public health communication and the need for protective measures against long COVID.
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Vaccination Benefit for Pregnant Women
- Pregnant women faced higher risks of severe COVID illness and hospitalization.
- Vaccination reduced hospitalizations by over 90% and benefited newborns as well.
Long COVID and Children Vaccination
- The FDA focused on low COVID mortality in children, ignoring the impact of long COVID.
- Vaccinating children helps prevent long COVID, an important benefit overlooked in current guidance.
Uncertainty Around Vaccine Access and Coverage
- It's unclear if vaccines removed from CDC recommendation will remain available or insurer-covered.
- Usual advisory pathways were bypassed by unilateral federal decisions, creating uncertainty.