The orderly process for recommending and providing access to vaccines has broken down. (Image credit: Thomas Barwick via Getty Images)
It’s August, and parents and teachers are busy preparing their children for the new school year, buying supplies, filling out forms, and meeting with teachers. This year, many of them are facing a more difficult question than usual: Should my child get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, and will I be able to? Some may have already made that decision amid federal policy chaos, just as COVID-19 cases are rising across the country.
As a pediatrician and researcher who studies vaccination and health policy, I see uncertainty among parents and health care professionals alike. If you feel the same way, you’re not alone. An August 1, 2025, poll by the health policy organization KFF found that half of parents are unsure whether federal health officials recommend COVID-19 vaccination for healthy children this fall.
The process that normally provides clear and consistent recommendations and ensures vaccine availability before the respiratory virus season begins has been broken, with COVID-19 childhood vaccination recommendations this year being a clear example.
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Sourse: www.livescience.com
