The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently removed its universal recommendations that pregnant women and healthy children receive yearly COVID-19 vaccinations—instead, opting for a looser approach that urges families and pregnant women to talk with their doctors prior to getting the shot.
But local doctors urge families with children and pregnant women to keep getting vaccinated every year for COVID and also for influenza.
In the United States, 1.2 million people have died of COVID-19—in 87% of those deaths, COVID was the primary cause of death, while in the other portion, it was a contributing cause, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics tracking the virus from the pandemic’s start through June 7, 2025.
A Lot of Unknowns for Fall
As the fall approaches, a time when many turn out for their yearly COVID and flu vaccinations ahead of the winter season when the illnesses peak, the CDC’s announcement, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the controversial head of the Department of Health and Human Services, has caused delay and confusion on the federal level.
Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, also fired the entire 17-member CDC advisory committee on vaccines. The CDC official who had been overseeing COVID-19 recommendations resigned.
Already, concern over recommendation changes and the potential ripple effect on vaccine availability and insurance coverage has hit our area.
Families are asking their pediatricians at Acton Medical Associates if there will be vaccines available, said Matt Chamberlain, MD. The practice, which treats Westford patients, is clinically affiliated with Emerson Health, a local network of physician practices and Emerson Hospital.
Chamberlain said his practice is committed to giving COVID vaccinations as long as they have them available. The practice has COVID vaccines now, he added.
But many things are up in the air for the fall, Chamberlain said. It unknown whether the changes will make it more difficult for kids to get COVID vaccines because manufacturers will not make as many and whether insurers will still cover the vaccine.
COVID Child Vaccination
“Our stance as pediatricians is that we believe in the science behind vaccines,” Dr. Chamberlain said, adding his recommendation is in line with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidance in response to the federal change.
Dr. Chamberlain urges any person over age 6 months—not just pregnant women and healthy children—to get yearly COVID and flu shots, which are administered as two separate shots, but can be given one dose right after the other at the same appointment.
Chamberlain said the COVID vaccination and flu vaccination can protect people from getting these viruses that mutate and circulate each year and also lessen the severity of each disease for vaccinated people.
He explained that it is true that children do not usually get as sick as adults do with COVID, but there is a risk of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and that can last for weeks or months after the initial COVID infection. Like adults, COVID can also lead to the lung infection pneumonia in children and some children develop long-COVID that can affect their neurologic systems.
Most kids in his practice have had COVID at least once, but there is no long-term research on this newer disease, so reducing the number of infections over the years could prove beneficial to the child’s health, he said.
Usually, vaccine side effects include a fever and body aches, which is your body responding to the virus, Chamberlain said. Adverse immune reactions to a vaccine are “exceedingly rare,” even more rare than a reaction to an antibiotic or the common over-the-counter medicine Tylenol, Chamberlain said.
COVID Vaccine and Pregnancy
Laura Silk, MD, a local obstetrician, says the COVID vaccine is safe for use during pregnancy and she is still recommending it for her patients, which is the same as guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Dr. Silk is part of the private practice, AFA Obstetrics & Gynecology (All-Female Associates), which has physicians, certified nurse midwives and nurse practitioners who deliver babies for patients at Emerson Hospital and have offices in Concord, Westford and Leominster.
The college of obstetricians and gynecologists noted on its website that reports of having COVID-19 during pregnancy have found an increased risk of preterm birth, some data suggests a possible increased risk of stillbirth, and, in rare incidents, COVID-19 may pass to the fetus during pregnancy.
“Pregnant individuals are at an increased risk of severe infections,” Dr. Silk said. “Pregnancy is a time of immunocompromise with pregnant women routinely getting hit harder, being more sick and taking longer to recover from all infections.”
Most of her patients have been getting COVID vaccines, she said, adding that she has not had any reported negative side effects of vaccine use from patients.
Dr. Silk has seen the effect of COVID on pregnancy.
“In my busy OBGYN practice, I have seen, firsthand, pregnant individuals who have become really sick with COVID infections and really worried that their exhaustion and dehydration was going to push them into preterm labor,” she said.
Both Silk and pediatrician Chamberlain say their regularly talk with patients during medical visits about vaccines.
“I think that patients are really confused by all the back and forth in the news and online,” Silk said.
At a June 9, Westford Board of Health meeting, Stephan Goupil, DO, PhD, a board member and private practice physician in Westford, made a public statement that he believes the COVID-19 vaccination is very important for pregnant women and children and he encourages parents to continue to seek out the vaccine at physician practices and local pharmacies.
The health board plans to order flu vaccines this year. In past years, Westford has given out 800 flu shots, including 200 for children. How many COVID-19 vaccinations will be available is still unclear as board members discussed that they are hearing the COVID-19 vaccine will not be available for Westford to order for the general population, only for people who meet certain criteria.
They are awaiting more information and noted that they hope many Westford residents will seek out COVID-19 vaccinations at local pharmacies and physician offices as many already do.
