By Alexander J. Schorr

“My opinions about vaccines are irrelevant. I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.” — Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Human Health Secretary. 

September 6, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- The future for vaccines and access to them in the U.S .is shaky at best after a clash between the Health and Human Services secretary and members of Congress in a bipartisan grilling. Following a mass firing at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), access to vaccines guarding against the newest COVID-19 strain is a point of concern, especially with the leadership consisting of mainly loyal anti-vaxxers.

Recent federal policy changes have led to a confusion among healthcare providers and could cause issues with vaccine availability and insurance coverage for children and adults under age 65. A key question from the hearing was whether anyone could still get a COVID shot now if they wanted to. The short answer is ”no.”

The future availability of COVID-19 vaccines for children, including newborns, is uncertain due to recent policy changes at the federal level contrasting with health and state authorities’ medical advice, as well as the consensus among doctors’ professional organizations. Vaccine availability may depend on factors such as your location, healthcare provider, and potential insurance or program coverage.