CDC Recommends COVID Shot for Minors Amid Controversy over Effectiveness

On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted unanimously to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the schedule of recommended vaccines for children. While the decision does not mandate the vaccine for schoolchildren, many are seeing the vote as a way of pressuring school administrations to require a shot that has become highly controversial due to its failure to protect against COVID transmission and serious side effects such as myocarditis.

The CDC recommendation was voted on by a 15-member panel, who were all appointed by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Xavier Becerra. It now goes to CDC Director Rochelle Walenksy and the HHS for approval. Although the CDC vaccine schedule is not mandated nationally, it is seen as a guideline for states to adopt. All 50 states currently have laws requiring certain immunizations for school students. California and the District of Columbia additionally require a COVID-19 vaccine for school admission.

The vote comes amid a swirl of controversy surrounding the COVID-19 shot. Early last week, a Pfizer executive publicly testified that the company’s vaccine was never tested for preventing the transmission of the virus, despite repeated assurances from public health officials that getting the vaccine would prevent the spread of the virus.

In addition, studies have shown an increased risk of contracting myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) as a result of getting a mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, particularly among young men. A study conducted by the Florida Department of Health found an “84% increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following mRNA vaccination.” Florida’s surgeon general went on to recommend against the vaccine for males between the ages of 18-39 as well as “healthy children and adolescents five years old to 17 years old.”

According to medical experts, the CDC’s latest recommendation to add the COVID-19 shot to the vaccine schedule for schoolchildren does not square with the evidence of how small the health risk of the virus is for minors.

On Monday, Dr. Andrew Bostom, an epidemiologist, pointed out on “Washington Watch” that according to early studies of the virus, “the infection fatality ratio was 0.07%, or seven per 10,000, which is very, very flu like.” He went on to observe that the vaccine rollout “should only have targeted the high risk population … let’s say above 70 or above 75 [years of age].”

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), a former teacher, told Family Research Council President Tony Perkins on Thursday’s program, “It concerns me very, very much that they are suggesting adding this to the list. As you point out, there are many negative health ramifications of taking the vaccine. But the fact is, most young children don’t get COVID — or if they do — they have very, very minor health problems. …[T]here are many more children that go into the hospital for the flu… and yet they want to impose this on our children.”

Frankly, Hartzler said, “It is following the political science, not the real science, to the detriment of our children. And it’s very concerning.”