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Published: May 29, 2025
Read Time: 1.4 Mins
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Inside Outbreaks: COVID Vaccine Policy Change and Risks for Pregnant Women & Children
In this episode of Thermometer HQ, Inside Outbreaks, Dr. Jay Varma and Dr. Jon Epstein dive into a controversial shift in U.S. public health policy: the sudden decision to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women.
What led to this dramatic change? Is it grounded in new science, or are other factors at play? Dr. Varma and Dr. Epstein critically analyze the latest guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, exploring its potential impact on:
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Public trust in vaccine recommendations and scientific institutions.
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Health risks for pregnant women and their babies, with new research on vaccination safety.
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Long-term consequences of COVID-19 infections, including the science of post-viral complications and “long COVID.”
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Post-viral illness in elite athletes, using NBA star Kristaps Porziņģis as a real-world example.
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The detection of West Nile virus in the UK—the first such finding—and what it says about climate change, vector-borne diseases, and the importance of robust surveillance systems.
This discussion underscores why clear, evidence-based public health guidance is critical, especially when decisions carry profound implications for vulnerable groups like pregnant people and children.
Dr. Varma and Dr. Epstein also highlight why ongoing disease surveillance remains essential in an era of climate-driven changes to disease patterns.
Watch the full conversation to understand the science, policy, and ethics behind these high-stakes decisions.
