US health department plans to stop recommending Covid shots for children, pregnant women

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has plans to drop recommendations for routine COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women, teens and children, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. 

However, WSJ mentioned that it is not clear if HHS was thinking of dropping the recommendation entirely for those groups or just suggesting that patients have a conversation with their doctors about the risks and benefits. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a part of the HHS, states that as of April 26, about 14 per cent of pregnant women and 13 per cent of children had received the updated COVID-19 vaccine. 

Regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, in the U.S., three COVID shots have been authorised for use - Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech's/ messenger RNA-based vaccines along with Novavax's protein-based shot. 

According to a Reuters report, Moderna and Novavax declined to comment, while the HHS and Pfizer did not immediately respond to the requests seeking comment. 

In addition to the CDC recommendation changes, the FDA is planning to roll out a new framework for vaccine approvals next week, the WSJ reported. 

'Hong Kong and Singapore sees surge in Covid-19 cases'

Meanwhile, there are reports of a surge in Covid-19 cases in Singapore and Hong Kong with the government releasing health advisories for the public. 

" There has been a recent increase in the level of activity of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. High-risk priority groups, particularly the elderly and persons with underlying comorbidities, are urged to receive a JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine booster dose as soon as possible. Persons who have not received the initial dose(s) of the COVID-19 vaccine (including infants and children) should get vaccinated as soon as possible," mentioned a notice on the official website of the Hong Kong Health Department. 

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