The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on Wednesday released its own recommended maternal vaccine schedule, splitting for the first time from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over which shots pregnant women should receive. ACOG recommends four vaccines during pregnancy: a COVID-19 shot, a seasonal flu shot, the Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), and a vaccine that protects the newborn against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The group also issued guidance for additional vaccines for women with certain medical conditions and for those who are postpartum or breastfeeding.
The recommendation is a direct break from the CDC, which changed its maternal vaccine schedule in 2025. The CDC removed both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines from its list of recommended shots during pregnancy, according to a report by The Hill. In making that change, the agency did not follow its standard process of convening an expert advisory panel to review the scientific evidence, The Hill reported.
The CDC operates under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic who has pushed for narrower immunization schedules. Kennedy’s role has been a subject of ongoing legal battles and public health debates. The American Academy of Pediatrics and several states have also refused to adopt the CDC’s revised maternal guidelines.
Dr. Camille Clare, president of ACOG, said the divergence in federal advice has fueled uncertainty. “Changing national recommendations coupled with rampant vaccine misinformation are resulting in confusion for both patients and healthcare professionals,” she said in a statement. “It is incredibly important for the public to have access to reliable, evidence-based information on maternal immunizations from a trusted source.”
Thirteen other medical societies endorsed the ACOG schedule, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Nurse-Midwives. The endorsement underscores a widespread rejection of the CDC’s revision among mainstream medical organizations.
“Immunization is an essential part of preventative care for people who are pregnant, postpartum and lactating — and for their infants,” ACOG said in its recommendations. “OB-GYNs can reduce the frequency of vaccine-preventable diseases by being aware of current vaccine recommendations, counseling patients to receive appropriate vaccines and integrating vaccination into routine clinical practice.”