The U.S. federal government has recently removed COVID-19 vaccines from the recommended list for healthy pregnant women and children. In an X post, the US health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said that the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommends vaccine for “healthy children and healthy pregnant women”. He explains that the official stated that this decision gets the country "one step closer" to ‘Making America Healthy Again’.

To understand the implications of this, we spoke with experts, Dr. Shrey Srivastav, Consultant Physician at Sharda Hospital, and Dr. Arunesh Kumar, Director & HOD, Pulmonology, Paras Health who clarified some common concerns people were experiencing.

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What This Means for Access to Vaccines

Dr. Srivastav points out that while the US may not recommend vaccines any longer, the World Health Organization (WHO), still advises vaccination for pregnant women. A few healthcare professionals have brought up their concerns regarding COVID vaccines, stating they do not think it is necessary to get COVID vaccines at the moment.

Dr. Srivastav adds that COVID vaccine is more important for pregnant women with co-morbidities, whether diabetes, hypertension, immuno-compromised or with pre-existing health concerns need the vaccine. Dr. Arunesh also points out the same, encouraging people to get vaccinated for COVID in case they have any such pre-existing conditions. However, Dr Sushila Kataria, Senior Director, Internal Medicine Medanta recommends people should wait for official recommendations from the government before getting vaccinated.

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RFK Jr. explained that the previous administration had pushed for more COVID shots for healthy children without enough clear data to support repeated booster shots for kids. This decision was made alongside other health officials. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner (FDA) Dr. Martin Makary and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who called it "common sense" and "good science," noted that there's no evidence that healthy children currently need the vaccine.

Dr. Srivastav points out that there are many reviews and studies that say otherwise. “In my views many people still have doubts about COVID-19 vaccines for children. However, large studies published in PubMed and other indexed journals have shown that mRNA vaccines are safe and work well for kids aged 5 to 11.”

He continues to explain that for children aged 6 months to 4 years who have weakened immune systems, it's important that all their COVID-19 vaccine shots come from the same company, following the CDC's advice. This particular study was published in 2023 JAMA network, Dr. Srivastav explains the study, “10 million vaccinated children found fewer COVID infections, fewer symptoms, fewer hospital stays, and fewer cases of MIS-C. Mild side effects like sore arms and fever were common, but serious problems like heart inflammation were very rare.”

Is There Enough Evidence Supporting Vaccines?

“Yes, extensive research and monitoring have shown that COVID vaccines are safe for both healthy children and pregnant women.” Dr Arunesh explains that vaccines act as an extra protective shield, “In pregnancy, vaccination helps prevent severe illness and can also pass protective antibodies to the baby. For children, the side effects are typically mild and short-lived, such as arm soreness or fatigue.”

Before this change, the government had been recommending COVID-19 vaccines for almost everyone, including children and pregnant people. According to the Mayo Clinic even though children usually don't get very sick from COVID, some, especially very young ones, can. They also expressed how pregnancy increases the risk of severe COVID-19.

Dr. Srivastav added that research backs the safety and effectiveness of vaccines for pregnant women. “Research shows that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for pregnant women. A large review of over 600,000 pregnant women found that getting vaccinated did not increase the risk of miscarriage, early birth, or stillbirth. In fact, vaccinated pregnant women were less likely to get COVID-19 or need hospital care because of it.”

The ripple effects of President Donald Trump’s second-term policies continue to unsettle public health agencies nationwide. While the country is still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials say recent federal funding cuts are threatening the very infrastructure designed to protect Americans from future crises.

What began as reductions at the federal level has extended to state and local health departments. Roughly $12 billion in federal health funding has been earmarked for elimination, although some of these cuts are on temporary hold due to legal challenges. Local officials warn that even the threat of funding withdrawals is enough to destabilize long-term public health efforts.

Chicago’s Cook County Health Feels the Impact

One of the largest public health systems in the U.S., Cook County Health in Chicago, is already feeling the strain. Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO of the system, told the US News that two major grants totaling $31 million were abruptly pulled in March. Although the grants were scheduled to end in a few months, the early termination forced the system to speed up its transition plans.

“We were already in a planning stage,” said Mikaitis, “but we just had to accelerate that a little bit.” He noted that while they expect to retain all employees funded through the grants, outreach efforts have taken a hit. The programs, largely aimed at infectious disease prevention and health literacy, are now scaled back.

Shrinking Resources, Growing Needs

Mikaitis stressed that federal support underpins a broad range of public health functions—from vaccinations and infectious disease control to food and water safety. The withdrawal of funding creates downstream effects across the health system.

“Without public health being robust and able to intervene, we run the risk of having a sicker population,” he said. Smaller clinical sites, already stretched thin, may face closures under the added burden. “And when you reflect that against federal discussions on Medicaid cuts, that creates almost a double impact.”

Bracing for Deeper Cuts

Faced with uncertainty, Cook County Health is preparing for worst-case scenarios. “We’ve taken the tack of really looking at efficiencies—how do we gain revenues before we even look at trying to cut anything,” said Mikaitis. Still, there is concern that deeper cuts, particularly in Medicaid reimbursements, could force reductions in services.

Grants currently fund about a third of the Cook County Department of Public Health’s budget. As those funds disappear, essential functions such as infectious disease surveillance may be at risk.

Long-Term Prevention at Risk

Mikaitis pointed to another looming threat: the potential collapse of preventive care and chronic disease management. Cook County is exploring internal synergies—such as integrating the health plan with public health operations—to cushion the blow.

But he warned that if Medicaid cuts proceed and more people lose coverage, fewer will seek preventive care. “Are we going to be focusing on controlling high blood pressure,” he asked, “or treating strokes and heart attacks?”

For many health officials like Mikaitis, the choice between prevention and crisis response is no choice at all—it’s a compromise no community can afford to make.

Every year on May 31, the world observes the World No Tobacco Day. As per the World Health Organization, this yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing in order to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.

World No Tobacco Day 2025: Theme

This year's theme is 'Bright products. Dark Intentions. Unmasking the Appeal'. This theme especially focuses on the hidden dangers of tobacco products that often go unnoticed due to its packaging and flavors.

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The WHO website mentions: "Shameless manipulation of our children, for industry profit. Every day, tobacco and nicotine industries use carefully engineered products and deceptive tactics to hook a new generation of users and keep existing ones. Keep the industry out."

In fact, a 2017 study published in Author Manuscript, titled: Self-Reported Reasons for Vaping Among 8th, 10th, and 12th Graders in the US: Nationally-Representative Results, notes that most common reason for young people smoking a vape is because of its taste, and their reasons include that it "looks cool".

World No Tobacco Day History

The WHO website notes that the Member States of the WHO created the World No Tobacco Day in 1987. The aim was to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.

It was in 1987, when the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, and called for 7 April 1988 to be a "world no smoking day". In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was also passed that called for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.

Why Is World No Tobacco Day Important?

The WHO notes that on an estimate, 37 million children aged 13 to 15 years worldwide use tobacco. In many countries the rates of e-cigarette exceeds in young people than that of in adults. In fact, marketing content promotes e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products as appealing and they have been viewed more than 3.4 billion times on social media.

As per the National Cancer Institute, tobacco use is also the leading cause of cancer and of death from cancer. An Indian Paras Health's survey reveals that between 900 to 1000 patients who undergo cancer screening, and more than 75% of them are diagnosed with tobacco-related cancer that is present in advanced stage.

The hospital notes that tobacco use continues to exert a devastating toll on health, extending beyond cancer to include cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes, infections, delayed wound healing, and complications ranging from dental and reproductive issues to mental health disorders, hearing and vision loss, and even premature death. These conditions often complicate treatment and hinder recovery.

The World No Tobacco Day, thus serves as a commitment to creating a tobacco-free community and also urges to prioritize regular screenings, as well as commits to quitting tobacco and choose a healthier lifestyle.

The UK government has taken a bold step to address two spiraling public issues—vaping among youths and environmental degradation—through prohibiting the supply and sale of one-off disposable vapes starting from June 1, 2025, in England, Scotland, and Wales. Presented as a sustainability and health intervention, the legislation is an explicit demonstration of intent to mitigate the spiraling increase in young people's nicotine addiction and ease the country's growing e-waste crisis.

As the countdown to the ban continues, questions linger: Will this policy work to discourage youth vaping? Will it really reduce the nation's trash management crisis? And how ready are stakeholders—from shop owners to regulators—to implement this broad overhaul?

Disposable vapes are the nicotine delivery device of choice for young people and adolescents in the UK, where they are mainly popular due to their affordability, availability, and stylish appearance. As per government statistics, one in four children aged between 11 and 15 years old had used a vape during the last year, most of whom used disposable vapes.

Additional information by health charity ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) in 2024 revealed that approximately 18% of 11 to 17-year-olds—almost 980,000 children—had experimented with vaping, and some 390,000 reported current use. While this represents a decrease from 2023's 8% to 7% prevalence, the figure remains horrifying by comparison with 2020's 4% figure.

Disposable e-cigs, complete with candy-colored design and fruit-flavored selections, are obviously designed for use by younger generations. This has resulted in greater scrutiny, particularly in light of the possibility of long-term nicotine dependence, anxiety, headaches, and cognitive difficulties in developing brains.

How Does Vaping Affect The Environment?

While the health effects of single-use vapes have filled headlines, their ecological impact is no less alarming. UK homes throw away almost five million single-use vapes each week, many of which do not find their way into recycling. Single-use vapes are filled with lithium batteries, plastic parts, and toxic chemicals such as mercury, which poison landfills, adulterate waterways, and are a fire hazard in waste treatment plants.

A whopping 754 million disposable vapes have been wasted so far in the UK—a quantity matching the lithium required for more than 16,000 electric vehicle batteries. Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh called them "blights on our towns and cities," stating that a ban on the products is a move toward establishing a circular economy that recycles resources and minimizes waste.

As of June 1, 2025, the sale and supply of disposable vapes will be prohibited in both bricks-and-mortar shops and online stores. The UK government has committed to strong enforcement, with bad traders facing severe consequences under the "Plan for Change." Retailers online will be held accountable too through tough takedown procedures to eliminate unauthorized sales and imports.

The act explicitly separates disposable and reusable vape products. Reusable devices need to be both refillable and rechargeable, having available replacement parts such as coils and refill pods. Customers are able to check compliant products through the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) notified products list.

Popular support for the ban is strong. Almost 70% of participants in a recent government poll supported limits on disposable vapes, with both health and environmental reasons cited. Campaigning groups like Green Alliance also welcome the move, highlighting how the ban will take strain out of local waste disposal systems and natural habitats.

But not everyone believes that the ban goes far enough. The UK Vaping Industry Association has cautioned that removing disposable vapes could push demand underground, fueling black-market activity. Opposition members also contend that the legislation fails to address the source of the issue—flavored vapes and promotional tactics appealing to children—that are still allowed for reusable devices.

How Will the Ban Impact Youth Behavior?

Among the legislation's main objectives is to safeguard young individuals from nicotine dependence through eliminating the simplest and most alluring vape products. However, whether or not the ban will work to discourage youth vaping is debatable.

University College London (UCL) research indicates that whereas overall youth vaping has increased—17% in January 2022 to 26.5% in January 2024—the use of disposables by 16 to 24-year-olds fell from 63% to 35%, which suggests a move towards reusable devices.

This change indicates that although disposables can be banned to curtail some popularity, youth consumers might easily shift to more advanced reusable equipment unless complementary steps—like plain packaging and flavor curbs—are taken. The government's soon-to-be-introduced Tobacco and Vapes Bill is an effort to address some such issues, but specifics are yet to be finalized.

It is worth noting that vaping, though not safe, is nevertheless far less dangerous than smoking combustible tobacco. Health professionals endorse e-cigarettes as a cessation aid under controlled conditions. The UK NHS even provides vapes through the "swap to stop" initiative for adult smokers who are attempting to quit.

The Department of Health and Social Care, however, maintains that vaping is not safe for non-smokers or children. In December 2023, the World Health Organization released a stark warning regarding the "alarming evidence" of vaping injury to lungs, heart, and brain, which is further favoring the preventive move by the government.

The UK's disposable vape ban is a policy milestone that acknowledges public health and environmental concerns. In making this bold move, the government is joining a growing worldwide trend to tighten regulation on vaping.

But actual progress will be a function of full implementation, continued monitoring of youth behavior, tighter marketing restrictions, and education campaigns. Disposable vapes are only part of a much bigger puzzle. Absent a wider set of guidelines, such as greater regulation of flavors, packaging, and point-of-sale availability, the effect of this prohibition could be attenuated.

For the time being, it's an important first step—one that prioritizes public interest and planetary well-being over commercial expediency. Whether or not it will be a turning point, or merely a short-term solution, only time will tell.