COVID-19 Vaccines Significantly Reduce ER Visits in Children, CDC Study Finds
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reaffirms the substantial benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in protecting children from severe illness, demonstrating a 76% reduction in emergency room or urgent care visits among the youngest patients.
The CDC study, published in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, provides compelling evidence that COVID-19 vaccines remain a critical tool in safeguarding pediatric health, even in the context of prior infection or vaccination. Researchers found the vaccines reduced the risk of emergency or urgent care visits by 76% in children aged nine months through four years and by 56% in those aged five through 17, compared to unvaccinated children.
The findings cover a period from August 29, 2024, through September 2, 2025, and analyzed data across nine states. During this timeframe, approximately 38,000 children were hospitalized with COVID-19, representing a rate of roughly 53 hospitalizations per 100,000 children. The highest hospitalization rate was observed in infants younger than six months old, with 600 per 100,000 hospitalized during the study period. Notably, children under six months are currently ineligible for vaccination, but the CDC emphasizes that vaccination during pregnancy offers some protection to newborns during their first six months of life.
“These findings suggest that vaccination with a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine dose provided children with additional protection against COVID-19–associated [emergency department or urgent care] encounters compared with no 2024–2025 dose,” the report states.
The study’s conclusions stand in stark contrast to recent rhetoric surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has publicly characterized the COVID vaccine as “the deadliest vaccine ever made,” a claim unsupported by scientific evidence. Furthermore, a leaked memo from a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official reportedly linked the deaths of 10 children to COVID vaccines, though the memo lacked supporting evidence, and the agency is now expanding its investigation to include adult deaths.
Despite these claims, numerous studies worldwide have consistently demonstrated the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, estimating they have saved millions of lives.
The current situation reflects a shift in vaccination recommendations. In June 2024, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) universally recommended COVID-19 vaccination for all individuals aged six months and older. However, in September 2025, a revised ACIP recommendation – enacted by a committee handpicked by Kennedy, Jr. – altered the guidance, now suggesting vaccination only “in consultation with a health care provider.”
The evolving landscape underscores the importance of continued vigilance and a commitment to evidence-based public health practices. As one analyst noted, “The politicization of public health measures creates unnecessary risk, particularly for vulnerable populations like young children.” .
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