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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a significant overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule on Monday (January 5), recommending fewer vaccines for most American children. The revised schedule will continue to recommend vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chickenpox, and HPV. However, it will now only recommend vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), meningococcal disease, hepatitis B, and hepatitis A for children at higher risk of infections.
The new schedule suggests that decisions regarding flu, COVID-19, and rotavirus vaccines be made through "shared clinical decision-making," meaning parents should consult with healthcare providers before proceeding. Despite the changes, HHS assures that all vaccines will still be covered by insurance without cost-sharing.
The overhaul aligns the U.S. vaccine schedule more closely with those of other developed nations like Denmark, which does not recommend certain childhood vaccines. The changes follow a directive from President Donald Trump, who ordered a review of the U.S. vaccine schedule to better align it with international standards.
The decision has sparked concern among public health experts, who warn that reducing the number of recommended vaccines could lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases. Dr. Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins, expressed concern that the new schedule could endanger children and lead to a resurgence of preventable diseases.
“I think that a reduced schedule is going to endanger children and lay the groundwork for a resurgence in preventable disease,” Dr. Rivers told CNN.
HHS stated that the revised schedule aims to restore public trust in health agencies and vaccines. However, the changes may create challenges for parents who now need to consult with doctors about vaccines no longer recommended for healthy children. The decision has also raised concerns about the potential for increased disparities in vaccine coverage across different states, as state governments hold the authority to mandate vaccinations.
