In a controversial move that has stunned public health experts, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dramatically reduced its recommended childhood immunization schedule. The decision, guided by an advisory committee appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., comes in the midst of what is shaping up to be one of the most severe flu seasons on record.
A Drastic Reduction in Recommended Vaccines
On Monday, the CDC officially changed its guidance, reducing the number of recommended immunizations for children from 17 down to 11. This represents the removal of six previously standard vaccines. Secretary Kennedy Jr., rather than pointing to new scientific data, stated the shift was intended to align the United States with other developed nations, specifically citing Denmark, which immunizes against 10 diseases.
The change has been met with bewilderment and alarm from epidemiologists and health professionals outside the new administration's influence. Dr. Beth Jacobs, an epidemiologist and professor emerita from the University of Arizona, criticized the lack of evidence. "There is no scientific evidence supporting the change in recommendations, and therefore, Mr. Kennedy was unable to provide any," said Jacobs, who is also a founding member of the volunteer network Defend Public Health.
She revealed that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) suggested that lower vaccination rates were a reason for the change—a rationale she called "nonsensical." Jacobs expressed doubt that the new guidance reflects the consensus of expert scientists within the CDC.
Timing Coincides with Surging Flu Hospitalizations
The downgrade of the seasonal flu vaccine recommendation is particularly jarring given current public health data. CDC figures released Monday show a sharp spike in hospitalizations for flu-like illness across the country. The agency estimates 120,000 hospitalizations so far this season, a nearly 50% increase from the prior week. Approximately 8% of all healthcare visits were for flu-like symptoms, the highest rate since tracking began in 1997.
While this year's flu vaccine is less effective against the circulating strain than in prior years, it remains a powerful tool for preventing serious illness in children. Data from England shows that, compared to unvaccinated peers, children who received the flu shot this season are 72-75% less likely to be hospitalized. "It is not too late to get vaccinated," urged Dr. Jacobs.
In response to the federal changes, the American Academy of Pediatrics has announced it will release its own, evidence-based immunization schedule, which Jacobs recommends parents and Canadian healthcare providers consult.
Removed Vaccines and the Risks Ahead
Beyond the flu shot, the vaccines no longer unanimously recommended for all U.S. children include several that have had profound impacts on public health:
- Hepatitis B: Routinely given since 1991, this vaccine has drastically reduced lifelong diseases like liver cancer and cirrhosis.
- Rotavirus: A leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants. Kennedy Jr.'s cited model, Denmark, does not routinely vaccinate against rotavirus and sees eight times more child hospitalizations from the virus than the United States has.
- Also removed from the universal schedule are vaccines for hepatitis A, certain types of meningitis, and RSV.
Dr. Jacobs framed the policy shift as a dangerous assault on a foundational public health system. "This is but another cannon shot at a load-bearing wall in the U.S. vaccination program," she reflected. "Not only will Kennedy’s actions put kids at greater risk for serious illness and death from vaccine-preventable diseases, he is also further undermining trust in public health and causing unnecessary confusion."
The decision creates a new layer of complexity for border communities and healthcare providers in Canada, who must now navigate differing guidance for children who may travel or receive care in the United States.
