US drops number of vaccines it recommends for every child: What to know

CDC panel recommends changes to hepatitis B vaccine schedule

A CDC advisory panel has opted to end the decades-long recommendation that all babies in the U.S. get a hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of being born. Infectious disease expert Peter Chin-Hong joins LiveNOW's Shawna Khalafi to discuss.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of dropping the number of vaccines it recommends for every child, leaving other immunizations, such as flu shots, open to families to choose but without clear guidance.

Officials said the overhaul to the federal vaccine schedule won’t result in any families losing access or insurance coverage for vaccines.

US drops number of vaccines it recommends for children

Big picture view:

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to recommend that all children are immunized against 10 diseases for which there is international consensus, as well as varicella (chickenpox), according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

For other diseases, the CDC will recommend immunization for high-risk groups and populations, or through shared clinical decision making when it is not possible for public health authorities to clearly define who will benefit from an immunization. 

The updated schedule is in contrast to the CDC child and adolescent schedule at the end of 2024, which recommended 17 immunizations for all children.

On the new schedule, vaccines — such as those for hepatitis A and B, meningitis, rotavirus and seasonal flu — are now more restricted. They are recommended only for those at high risk or after consultation with a health care provider. 

Dig deeper:

More specifically, the CDC will continue to recommend that all children are vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Pneumococcal conjugate, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and human papillomavirus (HPV), for which there is international consensus, as well as varicella (chickenpox).

What they're saying:

HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an "outlier" in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.

"President Trump directed us to examine how other developed nations protect their children and to take action if they are doing better," Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. "After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent. This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health."

The other side:

But many medical experts have slammed the move, saying it could lead to reduced uptake of important vaccinations and increase disease.

"Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children," said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota.

Trump previously asked HHS to review vaccine recommendations

The backstory:

The change came after President Donald Trump in December asked the HHS to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising the U.S. schedule to align with their guidance, while preserving access to vaccines currently available to Americans.

Childhood vaccine science was a topic of discussion during Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearings to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. The role oversees vaccine research, approval and recommendations, as well as food safety and health insurance programs. 

A child receives a standard immunization at doctor's office. (Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Kennedy, the son of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, is a prominent vaccine skeptic and has earned a formidable following with his views on food, chemicals and immunizations.

RELATED: What is the childhood vaccine schedule? A look at immunizations by age

His ascension to HHS secretary has prompted mixed reactions, with all Democrats voting against his nomination, as did Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who had polio as a child. 

While recent polling shows that many Americans disagree with some of Kennedy’s controversial health stances — including vaccine skepticism and changing guidelines around fluoride in drinking water — some of his other stances, like reformulating processed foods, are broadly popular. 

After being sworn in, Kennedy said that he would launch a stronger program to more closely monitor vaccine side effects.