In brief
In a controversial move, the U.S. has revised its vaccine recommendations for children, decreasing the number of immunizations and leaving others, like flu shots, optional without clear guidance. Health officials defend the change, but experts are concerned about the implications for children's health and vaccination rates.
WASHINGTON (AP) — 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 stated that the overhaul to the federal vaccine schedule won’t result in families losing access or insurance coverage for vaccines. However, medical experts criticized the move, arguing that it could lead to reduced uptake of important vaccinations and an increase in disease.
The change followed President Donald Trump’s request in December for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and to consider revising its guidance to align with theirs.
The Department concluded that the U.S. was an 'outlier' in both the number of vaccinations and doses recommended to all children, framing the change as an initiative to bolster public trust by suggesting only the most critical vaccinations.
“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed in a statement following the announcement.
Nevertheless, experts warned that this decision could jeopardize child health without a proper public discussion or transparent review process. Michael Osterholm from the Vaccine Integrity Project expressed concern, stating, “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.”
