CDC reduces universal childhood vaccine recommendations

Time reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overseen by the Trump Administration’s HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a noted vaccine skeptic, announced it is endorsing fewer routinely recommended vaccinations for all children. Under the new schedule the agency now recommends 11 vaccines for all children, down from recommendations to protect against 18 diseases in 2024.

Influenza, COVID-19, rotavirus and other previously broadly recommended immunizations were moved out of the universal category; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is now recommended for high‑risk groups, and immunizations for rotavirus, COVID‑19, influenza, meningococcal disease, and hepatitis A and B are now placed in a “shared clinical decision‑making” category.

The CDC continues universal recommendations for chickenpox, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, pneumococcal conjugate, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella and one dose of HPV (previously two doses). The administration said the change aligns the U.S. schedule with international consensus and aims to restore public trust, and officials cited a drop in routine vaccine uptake; no vaccines were removed entirely and all will remain available and covered by the Affordable Care Act and federal programs.

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Health, Cdc, Rfk Jr, Hhs, Influenza, Rsv