Federal officials cut routine childhood vaccine recommendations to 11

Federal health officials announced a revision to the childhood immunization schedule, reducing the number of diseases for which children are routinely inoculated to 11 from 17. Jim O’Neill, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updated the agency’s schedule effective immediately, officials said at a news briefing.

Officials and aides described the change as a seismic shift in federal vaccine policy and a major move by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long sought to reduce the number of shots American children receive. States, not the federal government, set vaccine mandates, but C.D.C.

recommendations strongly influence state rules. Critics said the new schedule circumvents the detailed, evidence-based review that previously guided vaccine decisions and that independent expert input was not sought. The new schedule continues to recommend vaccines against measles, polio and whooping cough for all children.

Immunization against other diseases, including respiratory syncytial virus, will be recommended only for some high-risk groups, and shots such as rotavirus, influenza and hepatitis A can be given only after consultation with a health care provider. Dr. Helen Chu called the change “alarming, unnecessary and will endanger the health of children,” and said it would increase confusion and decrease vaccine uptake.

Key Topics

Health, Cdc, Robert F. Kennedy, Jim O'neill, Administrative Procedure Act, Measles