Under anti-vaccine RFK Jr., CDC slashes childhood vaccine schedule

CDC Slashes Childhood Vaccine Schedule in Radical Shift

In a move that has left health experts stunned, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a sweeping overhaul of federal vaccine recommendations, drastically reducing the number of childhood vaccines from 17 to just 11. The changes are largely modeled after Denmark's universal healthcare system, where vaccination is almost universally accepted.

According to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the rationale behind the drastic reduction is to "protect children, respect families, and rebuild trust in public health." However, virologist James Alwine of Defend Public Health sharply disagrees, stating that Kennedy's decisions will "harm and kill children."

The American Academy of Pediatrics has also expressed strong opposition to the changes. President Andrew Racine warns that arbitrarily stopping routine childhood immunizations is "dangerous and unnecessary," and notes that "the United States is not Denmark." The organization fears that this move could lead to increased cases of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as whooping-cough and measles.

Under the new federal recommendations, universally recommended vaccines are now limited to just six additional diseases: human papillomavirus (HPV), varicella (chickenpox), and pneumococcal disease. The remaining 11 essential vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis (whooping-cough), tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), meningococcal ACWY, and COVID-19.

Critics argue that the abrupt changes lack scientific rigor and transparency. Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator, has reassured parents that all vaccines currently recommended by CDC will remain covered by insurance without cost-sharing, but health experts worry that this move may only deepen confusion and distrust among vaccine-hesitant communities.

With US measles elimination status at risk due to a nationwide decline in childhood vaccination rates, the decision has left many wondering about the motivations behind this significant shift.

I mean, who needs 17 vaccines for kids anyway? I'm sure Denmark's universal healthcare system is a super reliable model for us. And yeah, because nothing says "respecting families" like giving them more control over their kid's health by basically telling them to choose which vaccines they want or not. That makes total sense... not . And omg, the fact that we're comparing ourselves to Denmark now? Like, we should just start serving smørrebrød sandwiches in our schools too. I'm sure it'll be a real game-changer for our education system .

I'm not sure I buy into this whole "less is more" approach on vaccines ... I mean, I get that the CDC wants to rebuild trust and all that, but reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines by 35% just seems like a recipe for disaster . What's next? Dropping flu shots for parents too? It's one thing to have universal healthcare, but it doesn't magically make vaccines less effective or necessary.

And what about those vaccine-preventable diseases that are now left off the list? Measles and whooping-cough are already making a comeback in some parts of the country ... Do we really want to go back to seeing outbreaks every few years? It just seems like a lot of people are looking for a quick fix instead of taking the time to understand the science behind vaccination .

man...this is wild ...i mean, i get it, the old schedule was overwhelming and might've been stressing out some parents and kids...but slashing it by 66%? that's just crazy talk ...and what's with denmark being their inspiration? like, we can't just copy someone else's system without thinking about our own unique problems ...and what's the deal with cdc and health secretary robert f. kennedy jr.? he seems way too casual for a high-stakes decision like this ...

i'm not saying vaccines aren't important or anything, but can we just have a nuanced conversation about it instead of making sweeping changes that might actually do more harm than good ...and what about the kids who are already behind on their shots? don't they deserve some extra attention and support? ...this whole thing is giving me major anxiety ...i just wish we could have a calm and rational discussion about it instead of being all huffy-puffy

I'm literally shocked by this news ! I mean, I get it that the CDC's trying to listen to families and trust them with their health choices, but are we really gonna sacrifice public health for it? I think this is a huge mistake... I'm not sure what kind of "trust" Kennedy Jr. is talking about when he says "protect children, respect families"... does that mean we're just gonna let kids get sick because some parents don't wanna vaccinate them? No way! We gotta prioritize the health and safety of all our kiddos... it's not a personal choice, it's a public responsibility .

I'm like totally worried about these new vaccine guidelines ... I mean, have you seen the list of vaccines they're cutting? It's not just about "protection" and "respecting families", it's about SCIENCE . I don't trust Kennedy Jr.'s motives at all - he's just trying to make headlines without actually understanding the implications .

And what about the American Academy of Pediatrics? They've been saying this for ages, that we shouldn't mess with a good thing! The US isn't Denmark, and our healthcare system is way more complicated than just "universal acceptance" . This whole thing feels like a recipe for disaster - I hope they reconsider ASAP .

I'm also kinda annoyed that Dr. Oz is trying to reassure parents without actually addressing the concerns . We need concrete evidence and transparency, not just empty words . This whole situation has me rolling my eyes... let's get back to the science, people!

Wow the CDC's new vaccine schedule is gonna be a major game-changer can't believe they're reducing the number of childhood vaccines from 17 to just 11 it makes me wonder if they're trying to cut costs or something? Interesting that Denmark's universal healthcare system is the model behind this change

so they're gonna just cut down the number of vaccines and expect everything to be okay? didn't even bother checking if it's scientifically backed... Denmark's healthcare system is one thing, but our country's got a whole different set of issues what about all the people who can't afford to get vaccinated or don't have access to healthcare? are they just gonna get left behind? need to see some real data and research before I even consider this decision... sources, CDC?

just saw this news about CDC slashing childhood vaccine schedule 11 vaccines down from 17 is a big drop in my opinion. seems like they're trying to "protect" kids but isn't that just putting them at more risk of getting sick? i think it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to vaccines. what do you guys think?

OMG This new vaccine schedule is giving me major concerns . I mean, what's next? Are we gonna ditch our regular check-ups too? As a mom myself , I'd want my kids protected from all the nasty illnesses out there, not just some selected ones .

I don't get why they're skipping the HPV vaccine . It's super important for teens, especially girls . And what about the pneumonia shot? My little nephew got it every year and now he's all set .

I'm so worried about the kids who are already behind on their shots . We can't just stop now and expect them to catch up It's like trying to put out a fire with a squirt gun .

This whole thing is giving me major anxiety . Can we please get more info before we make any drastic changes?

I don't think it's fair to say that Robert F. Kennedy Jr is trying to "harm and kill children" his intentions are likely coming from a place of wanting to put more control in parents' hands when it comes to their kids' health, which I can kinda get why he'd want that . I mean, shouldn't we trust parents to make the best decisions for their own kids?

It's also not like they're just dropping all vaccines at once, they're actually consolidating some of them so it's not like kids are gonna get left out in the cold or anything . And yeah, maybe there is a bit of distrust around vaccine hesitancy that needs to be addressed but I don't think this is the answer

I'm all for making things more streamlined, but reducing the number of vaccines from 17 to 11 just seems like a big gamble . I mean, what if we're missing out on some crucial protection? Denmark's system is one thing, but we're not exactly following their playbook here.

Plus, what about kids who have weakened immune systems or other health conditions that require more vaccines? Are they being left behind? I get the importance of rebuilding trust in public health, but this feels like a step too far . Let's not rush into something that could end up harming our most vulnerable populations.

umm so like what just happened with vaccines i was talking to my friend's cousin who's a pediatrician and she said that reducing the number of vaccines is not gonna help anything... i mean she's always been super pro-vaccine but even she thinks this is a bad idea can anyone really trust the CDC right now? btw has anyone tried those new energy drinks that just came out?

I'm low-key shocked by this new CDC vaccine schedule . Like, I get why they wanna reduce some vaccines, but 11 down from 17? That's a lot of risks for kids . I don't think it's a good idea to cut off childhood immunizations like that - we need those vaccines to protect our communities from outbreaks .

I also don't trust the logic behind this change . It sounds like they're trying to appease some families, but what about all the kids who won't get vaccinated? That's just gonna leave them more vulnerable to illnesses . And yeah, I'm not surprised that health experts are speaking out against it - this decision is a total overreach .

I hope parents are thinking carefully about this one . If they're not sure what vaccines their kids need, they should be all over this new CDC schedule like white on rice . But honestly, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it...

I don't know if reducing the number of vaccines is gonna be a good idea... like, what's the point of having fewer vaccines if it's still not enough? Our healthcare system is already pretty complex, why do we need to make it more complicated? And what about all those families who are already struggling to get their kids vaccinated on time? This new schedule just seems like a recipe for disaster...

I'm literally freaking out about this ! I mean, I know we all want parents to trust public health, but stopping routine childhood immunizations is like, super scary for me ! I have a little sibling and my mom always makes sure they get all their shots on time. Now, it's like, what if they don't? What if there's an outbreak in our school or something? I know the CDC thinks this will protect families, but I don't think it's that simple ... and what about people who are already hesitant to get vaccinated? It feels like we're just making things more complicated for everyone .

idk about this new vaccine schedule ... seems like they're kinda cutting corners? i mean, 11 vaccines down from 17? that's a pretty big drop and imo it might put more kids at risk of getting sick especially with the US not being Denmark or whatever . dont get me wrong, i think we should be making sure vaccine schedules are up-to-date but shouldn't they be doing their due diligence to make sure these changes aren't gonna hurt anyone?

I'm not sure why everyone's making such a big deal about this... I mean, think about it, we're living in a world where vaccines are pretty much guaranteed to be safe and effective. The CDC's just trying to make things more streamlined for families and parents . And what's the worst that could happen? Some kids might get a tiny bit sicker because they didn't get all 17 shots . But honestly, the science is on our side, and these vaccines have been proven time and time again to be life-savers . Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill here...

Wow , just read about CDC slashing childhood vaccine schedule. Denmark's system is interesting but can it work for America? Measles and whooping-cough are super contagious diseases that can be deadly if not treated ASAP . I'm all for trust in public health, but this drastic change feels too radical to me . What if parents don't feel safe with the new schedule? We need more transparency and scientific backing behind these changes . This is definitely interesting

This new vaccine schedule is super concerning for me. I'm not against reducing the number of vaccines, but we gotta make sure it's based on solid science and not just some country's system . The fact that it's being touted as a way to "protect children" and "rebuild trust in public health" seems kinda fishy to me . We need to be careful here, 'cause vaccine-preventable diseases are still out there, and we don't wanna take our guard down too much .

I also don't get why the CDC is making such a drastic change without more transparency. I mean, I'm all for listening to other countries' approaches, but we can't just replicate their systems without thinking it through ourselves . And what's up with the lack of scientific rigor? It's gotta be based on actual data, not just some educated guess .

It's also a bit concerning that there's been no clear explanation for why this change is happening now . Are we in a crisis or something? I don't think so . We need to take a step back and assess the situation before making any major changes .