CDC Drops Childhood Vaccines from Recommended Schedule Amid Trump's Guidance
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Monday that it is reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines in the United States. The Trump administration had previously instructed the CDC to review vaccine guidelines based on best practices in other countries, but critics argue that this decision was made without sufficient scientific evidence.
Under the new guidelines, the CDC now recommends just 11 vaccines for all U.S. children, down from the previous recommended 17. While the updated schedule still includes essential shots like measles, mumps, and flu vaccines, it now only recommends additional doses against certain diseases for high-risk groups.
The move has been met with fierce criticism from medical experts, who warn that this decision could put vulnerable populations at risk of preventable diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called the changes "dangerous and unnecessary," stating that they undermine public trust in immunizations.
"Their decision upends a deliberate scientific process that has helped keep newborns, infants, and children protected from diseases for decades," said Dr. Andrew Racine, AAP President. "Today's decision will sow further chaos and confusion and erode confidence in immunizations."
The American Medical Association (AMA) has also expressed deep concern over the dropped recommendations, urging federal health agencies to recommit to a transparent, evidence-based process.
"When longstanding recommendations are altered without a robust, evidence-based process, it undermines public trust and puts children at unnecessary risk of preventable disease," said Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, AMA trustee.
The CDC's updated guidelines still recommend shots against various diseases, including polio, tetanus, and pneumococcal disease. However, immunizations against RSV, dengue, and early doses of hepatitis A, B, and meningitis will only be suggested for high-risk kids.
States typically follow CDC recommendations when setting vaccine requirements for school attendance, which could have significant implications for public health policies.
The decision follows a Dec. 5 directive from President Donald Trump to review best practices in other countries, including Denmark's simplified childhood vaccine schedule of just 10 shots. However, the Trump administration failed to provide sufficient scientific evidence to support this change.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long advocated for altering pediatric vaccine schedules, has welcomed the move. However, his critics argue that this decision ignores decades of careful review and expert input in developing immunization guidelines.
As concerns grow over the impact of this decision on public health, parents, pediatricians, and medical experts are left to wonder about the future of childhood vaccination policies in the United States.
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Monday that it is reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines in the United States. The Trump administration had previously instructed the CDC to review vaccine guidelines based on best practices in other countries, but critics argue that this decision was made without sufficient scientific evidence.
Under the new guidelines, the CDC now recommends just 11 vaccines for all U.S. children, down from the previous recommended 17. While the updated schedule still includes essential shots like measles, mumps, and flu vaccines, it now only recommends additional doses against certain diseases for high-risk groups.
The move has been met with fierce criticism from medical experts, who warn that this decision could put vulnerable populations at risk of preventable diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called the changes "dangerous and unnecessary," stating that they undermine public trust in immunizations.
"Their decision upends a deliberate scientific process that has helped keep newborns, infants, and children protected from diseases for decades," said Dr. Andrew Racine, AAP President. "Today's decision will sow further chaos and confusion and erode confidence in immunizations."
The American Medical Association (AMA) has also expressed deep concern over the dropped recommendations, urging federal health agencies to recommit to a transparent, evidence-based process.
"When longstanding recommendations are altered without a robust, evidence-based process, it undermines public trust and puts children at unnecessary risk of preventable disease," said Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, AMA trustee.
The CDC's updated guidelines still recommend shots against various diseases, including polio, tetanus, and pneumococcal disease. However, immunizations against RSV, dengue, and early doses of hepatitis A, B, and meningitis will only be suggested for high-risk kids.
States typically follow CDC recommendations when setting vaccine requirements for school attendance, which could have significant implications for public health policies.
The decision follows a Dec. 5 directive from President Donald Trump to review best practices in other countries, including Denmark's simplified childhood vaccine schedule of just 10 shots. However, the Trump administration failed to provide sufficient scientific evidence to support this change.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long advocated for altering pediatric vaccine schedules, has welcomed the move. However, his critics argue that this decision ignores decades of careful review and expert input in developing immunization guidelines.
As concerns grow over the impact of this decision on public health, parents, pediatricians, and medical experts are left to wonder about the future of childhood vaccination policies in the United States.
... I don't get why they had to cut so many vaccines from the recommended schedule. I know we need to re-evaluate things every now and then, but this feels like a step back for public health 
. What's next? Are they gonna start telling people not to wash their hands or something? 
No way, right? The thought of kids going around without all the necessary shots is super scary 
. We gotta stick with science here, folks! 
i dont think this is a good idea at all 
kids need protection from preventable diseases 
my little nephew is going to be stuck with a weakened immune system if he doesn't get all his shots 
what's next?? are we gonna start giving out candy instead of vaccines 
they need to speak up for kids' health 
This new CDC vaccine schedule is super worrying for me 
I've got kids in school and I always felt safe knowing they were up-to-date on all their shots 
But now it seems like we're being told to just assume our kids are immune or that the risk isn't that big 
What if we have a big outbreak in our community? Who's gonna protect us then? 
It feels like the experts who've been working on this for years are being ignored 
We need to be careful here and not rush into anything without all the facts 
People just gonna start skipping doctor's visits and hoping for the best? 
That's just irresponsible... 
and whats with no more flu shots?! 
my little cousin got the flu last winter and it was super bad 
. I mean, 11 vaccines down from 17? That's a huge drop 
. And what's with the high-risk groups getting only suggested shots instead of full recommendations 
? It sounds like they're trying to confuse parents and put kids at risk 
. There's no scientific evidence to back it up, just some outdated info from Denmark 
. And what about all the years of careful review and expert input? Does that mean nothing now? 
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. If the CDC's guidelines are unclear or confusing, that's just going to cause more stress for parents and kids alike 
.
... do they need to make extra arrangements for their vaccinations? It's just too much uncertainty right now 
. We can't afford to roll back on vaccine protection at this point 
. I mean, these are kids we're talking about, not teenagers who can make their own decisions... they need protection from diseases that can kill 'em 
. The experts are all over it too - AAP and AMA are like, "Yaaas, we told you so!" 
. We gotta stay vigilant and make sure our kids' health is protected 
.
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I mean, measles and mumps are still out there so why take that risk? 
? I mean, I get that we want to reduce vaccine overload, but this feels like a huge step back 
. Can someone explain how they're even going to make sure all these high-risk groups get the protection they need 
. I mean, what's next? Removing seatbelts from cars or cutting funding for schools? It's all about politics and special interests, folks 
. The Trump administration just used its influence to push an agenda that prioritizes convenience over science 
. Newsflash: childhood vaccines aren't a partisan issue - they're about protecting our kids' health and well-being 
. We should be focusing on getting more people vaccinated, not less 
. This decision is a wake-up call - we need to hold our leaders accountable and demand better 
. The potential consequences for public health are far too dire to be taken lightly 
trump? 
no way are they experts on vaccine science 
It's gonna be a tough road ahead for public health policies in this country...