Since COVID, the U.S. has seen a drastic rise in antivax conspiracy theories, disinformation, and vaccine hesitancy.
Now, national policy is moving in the same direction, with the CDC, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the president all announcing changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, centered on reducing the number of recommended vaccines.
Doctors are not on board, and the American Academy of Pediatrics is strongly opposed to the move, stating that its recommendations will continue to follow science and best practices.
What’s Changing, Exactly?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reducing the number of recommended vaccines for healthy children. Some vaccines that were previously recommended for all children will now be recommended only for those in high-risk groups, or only under “shared clinical decision-making,” which means a provider will explain the benefits and any risks and allow the patient (or, for minors, the parent) to decide.
The CDC’s fact sheet lists vaccines the agency continues to recommend for all children.
“The CDC will continue to recommend that all children are vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Pneumococcal conjugate, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and human papillomavirus (HPV), for which there is international consensus, as well as varicella (chickenpox).”
Others will now only be recommended for children in high-risk groups.
The immunizations recommended for certain high-risk groups or populations are for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue, meningococcal ACWY, and meningococcal B.
Others, the agency argues, are best left to parents to decide, rather than to medical experts.
The immunizations based on shared clinical decision-making are for rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B.
What Does This Mean For Mandates & Availability?
Each state has the authority to set its own rules on which vaccines are required and which exceptions apply.
The new announcement does not change any of that immediately. Vaccines currently required, for instance, for public school enrollment, will remain required unless and until those state regulations change, and any exemptions under state laws or policies (such as religious or health exemptions) will remain in effect.
However, Pharmacy Times notes that state regulations are heavily influenced by CDC recommendations, so this could change in the near future.
It’s possible the federal government could put new pressure on states to shift their policies, or that states will make their own decisions based on the CDC change.
For now, vaccine availability should not change significantly. The CDC is emphasizing that there is no change to vaccine coverage under insurance, so parents should still be able to follow medical recommendations without paying out of pocket.
Pediatricians Are Responding To The Announcement
The AAP released a statement from its president, Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP, calling the CDC’s policy change “dangerous and unnecessary” and an “ill-considered decision” that will “erode confidence in immunizations.”
How does Racine recommend parents make the best decisions for their children’s health and well-being when the CDC is choosing a path that diverges from decades of science and evidence-based practices?
“During this uncertain time, the AAP will continue to publish our own childhood vaccine recommendations. My message for parents today is this: As a parent, you know your child and what they need to thrive. Your child’s pediatrician has the medical training, special knowledge, and scientific evidence about how to support children’s health, safety and wellbeing. Working together, you can make informed decisions about what’s best for your child. If you have questions about vaccines or anything else, your child’s pediatrician is there to help.”
For now, parents should continue to listen to medical experts and monitor for new developments.