> At a Glance
> – The CDC now recommends 11 childhood vaccines, down from 18 last year
> – Flu, COVID-19, hepatitis A & B, rotavirus, RSV, meningococcal and HPV shots dropped for most kids
> – Why it matters: Doctors warn the rollback could fuel outbreaks of preventable diseases just as flu season surges
The nation’s top health agency quietly overhauled its childhood vaccine schedule Monday, eliminating routine recommendations for seven major shots. The move, requested by President Trump in December, took effect immediately and pits federal guidance against leading medical groups.
What Changed
The CDC no longer universally recommends:
- Influenza (flu)
- Hepatitis A & B
- Meningococcal disease
- Rotavirus
- RSV
- COVID-19 (a 2025 reversal)
These shots are now advised only for high-risk children or through “shared decision-making” with a doctor.
| Vaccine | Old Rule | New Rule |
|---|---|---|
| HPV | 2-3 doses | 1 dose |
| Flu | All kids | High-risk only |
| Hep A & B | All kids | High-risk only |
What Stayed the Same
The CDC kept these on the universal list:
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough)
- Polio
- Chickenpox
- Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
- PCV (pneumococcal)
Doctors Push Back
Dr. Sean O’Leary, American Academy of Pediatrics:
> “These changes could increase child illness and death from preventable disease.”
The AMA and AAP will keep recommending the dropped vaccines, citing no new safety data and a severe flu season already underway. States still set school-entry rules, and insurers plan to cover the shots through at least 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Federal guidance now lags behind many European countries that still recommend the dropped vaccines.
- Pediatric visits may get harder as parents question conflicting advice.
- Coverage remains intact, but uptake is expected to fall-raising outbreak risks.
The rollback arrives as U.S. vaccination rates slip and exemptions hit record highs, with measles and whooping-cough cases climbing nationwide.
