The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday revised its childhood immunization guidance, reducing the number of vaccines it broadly recommends for all children amid growing concerns over public trust in federal health authorities following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The update represents one of the most significant adjustments to the federal childhood vaccine schedule in decades, reflecting both scientific evaluation and efforts to improve public confidence in immunization programs.
Under the revised schedule, the CDC now recommends routine vaccination for 11 diseases, down from 18 previously included, according to reporting on the change.
Federal officials described the move as a restructuring of recommendations rather than a rejection of any existing vaccines.
Health authorities emphasized that the decision is intended to simplify guidance, ensure appropriate use of vaccines, and allow healthcare providers and parents to focus on the most critical immunizations.
The updated guidance is based on a new scientific assessment that compared vaccination practices in the United States with those of other developed nations.
The assessment concluded that despite recommending more vaccines than peer countries, the U.S. did not achieve higher immunization rates and experienced a sharp erosion of public trust during the pandemic.
Researchers noted that communication missteps and public controversy over COVID-19 vaccines contributed to skepticism about the broader childhood vaccine schedule.
“The loss of trust during the pandemic not only affected the COVID-19 vaccine uptake. It also contributed to less adherence to the full CDC childhood immunization schedule, with lower rates of consensus vaccines such as measles, rubella, pertussis, and polio,” the assessment stated.
Despite the reduction in universally recommended vaccines, the CDC emphasized that the revised schedule does not advise against any childhood vaccines that were previously recommended.
Parents who wish to continue vaccinating their children under the former schedule may still do so, and insurance coverage for those vaccines will remain unchanged, Just the News reports.
Officials said the goal is to provide flexibility without compromising protection against serious diseases.
The CDC said it will continue to recommend that all children receive vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV) and chickenpox.
These vaccines remain classified as routine regardless of individual risk factors.
Other vaccines have been shifted into different categories under the new framework.
Vaccines now recommended only for high-risk groups include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue and two types of bacterial meningitis.
Meanwhile, several vaccines — including rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and bacterial meningitis — are now recommended based on shared clinical decision-making.
Under this approach, parents are encouraged to consult healthcare providers to determine whether the shots are appropriate for their children, allowing individualized assessment of risk factors and benefits, The Hill notes.
The scientific assessment also acknowledged gaps in existing research, noting that “there is a need for more and better science” on vaccines.
However, the revised guidance does not identify any vaccines as unsafe and does not recommend discontinuing any shots currently available.
Experts say the update represents an attempt to balance scientific evidence, public perception and practical implementation of immunization programs nationwide.
Health officials said insurance coverage for childhood vaccines will continue through private plans, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and federal vaccination initiatives, limiting any immediate impact on access for families.
State governments retain authority over school vaccination requirements, and officials cautioned that state policies may not change in response to the revised CDC guidance, potentially leading to variation across jurisdictions.
