At a Glance
- The CDC just cut the childhood vaccine schedule from 18 to 11 diseases, effective immediately
- Parents who still want every shot can get them-insurance still covers all vaccines from 2025
- Why it matters: The move mirrors Denmark’s schedule and could spark lower vaccination rates nationwide
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a sweeping overhaul Monday that strips seven vaccines from the routine childhood schedule, marking the biggest change to U.S. pediatric immunizations in decades.
What Changed
The new schedule drops recommendations for flu, Covid, RSV, chickenpox, hepatitis A, rotavirus and meningitis shots for most children. Vaccines still recommended for every child include:
- Measles, mumps, rubella
- Polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria
- Hib, pneumococcal disease, HPV, chickenpox
High-risk groups can still receive shots for RSV, hepatitis A/B, dengue and two bacterial meningitis types. Rotavirus, Covid, flu and hepatitis A/B now fall under “shared clinical decision-making,” meaning parents and doctors decide case-by-case.
Political Pressure Behind the Pivot
Senior HHS officials say the change aims to rebuild public trust eroded during the pandemic. A agency assessment found “a need for more and better science” on vaccines and noted slipping uptake of basic shots like measles and polio.
The pivot follows months of lobbying from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who claims U.S. kids receive “too many” vaccines. President Donald Trump ordered officials last year to align U.S. guidelines with “best practices” from countries like Denmark.
| Vaccine Status | Old Schedule | New Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Flu | Routine | Shared decision |
| Covid | Routine | Shared decision |
| RSV | Routine | High-risk only |
| Rotavirus | Routine | Shared decision |
| Chickenpox | Routine | Shared decision |
Experts Push Back
Dr. David Margolius, Cleveland’s public health director, warned the revision lacks scientific rigor:
> “There’s no rigor or reason to reduce the number of shots just because another country did it. The best-case scenario is nothing changes. The worst-case is more confusion, distrust and lower rates.”
Anders Peter Hviid, senior author of Denmark’s aluminum-vaccine study, predicted outbreaks could worsen:
> “Derecommending will likely lead to lower uptake, leaving more children exposed to infectious disease.”
Key Takeaways
- The CDC cut seven vaccines from the universal childhood schedule overnight
- Insurance will keep covering all 2025-recommended shots regardless of the change
- States set school-entry rules, so requirements may vary locally
- Denmark’s schedule inspired the shift, yet Denmark is now re-evaluating its own gaps
Parents should check state rules before the next school year, because daycare and K-12 vaccine mandates could look different depending on where you live.
