In a significant policy shift, United States health authorities announced on Monday a major revision to the nation's recommended childhood immunisation schedule. The updated guidelines will recommend four fewer routine vaccines for American children.
A Departure from Standard Process
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed that Acting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Jim O'Neill approved the new schedule. This decision follows a call from President Donald Trump a month prior to reduce the number of vaccines on the children's schedule.
Notably, this revision occurred outside the typical, rigorous process for vaccine recommendations. The standard procedure involves an independent panel of expert advisers meticulously reviewing each vaccine's merits with a focus on public health outcomes. This step was bypassed in this instance.
Which Vaccines Are Affected?
The HHS stated that immunisations for four specific diseases have been moved to a category of "shared decision-making" between parents and healthcare providers. The affected vaccines are:
- Rotavirus
- Influenza (flu)
- Meningococcal disease
- Hepatitis A
Senior HHS officials assured that insurance providers will continue to cover the costs of these immunisations, regardless of their new categorisation.
Aligning with Global Standards and Political Goals
The agency explained that the move aligns the US childhood immunisation schedule with those of other developed nations. The recommendations for change were made after two top HHS officials, Martin Kulldorf and Tracy Beth Hoeg, reviewed vaccine protocols in 20 other developed countries.
HHS also stated the revision advances one of the long-term goals of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a figure known for his critical stance on vaccine mandates.
The updated schedule maintains core immunisations for 11 diseases, including measles, mumps, and varicella (chickenpox). Other vaccines are now categorised as either targeted for high-risk groups or subject to the new shared-decision-making category.
Among other changes, the CDC now advises a single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, instead of the previously recommended two-dose course.
