The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reduced the number of vaccines recommended for all children from 17 to 11 on January 5, 2026, following a directive from President Trump to review how the U.S. childhood immunization schedule compares to other developed countries.
The changes moved six vaccines that were previously recommended for every child into different categories. Vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and rotavirus are now recommended only for children at high risk for these diseases.
New Vaccine Recommendations
Meanwhile, vaccines for influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and meningococcal disease now require "shared clinical decision-making," meaning parents must discuss with their healthcare provider whether the vaccine is appropriate for their child.
The vaccines that remain recommended for all children include those protecting against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal disease, chickenpox, and human papillomavirus (HPV), according to UC Berkeley Public Health. However, the HPV vaccine recommendation changed from two or three doses to just one dose.
Determining whether a child qualifies as "high-risk" has created confusion among families. The CDC did not provide clear definitions, and many healthy infants actually fall into high-risk categories for conditions like RSV despite having no preexisting conditions.
Pediatricians report spending additional clinic time explaining vaccine eligibility criteria to concerned parents, diverting attention from other critical health screenings and developmental assessments that occur during wellness visits.
The revisions represent a significant departure from traditional vaccine policy development. Historically, changes to the childhood immunization schedule occurred only after the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed scientific data and made evidence-based recommendations.
These recent changes were not based on new safety or effectiveness data. Health experts, including former CDC Director Mandy Cohen, criticized the modifications, stating they "add confusion and unnecessary obstacles for families who want to protect their children from serious diseases," CNN reported.
What Parents Should Keep in Mind
Insurance companies are still required to cover all vaccines recommended by the CDC as of December 31, 2025, without cost-sharing. However, families may face additional hurdles if they need to schedule separate consultations with healthcare providers to discuss vaccines now classified under shared decision-making.
Pediatricians across the country report growing vaccine hesitancy among families who interpret the new categorization as a sign of safety concerns. Experts emphasize that "shared clinical decision-making" does not suggest doubts about vaccine safety or effectiveness but rather reflects policy changes rather than scientific ones.
The American Academy of Pediatrics announced it will continue publishing its own comprehensive immunization schedule, which includes annual flu shots and updated COVID-19 vaccinations. Many pediatricians have indicated they will follow the AAP guidelines rather than the new federal recommendations, as per ABC News.
