U.S. vaccine policy may affect Ontario children

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control, under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., revised its childhood immunization schedule, reducing the number of vaccines listed as routine from 17 to 11 and moving six to optional status. Ontario's childhood immunization coverage is reported at about 75 percent for seven‑year‑olds, and Canada has lost its measles elimination status.

Iris Gorfinkel, a family physician and clinical researcher in Toronto, reports that recent changes in U.S. vaccine guidance are being discussed by clinicians and parents in Ontario. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control, under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., rewrote the childhood immunization schedule so that several vaccines moved from "routine" to optional. The article notes concerns about how those changes could affect cross‑border transmission and provincial vaccine gaps. Key points: - The CDC revised the childhood immunization schedule, reducing routine protections from 17 vaccines to 11 and moving six vaccines (including flu, COVID‑19, hepatitis, meningococcal disease, rotavirus and RSV) to optional or targeted use according to the article. - The new guidance recommends those vaccines be reserved for children at "high risk" or offered after a conversation with a provider; the article states what defines "high risk" was not specified. - The article reports Ontario vaccination coverage at roughly 75 percent in seven‑year‑olds and notes that Canada has lost measles elimination status; specific next policy steps are undetermined. Summary: The reported U.S. change to routine childhood vaccine recommendations and the lack of a specified definition for "high risk" are described as raising the possibility of more variable protections for children. Undetermined at this time.