US vaccine policy removes six childhood vaccines

A December 2025 memorandum led to the removal of six vaccines from the US childhood schedule on 5 January 2026, while the MMR vaccine remains scheduled at 12 months; measles cases in the US have risen above 2,000 amid declining MMR coverage.

On 5 December 2025, a presidential memorandum instructed the US Department of Health and Human Services to align the US childhood vaccine schedule with that of peer countries such as Denmark. On 5 January 2026, the HHS secretary implemented changes that removed six vaccines from the US childhood schedule. The MMR vaccine remains scheduled at 12 months in the United States, while Denmark schedules it at 15 months. It is reported that measles cases have risen and that questions remain about legal authority for unilateral schedule changes. Key facts: - A presidential memorandum on 5 December 2025 directed alignment of the US childhood vaccine schedule with peer countries such as Denmark. - On 5 January 2026, the HHS secretary removed six vaccines from the US childhood schedule. - The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine remains scheduled at 12 months in the US, and reported US measles cases have exceeded 2,000 amid declining MMR coverage. - Reports note reduced public health surveillance and response capacity and state that it is unclear whether the secretary is legally authorized to unilaterally alter the vaccine schedule. Summary: The policy change altered the US childhood vaccine schedule while measles cases are reported to be rising and public health capacity has been reduced. Undetermined at this time.