Childhood vaccine planning changed after the Trump administration's decision

Federal officials in early January pared back the list of routinely recommended childhood vaccines and reclassified some shots under a shared clinical decision-making model, and many pediatricians and at least 19 states are continuing to follow American Academy of Pediatrics guidance while families express confusion.

Federal health authorities announced changes to the routine childhood immunization schedule in early January, keeping core recommendations for diseases such as measles and polio but moving some vaccines to a shared clinical decision-making model and narrowing recommendations for a few others. The move followed an instruction from President Trump to reassess the schedule and coincided with leadership changes at HHS. Many pediatricians report spending more time explaining immunization choices to families and are continuing to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics' schedule. Several states and regional alliances have rejected the CDC's revised recommendations and are maintaining their previous guidance. Key developments: - On Jan. 5, the CDC preserved broad recommendations for core childhood vaccines but placed influenza and rotavirus vaccines under a shared clinical decision-making designation and narrowed routine recommendations for meningococcal ACWY and certain hepatitis vaccines for most children. - The administration's review of the schedule followed President Trump's instruction to reassess vaccine timing and was associated with changes in health leadership that clinicians say have disrupted federal immunization messaging. - Many pediatricians and at least 19 states are relying on American Academy of Pediatrics guidance or state-level recommendations rather than the CDC's new approach, creating variation across jurisdictions. - HHS officials and major insurers have said vaccine programs and coverage will continue for now, and pharmacists and clinicians report continuing to administer shots to children who request them. Summary: The federal change has increased questions and extra counseling in clinical settings and has led to differing policies among states and providers. Undetermined at this time.