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yesterday

HHS Under RFK Jr. Cuts U.S. Childhood Vaccine Recommendations to 11

Experts say the move bypassed the CDC’s usual review process, likely depressing uptake with higher risk of preventable disease.

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U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance (not pictured) during the inaugural Make America Healthy Again summit in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo
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Overview

  • The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was sidelined, and CDC vaccine staff said they were blindsided by the abrupt overhaul.
  • The routine list drops from 17 to 11 as hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, influenza, COVID-19, and some meningococcal shots shift to shared decision-making or high‑risk categories.
  • RSV protection for infants is no longer universal, and the HPV regimen was reduced to a single dose in the new schedule.
  • HHS framed the changes as aligning with peer nations such as Denmark, a rationale WHO and other experts dispute given major differences in U.S. health access.
  • Private and federal insurers signaled coverage through 2026, while medical groups and politicians, including Sen. Bill Cassidy, warned of lower vaccination rates and greater outbreak risk as Cassidy faced criticism for voting to confirm Kennedy.