Overview
- Federal officials on Jan. 5 cut the universal childhood vaccine list from 17 to 11 and reclassified shots such as influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, RSV, and meningococcal vaccines to high‑risk or shared clinical decision‑making categories.
- U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston allowed a suit by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups to proceed, challenging the ACIP shake‑up and seeking to void votes since June, including the December move on newborn hepatitis B.
- State and local authorities including Wisconsin’s DHS, San Francisco’s DPH, Massachusetts, and New York said they will keep following the evidence‑based AAP schedule and maintain existing school‑entry requirements.
- HHS and CDC leaders advanced the changes outside the customary expert‑driven review, drawing warnings from pediatricians and public‑health experts that added friction will depress vaccination and raise risks of outbreaks.
- Several private and federal insurers signaled they will continue to cover the full slate of childhood vaccines through 2026, even as clinics prepare for logistical challenges and potential gaps for families with fewer resources.