Overview
- Federal officials reduced the CDC’s routine childhood recommendations from 17 to 11 diseases, shifting hepatitis A and B, influenza, COVID-19, RSV, rotavirus and meningococcal vaccines to high-risk or shared clinical decision-making categories.
- The American Public Health Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases Society of America, American College of Physicians, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the Massachusetts Public Health Alliance plan court action to vacate the revisions and to block a late‑February adviser meeting.
- A federal court in western Massachusetts scheduled an initial hearing for Feb. 13, and a separate ruling blocked HHS grant cuts to the pediatrics academy while litigation proceeds.
- States including Pennsylvania and New Jersey say school-entry immunization rules remain unchanged, and Minnesota’s health department will follow medical association schedules such as the AAP’s rather than adopt the federal changes.
- CDC and insurers say all vaccines remain available and covered through 2026, yet clinicians report confusion and experts warn that shared decision-making could depress uptake, with particular concern for low-income families and busy clinics.