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States and Hospitals Reject Federal Cut to Childhood Vaccine Schedule as Medical Societies Sue

Widespread refusals by states plus leading pediatric hospitals are creating a split over who sets vaccine policy.

A pharmacy manager administers a patient with a seasonal flu vaccine at a CVS Pharmacy.
Parker McKenzie, 10, right, receives a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from nurse practitioner Amy Wahl with distraction help from certified child life specialist Haylee Rogers during the first COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Franklin County for children age 5-11 at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. The omicron-fueled surge that is sending COVID-19 cases rocketing in the U.S. is putting children in the hospital in close to record numbers, and experts lament that most of the youngsters are not vaccinated. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Overview

  • Federal officials narrowed the routine childhood schedule on Jan. 5 from 17 to 11 diseases, dropping universal recommendations for influenza, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, RSV and some meningitis vaccines.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics and allied groups amended their lawsuit to restore the pre–April 2025 schedule and to pause the Feb. 25–26 ACIP meeting, with a court hearing set for Feb. 13.
  • A federal court ordered the restoration of $12 million in child‑health grant funding while the case proceeds, which the plaintiffs said had been cut in December.
  • Major pediatric hospitals, including Children’s National, Texas Children’s, Seattle Children’s, CHLA and CHOP, say they will follow AAP guidance and continue offering all vaccines despite the new federal recommendations.
  • Massachusetts issued state guidance aligning with the AAP and continues to recommend Hepatitis B, rotavirus, flu, COVID‑19 and RSV shots for all children, as HHS defends the federal changes as protective and internationally aligned.