The United States has removed its longstanding universal recommendation for four childhood vaccines, marking a major shift in national immunisation policy. The change affects vaccines for rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease and hepatitis A, with parents now advised to decide in consultation with healthcare providers under a shared decision-making model.
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The decision was approved by the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention without the agency’s customary external expert review. Public health specialists warn the rollback could lead to preventable hospitalisations and deaths, particularly among young children who are most vulnerable to infectious diseases.
Thank you, Mr. President, for standing up for children’s health, gold standard science, and common sense. https://t.co/lbt3DCct7z
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) January 5, 2026
The move aligns with Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr’s long-held stance on scaling back childhood vaccination requirements. President Donald Trump welcomed the update, stating that the revised schedule aligns the US with other developed nations and is based on what he described as “the gold standard of science.”
Vaccine experts, however, have criticised the comparison with other countries, noting that many have universal healthcare systems and different disease risks. Paediatric specialists stressed that US immunisation policy should be based on transparent scientific review rather than international comparisons that overlook healthcare system differences.
Health officials said the policy review examined vaccination schedules in 20 developed countries, where recommendations vary widely by disease. While some vaccines are not universally recommended elsewhere, experts noted that all four targeted vaccines have historically reduced severe illness, hospitalisation and deaths among American children.
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Despite the changes, the updated schedule maintains universal immunisation for 11 diseases, including measles, mumps and chickenpox. Officials also confirmed that insurance providers will continue to cover vaccine costs regardless of their classification, while urging parents to discuss risks and benefits with their doctors.