The United States government has reduced the number of childhood diseases that children are routinely vaccinated against, cutting it from 17 to 11.
According to new guidelines released on Monday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccines for diseases like polio and measles will remain compulsory for all children. However, vaccines for Covid-19 and hepatitis A and B will no longer be automatically recommended for every child.
Instead, these vaccines will now be given based on a child’s health risk and after discussion between parents and doctors.
US President Donald Trump praised the new policy, saying it is based on “the highest standard of science.” However, many medical experts and child health organisations have strongly criticised the move.
The American Academy of Pediatrics described the decision as “dangerous and unnecessary,” warning that it could put children’s health at risk.
The change is part of wider health policy reforms under the Trump administration, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has previously expressed doubts about vaccines.
Trump said many parents, especially those supporting the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, have long called for such changes. Kennedy also said the new guidelines followed a thorough review and were meant to protect children while allowing families to make informed decisions.
Under the new CDC guidelines, vaccines that are still recommended for all children include protection against:
-
Measles
-
Mumps
-
Rubella
-
Polio
-
Whooping cough (pertussis)
-
Tetanus
-
Diphtheria
-
Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
-
Pneumococcal disease
-
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
-
Chickenpox (varicella)
Another group of vaccines will now be given only if a child is at risk. These include vaccines for:
-
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
-
Hepatitis A and B
-
Dengue
-
Meningitis (ACWY and B types)
Meanwhile, vaccines for Covid-19, influenza (flu), and rotavirus will be left entirely to the decision of parents and doctors.
The CDC said health insurance will still cover all vaccines that remain recommended until the end of 2025.
The new policy followed an executive order signed by President Trump in December, asking health officials to compare the US vaccine schedule with other developed countries. The health department said the US was vaccinating against more diseases than many countries, pointing to Denmark as an example, where children are vaccinated against fewer diseases.
However, medical experts disagreed with this comparison. Dr Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the US is very different from Denmark in population size, healthcare system, and disease risks.
He warned that changing vaccine rules this way could confuse parents and weaken trust in immunisation programmes.
A Republican senator and medical doctor, Bill Cassidy, also criticised the policy, saying it could create unnecessary fear and make children more vulnerable to diseases.
The announcement comes shortly after another controversial CDC decision to delay the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine for babies. Previously, newborns received the vaccine within 24 hours of birth, but the new guideline allows it to be given at two months if the mother does not have hepatitis B.
Paediatricians strongly opposed that change as well, warning it could expose children to avoidable health risks.
