CDC changes childhood vaccine schedule

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an unprecedented revamping of the U.S. childhood immunization schedule, reducing the number of universally recommended immunizations from 17 to 11. The policy, which is effective immediately, is based on Denmark’s schedule. While the CDC will recommend 11 shots for all children, six others will be recommended only for children at high risk of infection, and a third group will be available through “shared clinical decision-making” with providers. Public health experts panned the changes, contending the original vaccine schedule has prevented 1.1 million deaths over 30 years. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said states no longer would be required to report how many children and pregnant women they vaccinate but can report that information voluntarily. (CIDRAP news release, 1/5/26)