President Donald Trump endorsed a Department of Health and Human Services study, which suggests reducing the number of vaccines recommended for American children. An executive order directs federal agencies to align policies with this study, advocated by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The study highlights that the U.S. recommends more vaccines than many peer nations.
Past attempts by the Trump administration to narrow the recommended vaccines were blocked by a federal judge in Massachusetts. The decision is currently under appeal. The study suggests children be vaccinated against 11 diseases while recommending others for high-risk groups or through shared decision-making with doctors. This includes vaccines for flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, certain forms of meningitis, and RSV.
The executive order directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to review the study and update its vaccine recommendations accordingly. It emphasizes flexibility for parents and doctors, ensuring continued access to vaccines. While states control vaccination requirements for schoolchildren, the CDC often influences state regulations. Nevertheless, some states are creating alliances to counteract the Trump administration’s guidance.
Secretary Kennedy, a known vaccine skeptic, has influenced national vaccine policies. Last year, he announced that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women, a decision met with skepticism by public health experts. Additionally, Kennedy replaced a 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee with several vaccine skeptics after firing the original members.
The January report notes an increase in vaccine recommendations for U.S. children over recent decades and cites countries where no vaccines are mandatory for school attendance.