Kennedy Scales Back the Number of Vaccines Recommended for Children

Effective immediately, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has

announced the slashing the number of childhood vaccines from 17 to 11. The vaccines

no longer recommended are: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, flu, Covid 19, RSV, meningitis, and

rotavirus. These no longer recommended vaccines are advised only for high risk

children or after a consultation with a health provider. The American Academy of

Pediatrics and other professional groups are opposed to the changes and has made

available their own vaccine schedule. states, not the federal government, are in charge

of immunization mandates. Opponents point out that the process for making the

changes was circumvented and not evidence based. While the US health secretary said

these changes will create more trust in vaccines, many experts express that that the

changes are likely to lead to confusion over childhood vaccines as well as further

distrust. The federal agency over Medicaid has also stopped requiring reporting on

immunization data of children and adolescents in the Medicaid program. Major policy

shifts not based on science and expertise of doctors and scientists leave children and

public health at risk.