01/19/2026
Updates.
NEW CDC CHILDHOOD VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Recently, the CDC reduced the recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11. Vaccines for diseases like hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, RSV, influenza, and meningococcal disease were moved from universal recommendations to either high-risk groups or "shared clinical decision-making" categories.
Routinely recommended on the new schedule:
● Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) and tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap)
● Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
● Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15, PCV20)
● Inactivated poliovirus (IPV)
● Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
● Varicella (VAR)
● Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Recommended for certain high-risk groups or populations:
● Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV-mAb)
● Hepatitis B
● Meningococcal ACWY
● Meningococcal B
● Hepatitis A
Recommended for all children based on shared clinical decision-making:
● Rotavirus (RV1, RV5)
● COVID-19
● Influenza
● Hepatitis A
● Hepatitis B
● Meningococcal ACWY
● Meningococcal B
https://www.hhs.gov/childhood-immunization-schedule/index.html
On December 5, 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum directing the CDC to examine vaccination practices in other developed nations and update the U.S. schedule if superior practices existed abroad. Rather than following the traditional process through the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), HHS conducted a quick review comparing the U.S. schedule with 20 peer nations. This assessment was prepared by two political appointees and completed within a month. On January 5, 2026, Acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill signed a decision memorandum accepting the assessment's recommendations, making the changes effective immediately.
https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/cdc-updates-childhood-immunizationochedule-routine-list-narrowed-to-11-diseases
The problem with this approach is that ALL of the 20 peer countries have universal healthcare, creating an "apples to oranges" comparison.
For example, in countries with universal healthcare, all mothers have access to prenatal care and are screened for hepatitis B. In the US, 12-15% of expectant mothers are not screened for hepatitis B before delivery. The cirrhosis and liver cancer caused by hepatitis B and C (there is no vaccine yet for hepatitis C) kill 1 million people every year in the US. Before the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, 90% of infants born to women with hepatitis B developed chronic hepatitis B. 25% of those infants eventually died from either cirrhosis or liver cancer.
https://www.pri-med.com/online-cme-ce/podcast/frankly-speaking-cme-vaccine-update/activity?force=False&attestation=False&addtocart=&=
The American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Family Physician (AAFP), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) all voiced opposition to this departure from the CDC determining recommended childhood vaccinations based on a recommendation from ACIP. Both the AAFP and the AAP have issued their own recommendations for childhood immunizations:
AAFP
https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/prevention-wellness/immunizations-vaccines/immunization-schedules/birth-through-age-18-immunization-schedule.html
AAP
https://publications.aap.org/redbook/resources/15585?_gl=1*x1rqxf*_ga*NTAzODk5NjQ4LjE3NTU3MDY4ODU.*_ga_FD9D3XZVQQ*czE3NTU3MDkzNzAkbzIkZzAkdDE3NTU3MDkzNzAkajYwJGwwJGgw*_gcl_au*NTU1NDYxMjU0LjE3NTU3MDY4ODU.*_ga_GMZCQS1K47*czE3NTU3MDY4ODUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NTU3MDY5NzIkajQyJGwwJGgw?autologincheck=redirected
Shared clinical decision-making means that all Park County families can continue to opt for vaccines against significant diseases in consultation with a healthcare provider. The Wyoming Department of Health encourages providers to continue offering vaccines that have recently been moved to shared clinical decision-making status to all families. The CDC states that all vaccines on the schedule, (including those with a shared clinical decision-making recommendation) will continue to be covered by Medicaid, the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC), and private insurance.
