CDC reduces number of recommended childhood vaccines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced a reduction in the number of vaccines recommended for children, effective immediately. The agency said the move brings the U.S. closer in line with other developed countries, which generally recommend fewer vaccines for children.

Under the revised guidelines, children in the United States will now receive 11 vaccines, down from the previous schedule of 17. Health officials described the change as aligning the U.S. childhood immunization program with international norms while focusing on diseases for which there is broad global agreement on vaccination.

Vaccines for certain diseases will continue to be recommended for all children. For other conditions, immunization will be targeted toward high-risk groups or guided by shared clinical decision-making when public health authorities cannot clearly define the populations that would benefit.

The change follows a recent directive from the White House to review the childhood vaccine schedule and consider reducing the number of recommended shots. Health officials said the review took into account the approaches of other developed nations and aimed to increase public confidence in the vaccine program.

The revised schedule includes vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcal disease, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. The CDC also reduced the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine schedule to a single dose, rather than the previous recommendation of two doses for younger children and three for older adolescents and adults.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, an assessment of 20 other developed nations showed that the U.S. had been a global outlier in both the number of diseases included in its routine childhood vaccine schedule and the total number of doses recommended.

Health officials emphasized that the updated schedule is intended to protect children while providing families with clearer guidance and more informed choice. The agency did not provide additional details on the review process or whether advisory panels typically involved in vaccine recommendations would be consulted.

Officials indicated that the changes are also aimed at addressing declines in routine vaccine uptake for diseases such as measles, and they noted that increasing transparency and building trust in public health programs were priorities in revising the schedule.