Are There New Vaccine Recommendations, and What Do They Mean for Your Family?

This blog post was adapted from a presentation given on February 2 by David Higgins, MD, MPH, FAAP, as part of Immunize Colorado’s webinar series. View the webinar recording and slides.

In January, the federal government announced changes to the U.S. recommended childhood vaccine schedule. The schedule, published annually by the CDC, has long been the gold standard in childhood vaccination guidance, followed and endorsed by professional organizations and healthcare providers across the U.S. The changes were made under the guise of restoring trust in vaccines. But in reality, the changes were not based on new scientific evidence or data, and the result for many families has been increased confusion and uncertainty–not trust. 

What Changed?

First, some context: In past years, the CDC would release an updated childhood vaccine schedule following a careful scientific review of available vaccine data by a panel of experts, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Before being appointed to ACIP, these experts were thoroughly vetted over a period of up to two years for their knowledge, experience, and conflicts of interest. In June 2025, the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly fired all sitting members of the ACIP and replaced them with hand-picked ones. Most of the new members lack the relevant scientific experience required to make vaccine decisions, and some have been vocal in spreading misinformation about vaccines. Suddenly, committee meetings were no longer spaces for professional scientific review and discussion, but platforms for making misleading and often outright false claims about vaccines.

Then, in January 2026, HHS announced its new schedule, forgoing a review of disease-burden modeling, health outcomes data, and other critical evidence. The recommendations changed for six routine vaccines: RSV, flu, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, and meningococcal. These vaccines now have either a “shared clinical decision making” recommendation, or a “high risk” recommendation. Additionally, the HPV vaccine recommendation shifted from two or three doses to a single dose.

Why Is This Problematic?

The updated vaccine schedule now closely aligns with Denmark’s, which includes fewer vaccines than the U.S. (The U.S. schedule was previously more closely aligned with those of Canada, Germany, Italy, and Australia.) Fewer vaccines might, on the surface, sound better to those who are worried about the number of vaccines U.S. kids receive. But in reality, the number of vaccines kids get is very safe, and more vaccines means protection against more diseases.

The problem is that Denmark has vastly different circumstances than the U.S. For example, the U.S. population is over 57 times larger than Denmark’s. Denmark also has universal healthcare and the U.S. does not. Disease threats, vaccine delivery systems, and childhood health visit schedules in the U.S. also differ from Denmark’s. What works for one country may not work for another. As Colorado pediatrician Dr. David Higgins put it, “you can’t copy and paste public health.” 

Additionally, the new categories of “high risk” and “shared clinical decision making (SCDM)” are confusing for parents–especially the latter. In medicine, SCDM describes a decision made between a doctor and patient when the evidence does not support a clear recommendation, or when multiple equally evidence-based treatment options exist. Using it to describe a routine vaccine decision implies there is uncertainty about the benefit of a vaccine. In truth, the available evidence overwhelmingly shows that all vaccines on the childhood schedule are safe and effective. Changing this recommendation also makes it seem like parents are now suddenly empowered to make their child’s vaccine decisions, when they weren’t before. The truth is, while pediatricians can make vaccine recommendations, parents have always been the decision-makers for their child’s health care, and still are.

Finally, some vaccine manufacturers have shown signs of lost faith in the U.S. vaccine system, having indicated that they may not invest in future clinical trials for vaccines. This is very concerning. If manufacturers stop innovating, we may lose out on the benefits of new or better and more effective vaccines. There may also be negative impacts on our preparedness for the next pandemic.

What Guidance Should My Family Follow?

Following the changes to the CDC’s schedule, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its own 2026 child and adolescent vaccine schedule. Their recommendations are aligned with scientific evidence and are virtually the same as the CDC’s 2025 schedule. Importantly, the schedule universally recommends RSV, flu, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV, and meningococcal vaccines for all children. Their schedule is endorsed by leading medical associations and groups, who agree that following it is the best way families can keep their children protected from disease. 

Are Vaccines Still Covered by Insurance?

As of now, all vaccines on the AAP schedule are still covered by insurance, including Medicaid. That means families can still get any vaccine they want for their child at no cost.

What Has Not Changed?

Despite confusing recommendations, the overwhelming majority of families do still choose to vaccinate their kids. And nearly all pediatricians still recommend vaccines according to the AAP schedule. Vaccines are one of the best ways to keep kids healthy and thriving, and we encourage everyone to continue to look to the experts for evidence-based vaccine guidance.

Communications Tips for Providers

Understandably, patients are confused about which vaccine recommendations they should follow. They’re looking to their healthcare provider for expertise and a clear recommendation. Pediatricians are overwhelmingly trusted by their patients when it comes to child health, so making sure they feel listened to and cared for is important. On February 2, David Higgins, MD, MPH, FAAP, presented a webinar that outlined helpful tips and resources providers can use to help their patients navigate vaccine decisions amid any confusion. Providers can view his slides to learn more.