Leading medical groups in the United States have expressed serious concern after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under President Donald Trump and Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced a major revision to the childhood immunization schedule. The unprecedented move removes recommendations for several vaccines long considered essential for protecting children against serious diseases.

Key Vaccines Removed from CDC Guidance

The latest guidance eliminates routine recommendations for:

• Rotavirus vaccine
• Influenza (flu) vaccine
• Meningococcal disease vaccine
• Hepatitis A vaccine

These vaccines will now only be recommended for specific high-risk groups or when doctors use “shared decision-making” with parents. The policy change comes amid declining vaccination rates in the US and rising incidences of preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough.

Medical Community Voices Concern

The American Medical Association (AMA) called the changes “deeply concerning”, warning that political interference in vaccine policy risks public health. Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, AMA trustee, said:

“When longstanding recommendations are altered without a robust, evidence-based process, it undermines public trust and puts children at unnecessary risk of preventable disease.”

Similarly, Sean O’Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics, criticized the CDC’s decision, highlighting that it bypassed the agency’s usual review by outside experts.

“It’s so important that any decision about the US childhood vaccination schedule be grounded in evidence, transparency, and established scientific processes, not political considerations,” O’Leary told reporters.

Trump Administration Defends the Changes

Secretary Kennedy argued that the new schedule “protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health”. President Trump also praised the decision on Truth Social, calling the new guidance “far more reasonable” and claiming it now aligns the US with other developed nations.

However, experts caution that there is no scientific evidence to suggest the previous schedule posed harm to children. Critics also warn that reducing vaccine recommendations could increase the risk of outbreaks of serious infectious diseases across the country.

Political Appointees and CDC Overhaul

The controversial changes are part of a broader shift in US public health policy under Trump appointees. In 2025, Kennedy:

• Removed COVID-19 vaccines from the recommended schedule for healthy children and pregnant women
• Fired a 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee and replaced them with vaccine sceptics
• Cut funding for mRNA vaccine development, raising concerns about preparedness for future outbreaks
• Directed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism

These actions have alarmed public health experts, who warn that undermining science-based vaccination guidance could jeopardize children’s health nationwide.

States’ Role in Vaccine Policy

While the federal government recommends vaccines, states retain the authority to require immunizations for school entry. Traditionally, CDC guidance heavily influences state regulations, but some states have begun forming independent alliances to counter federal vaccine policy under Trump and Kennedy.

Experts emphasize that the CDC’s role is critical in ensuring safe, evidence-based vaccination practices, and deviations could have long-term consequences for public health in the US.