The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
January 6, 2026 – WASHINGTON, D,C. – In January the United States undertook the most sweeping revision of its childhood immunization schedule in decades, reducing the number of universally recommended vaccines from 17 diseases to 11. The move was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and approved by Acting Director Jim O'Neill.
President Donald J. Trump (R) said on Truth Social, "Today, the Trump Administration is proud to announce the United States of America's updated Childhood Vaccination Schedule. This Schedule is rooted in the Gold Standard of Science, and widely agreed upon by Scientists and Experts all over the World. Effective today, America will no longer require 72 "jabs" for our beautiful, healthy children. We are moving to a far more reasonable Schedule, where all children will only be recommended to receive Vaccinations for 11 of the most serious and dangerous diseases. Parents can still choose to give their children all of the Vaccinations, if they wish, and they will still be covered by insurance. However, this updated Schedule finally aligns the United States with other Developed Nations around the World. Congratulations to HHS Secretary Bobby Kennedy, CDC Acting Director Jim O'Neil, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, CMS Administrator Dr. Oz, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, and all of the Medical Experts and Professionals who worked very hard to make this happen. Many Americans, especially the "MAHA Moms," have been praying for these COMMON SENSE reforms for many years. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
The move marks a significant departure from long‑standing public health practice and immediately sparked intense debate among pediatricians, policymakers, and parents across the country.
The policy change followed a December 2025 memorandum from President Trump directing federal health agencies to compare U.S. vaccine practices with those of peer nations. President Donald Trump publicly called for reducing the number of vaccines recommended for children, arguing that the U.S. schedule was an international outlier in both volume and frequency.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long‑time critic of the existing vaccine schedule, has long advocated for aligning U.S. practices with those of Europe and other developed nations. The January 5 announcement represents a major policy victory for him and his supporters.
"President Trump directed us to examine how other developed nations protect their children and to take action if they are doing better," said Secretary Kennedy. "After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent. This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health."
According to HHS, the scientific review concluded that several vaccines currently recommended for all children in the U.S. are recommended only for high‑risk groups in many peer countries. This finding became the basis for the new guidelines.
Which Vaccines Were Removed from Universal Recommendation?
Under the revised schedule, the CDC no longer recommends universal vaccination for:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B (removed in mid‑December)
- Influenza
- Meningococcal disease
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Rotavirus
Instead, these vaccines are now categorized under shared clinical decision‑making-meaning parents and healthcare providers decide together based on individual risk factors-or are recommended only for high‑risk children.
The remaining universally recommended vaccines include those for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, pneumococcal disease, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, HPV, and chickenpox.
This aligns with what the country of Denmark recommends.
Supporters: "A Move Toward International Norms"
Supporters of the change argue that the U.S. schedule had grown overly broad and burdensome compared to other developed nations. The federal review found that the U.S. recommended more total doses and more diseases for universal vaccination than any of the 20 peer countries studied.
Advocates also say the shift restores parental autonomy and reduces what they view as unnecessary medical interventions. HHS emphasized that the new schedule "aligns the country with international consensus" and focuses universal recommendations on diseases where evidence clearly supports population‑wide benefit.
Critics Warn of Increased Disease Risk
Many pediatricians, public health experts, and pharmaceutical industry lobbyists reacted with alarm. They argue that the removed vaccines-especially influenza, RSV, and rotavirus-protect against diseases that still cause significant childhood illness and hospitalization.
Dr. Eric Freeman, a Virginia pediatrician, warned that the changes "can be premature and can really have complications in terms of ensuring the health and safety of our children," especially amid rising flu and RSV cases nationwide.
Organizations representing pediatricians have expressed concern that:
- Reduced vaccination could lead to higher rates of preventable disease outbreaks.
- Families may be confused about which vaccines are still strongly recommended.
- High‑risk categories may be inconsistently applied across healthcare settings.
Smithsonian Magazine reported that many experts fear the changes will "likely lead to more disease outbreaks," particularly for flu and RSV, which regularly strain pediatric hospitals during winter months.
The new schedule is effective immediately, though implementation will vary as pediatric practices adjust. States-which often base school immunization requirements on CDC guidance-may revise their own mandates in the coming months. All 17 vaccines (including the 6 that are no longer recommended for children) are still free for children.
The debate is far from over. Supporters see the change as a long‑overdue correction to an overly aggressive vaccine schedule. Opponents fear it will reverse decades of progress in controlling infectious diseases.
Pharmaceutical companies make huge profits off of selling vaccines and having states mandate that public school children receive their product is a huge boon for sales and profits.
What is clear is that the U.S. has entered a new era of vaccine policy-one shaped by shifting public trust, political influence, and evolving interpretations of international norms.
To comment or to ask a question email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
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