The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced Monday that it would be shaking up the recommended childhood vaccine schedule in order to bring it into alignment with those of other developed nations. As a result, the CDC will now be recommending 10 vaccines for all children, reducing by seven its prior recommendation of 17 vaccinations.
Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill, in his role as Acting Director of the CDC, signed a decision memorandum "accepting recommendations from a from a comprehensive scientific assessment of U.S. childhood immunization practices, following a directive from President Trump to review international best practices from peer, developed countries."
Strict New Rules Ahead: FDA Ties Coronavirus Jabs to Pediatric Deaths
One month ago to the day, the president directed O'Neill and O'Neill's boss, Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to look at how other developed nations structure their childhood vaccine schedules and examine the scientific evidence used to develop those schedules. If they found a superior approach, President Trump instructed them to make appropriate updates to the recommended schedule for American children.
“President Trump directed us to examine how other developed nations protect their children and to take action if they are doing better,” Secretary Kennedy said. “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.”
Deputy Secretary @HHS_Jim O’Neill, in his role as Acting Director of @CDCGov, today signed a decision memo accepting recommendations from a comprehensive scientific assessment of U.S. childhood immunization practices, following a directive from @POTUS to review international best… pic.twitter.com/IQkAmllatJ
— HHS (@HHSGov) January 5, 2026
Deputy Secretary @HHS_Jim O’Neill, in his role as Acting Director of @CDCGov, today signed a decision memo accepting recommendations from a comprehensive scientific assessment of U.S. childhood immunization practices, following a directive from @POTUS to review international best practices from peer countries.
The assessment undertaken by the CDC – which examined childhood immunization practices in 20 peer, developed nations – found the United States to be a "global outlier" in both the number of diseases covered by its childhood vaccine schedule and the total number of doses the government recommends children receive.
“After reviewing the evidence, I signed a decision memorandum accepting the assessment’s recommendations,” Acting CDC Director O'Neill said. “The data support a more focused schedule that protects children from the most serious infectious diseases while improving clarity, adherence, and public confidence.”
Here are some specifics on the changes:
Under the accepted recommendations, CDC will continue to organize the childhood immunization schedule in three distinct categories, all of which require insurance companies to cover them without cost-sharing:
- Immunizations Recommended for All Children
- Immunizations Recommended for Certain High-Risk Groups or Populations
- Immunizations Based on Shared Clinical Decision-Making
Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, pointed out that all of the vaccines on the updated schedule will still be covered by insurance, saying, “All vaccines currently recommended by CDC will remain covered by insurance without cost sharing. No family will lose access. This framework empowers parents and physicians to make individualized decisions based on risk, while maintaining strong protection against serious disease.”
The newly-truncated kids' vaccine schedule will be welcome news to anyone who's ever had to take their babies and little ones into the pediatrician's office and hold them down while they're given shot after shot, often resulting in fevers, rashes, and days of misery for all involved. Here's to progress.
Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie.
Help us continue exposing their grift by reading news you can trust. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member