Families may have many questions regarding the recent news regarding the CDC changes to the childhood immunization schedule. This FAQ is designed to provide clinicians with ways to frame conversations in response to these questions.
I’m seeing vaccines come up a lot in the news and on social media. What is happening?
Recently, government officials suddenly stopped recommending several childhood vaccines routinely for all children. This breaks from a process that has been in place for decades that was designed to make vaccine recommendations based on review of how infections spread in the U.S., how illness impacts children’s health now and as they grow, and how our health care system works.
Why shouldn’t U.S. parents follow another country’s immunization recommendations?
New recommendations from the government align closely with Denmark, but Denmark is different in terms of exposure to infectious diseases, access to healthcare, and available vaccines. Just as you wouldn’t change your thermostat based on the temperature of a country far away, vaccine recommendations in the U.S. consider the conditions, risks, and benefits to people who live here.. There is no scientific basis to suggest that guidance from other countries, such as Denmark, is safer or better for children who live in the U.S.
How do we know vaccines in the U.S. are safe and beneficial for children?
The vaccination program in the U.S. has been incredibly successful in preventing illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths. Vaccines are one of the best tools we have to keep families and communities healthy, instead of missing school or work. Every vaccine, and each recommended dose, has been extensively tested and timed to work best with a child’s developing immune system to protect children when they are most at risk.
Vaccine recommendations are not made lightly. They reflect decades of research, ongoing safety monitoring, and rigorous review by experts with specialized knowledge.
Which recommendations have changed (What are the differences between the old CDC recommendations and the new ones)?
The CDC has changed its recommendation to no longer routinely recommend all children receive immunizations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu, and meningococcal disease (including meningitis, a serious brain infection). Instead, these vaccines are now recommended based on risk or after discussion with doctors. However, all the previously routinely recommended vaccine prevent diseases that can cause serious illness for any child and even long-term health issues, which is why pediatricians still recommend them routinely for all children.
These vaccines have prevented illnesses such as:
Rotavirus: Before the rotavirus vaccine was available, approximately 50,000 children in the United States would end up in the hospital every year with severe dehydration from rotavirus.
RSV: A recent study shows that RSV immunization cut RSV-associated hospitalization rates in infants by up to half when compared to previous years.
Influenza: Tens of thousands of children are hospitalized with flu every year. 289 children died from flu during the 2024-2025 flu season, one of the worst on record. The flu vaccine prevents the most serious forms of illness.
Meningococcal disease: Although rare, meningococcal disease, which can cause meningitis, is fatal in 10-15% of cases and can cause serious long-term health issues.
Hepatitis B: Children infected between one and five years of age have a 25-50% chance of becoming chronically infected. A quarter of children who develop chronic hepatitis B infection will die from the disease.
Did the CDC or others discover these vaccines aren’t safe or don’t work anymore?
No. There’s no new information about these vaccines that has raised concern about safety or how well they work. Pediatricians stay on top of the latest science related to vaccines, and the CDCs decision was not based on new science. Vaccines continue to be some of the best tools to keep patients healthy and active.
What vaccines do you recommend?
I recommend the vaccines suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the organization of doctors who are trained experts, care for children every day and provide the best information for a child’s care when they are well and when they are sick.
Why should I follow vaccine guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics?
Vaccine recommendations from the AAP were created by:
- Doctors with specialized training who have spent years caring for children.
- Scientists who study how our immune systems work and how diseases make us sick; and how to make our immune systems stronger
- Public health experts who track how diseases spread in this country.
These groups have the right type of specialized knowledge and experience to make these recommendations. That’s why I trust their advice.
Will I now have to pay out of pocket for vaccines that doctors recommend?
No. Public and private insurers should continue to cover the vaccines that have historically been on the childhood immunization schedule.
I’ve heard that doctors make money off vaccines. Is that true?
Purchasing, stocking, administering, and tracking vaccines all carry costs. Doctors and health systems must be paid to support these costs. In some cases, doctors lose money to provide vaccines because what they are paid does not fully cover costs, but they still offer them because they are so important for keeping kids healthy.
I’m worried about how vaccines affect babies and young children, and it seems like giving them fewer shots while they’re little is safer. Can so many shots overwhelm their body?
A list of all the recommended vaccines may seem like a lot, but your child’s immune system is incredibly hardworking and constantly learning, even in the first few months of life. That’s good, because kids encounter thousands of germs every day. Myths wrongly suggest that vaccines can overwhelm a child’s body—but that’s not how vaccines work. Vaccines teach your child's immune system how to recognize the most dangerous germs, so they are ready to resist when exposed.
If I have a healthy child, what is the harm in delaying or skipping certain vaccines or following an alternative schedule?
The time a child goes without a recommended immunization is time they remain vulnerable to infections, some of which can be severe, life-threatening, or have lifelong consequences.
The AAP schedule has been designed and tested to protect children when they may be most vulnerable to an illness, and the vaccines are timed for the best immunity. Skipping or delaying immunizations leaves your child’s immune system unprepared for infections. This is risky as it is difficult to predict which child may end up in the emergency room or have long-term health issues after being exposed.
What does “Shared Clinical Decision Making” or “Individual Decision Making” label mean for immunizations?
In the vaccine world, Shared Clinical Decision Making, also referred to as Individual Decision Making, had a very specific purpose. These terms were previously intended for vaccines that may benefit some but not necessarily everyone. Doctors would consider a patient’s personal background and health to help advise a patient on their individual risks and benefits of a particular vaccine.
But this is not the case for vaccines the CDC has newly changed to Shared Clinical Decision Making, because we know these vaccines are safe and highly beneficial for nearly all children, with very rare exceptions.
Do vaccines that are included as “Shared Clinical Decision Making” mean they are optional or not important?
No. The vaccines currently listed as Shared Clinical Decision Making mean patients and doctors should discuss the immunization and arrive at a decision together. Pediatricians have always discussed vaccine recommendations with parents before giving the shots. Your doctor will make recommendations based on the science of what is safe and beneficial for your child’s health.
Parents are hearing a lot of information now — much of it is conflicting and misleading. Our role is to cut through that noise and share what science shows so parents can make informed decisions with confidence alongside their pediatricians.
What are some long-term side effects of vaccines?
Vaccines can cause minor side effects, such as redness and soreness at the injection site, muscle aches, fever and tiredness. In rare cases, vaccines have caused issues such as fainting or allergic reactions.
There are many rumors that suggest long-term effects on neurodevelopment. There is no truth to the rumors. When two events happen at the same time, it can create a false impression that there is a connection. In those cases, researchers work to find out if there is a connection or not. Research does not support these claims connecting vaccines to these long-term effects.
Who else benefits if my child gets vaccinated?
When everyone is vaccinated, diseases have a harder time spreading. It helps keep your child healthy while also protecting others in the community, such as older adults, patients with cancer or other conditions that affect the immune system, and babies too young for certain vaccines.
I am only willing to give my child one shot today. Which one is most important?
I’ve been asked this question before, and it’s hard to answer. All the vaccines due today are really important. I’m happy to talk about what disease each one prevents. I personally recommend all of them to all my patients, as soon as possible, because the diseases we are preventing are so serious. That said, this is your decision, and I’m happy to recommend ones that are particularly critical given your child’s age and diseases circulating right now. We can keep talking about the role all these vaccines play in keeping your child healthy and safe.
Additional AAP Resources regarding CDC changes to the childhood immunization schedule
Last Updated
01/20/2026
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics