At a Glance
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a new childhood vaccine schedule on Monday, maintaining 18 disease protections.
- The CDC, under the current administration, has cut its schedule to 11 diseases, mirroring Denmark’s 10-disease plan with one addition.
- Key differences include the removal of flu, hepatitis A & B, rotavirus, RSV, and meningococcal vaccines from the CDC’s routine list.
- Why it matters: Doctors and state health departments are poised to challenge the CDC’s changes, potentially keeping the broader vaccine coverage in place for U.S. children.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has just released a new childhood vaccine schedule that counters recent changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The AAP’s plan keeps 18 diseases protected, while the CDC’s revised list covers only 11. The conflict highlights a growing divide between mainstream medical organizations and the current U.S. health-policy leadership.
New Schedule vs. CDC Changes
The AAP’s schedule, endorsed by 12 other medical groups-including the American Medical Association and the Infectious Diseases Society of America-remains largely unchanged from its prior guidance. In contrast, the CDC’s new plan, introduced last month, removed several vaccines that had been standard for decades.
- CDC’s 11-disease list: polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, polio, and a single dose of HPV.
- AAP’s 18-disease list: adds hepatitis A, rotavirus, RSV, meningococcal, influenza, and two doses of HPV.
The CDC’s removal of the flu shot and other routine vaccines mirrors Denmark’s schedule, which protects against 10 diseases plus chickenpox.
Key Differences in Vaccine Coverage
| Disease | CDC (current) | AAP (new) |
|---|---|---|
| Flu | ❌ | ✅ |
| Hepatitis A | ❌ | ✅ |
| Hepatitis B | ✅ | ✅ |
| Rotavirus | ❌ | ✅ |
| RSV | ❌ | ✅ |
| Meningococcal | ❌ | ✅ |
| HPV | 1 dose at 11-12 | 2 doses at 9-12 |
| COVID-19 | ❌ (removed last year) | ❌ |
> “The AAP will continue to provide recommendations for immunizations that are rooted in science and are in the best interest of the health of infants, children and adolescents of this country,” said Andrew Racine, AAP President.
> “AAP recommends immunizations that have been designed to teach the immune system to recognize and resist serious diseases,” said Sean O’Leary, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases.
The AAP also stresses that the timing and combination of vaccines are based on immune-system readiness, not arbitrary policy shifts.
Expert Reactions
Many medical experts criticized the CDC’s rationale. Countries such as Canada, Japan, and Germany still recommend more vaccines than Denmark, and the U.S. lacks the universal health-care screening that supports Denmark’s narrower schedule.
The CDC had previously removed the COVID-19 vaccine from its routine schedule last year. The current changes also prompt questions about polio and measles, with CDC advisory chair Kirk Miloan asking whether Americans still need these vaccines.
> “We are still evaluating whether a single dose of HPV can provide effective protection,” said O’Leary.
> “The CDC’s new schedule only copies Denmark’s plan,” said a senior AAP official.
Legal and State Responses
State health departments have long relied on CDC guidance to shape policy. Several have formed coalitions during the Trump era to resist the new CDC changes and have announced they will not implement the reduced schedule.
The AAP and allied organizations have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration for earlier abrupt vaccine policy shifts. They are now challenging the latest CDC changes in court.
Current Vaccine Landscape
The U.S. is experiencing a measles resurgence, threatening to lose its official measles-free status. The CDC’s reduced schedule may exacerbate this risk.
Meanwhile, the AAP’s broader schedule remains the most widely accepted standard among mainstream medical professionals.
Key Takeaways
- The AAP’s new schedule protects 18 diseases, contrasting with the CDC’s 11.
- The CDC’s plan aligns with Denmark’s 10-disease schedule plus chickenpox.
- Key vaccines removed by the CDC include flu, hepatitis A & B, rotavirus, RSV, and meningococcal.
- State health departments and medical groups are legally challenging the CDC’s changes.
- A measles resurgence underscores the importance of maintaining comprehensive vaccine coverage.
The clash between the AAP and the CDC signals a broader debate over vaccine policy in the United States, with potential legal and public-health ramifications for years to come.
