NYSPHA Urges HHS and CDC to Reconsider Overhaul of Childhood Immunization Schedule
STATEMENT: New York State Public Health Association (NYSPHA) Urges the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Reconsider Overhaul of Childhood Immunization Schedule
On January 6, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced changes to how childhood vaccines are recommended at the federal level. NYSPHA wants families in New York State to know that the science behind childhood vaccination has not changed. Vaccines remain one of the safest and most effective ways to protect children from serious, preventable diseases. The revised federal schedule reduces the number of universally recommended vaccines from 17 to 11, shifting others to high-risk groups or shared clinical decision-making categories.
These changes follow a directive from President Trump urging a review of best practices internationally to consider aligning the U.S. childhood immunization schedule more closely with vaccine recommendations used in other developed countries (e.g., Denmark). These changes, however, are not based on new scientific evidence. “The changes undermine the CDC’s traditional advisory process led by experts,” said Brett Harris, President of NYSPHA. “It is dangerous to transfer vaccination practices from smaller countries offering universal health care to the U.S., which is much more heterogeneous and diverse and does not offer universal health coverage, leaving too many without insurance.”
Parents and caregivers across New York State should have continued confidence that vaccines are safe and effective. Parents should continue to rely on their healthcare providers and trusted medical guidance when making decisions about immunizations and can also refer to the recommended schedule from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians when making their decisions.