CDC reduces recommended vaccine schedule for US children under Trump administration

CDC Announces Changes to Childhood Vaccination Schedule

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made a significant change to its recommended childhood vaccination schedule, removing the recommendation for rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, and hepatitis A vaccines for children. The decision was announced by CDC Acting Director Jim O’Neill, who is also a Trump appointee.

According to the new guidance, vaccinations are only recommended for certain groups deemed high risk or when doctors recommend them in “shared decision-making”. This change comes as US vaccination rates have been slipping, and the rates of diseases that can be protected against with vaccines, such as measles and whooping cough, have been rising across the country.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has expressed concern over the changes, stating that they were made without a robust evidence-based process. “Vaccination policy has long been guided by a rigorous scientific process,” said Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, a doctor and AMA trustee. “When longstanding recommendations are altered without a transparent process, it undermines public trust and puts children at unnecessary risk of preventable disease.”

The change was made effective immediately, following approval from O’Neill and other Trump appointees. The decision has been met with criticism from some medical groups, who argue that the changes were not supported by evidence.

Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US Secretary of Health, stated in a statement that the decision “protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health”. However, his views on vaccines have been questioned by many in the medical community.

Source: Al Jazeera