Washington, D.C. — Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), acting under the direction of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., revised the childhood vaccine schedule, reducing the number of diseases covered by routine vaccination from 17 to 11. In response, Jill Rosenthal, director of Public Health Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This is a reckless, unscientific overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule that will put America’s children at greater risk of preventable disease and death. CDC recommendations shape school vaccination standards in nearly every state. This abrupt policy shift will create confusion, weaken public confidence, and make it harder for families to access lifesaving vaccines. States must move swiftly to align their vaccine policies with the guidance of leading medical and scientific experts, ensure continued insurance coverage and access to needed vaccines, and shield providers who follow evidence-based standards.
Rosenthal recently outlined how states can safeguard vaccine access in the absence of federal leadership in her report, “6 Ways States Can Protect Vaccine Access While the Trump Administration Dismantles the Federal System.”
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Christian Unkenholz at [email protected].