Jan. 6, 2026 — Childhood vaccines are again in the headlines after the CDC on Monday narrowed its childhood vaccination schedule, reducing the number of vaccines universally recommended for healthy children from 17 to 11.
Six vaccines — COVID, flu, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal, and rotavirus — have been moved from a universal recommendation to “shared clinical decision-making,” meaning the CDC now advises families to discuss a child’s individual risks and circumstances with a clinician before deciding.
The agency also now proposes a single dose of the cancer-preventing HPV vaccine, although the FDA approval is for a multi-dose series (two doses for most children).
Here’s how pediatricians and infectious disease doctors say this affects you and your child.
Does this mean those six vaccines are gone or harder to get?
No. The shots are still available and generally covered by insurance. This change reflects how decisions are made, not access, said Diego Hijano, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Does it mean the six vaccines are not important anymore?
No. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians continue to recommend the full roster of vaccines prior to the changes.
Why did the CDC make this change?
The changes stem from a federal analysis of childhood immunization schedules in other high-income countries, ordered by President Donald Trump, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hijano and the AAP noted that there are significant health care access differences between the U.S. and Denmark, the country most often cited in the review.
Denmark has universal free health care, making health care access quicker during time-sensitive phases of an illness, such as when an infant is dangerously dehydrated. Many comparison countries also have better parental leave benefits, “which can support prevention and early care and contribute to lower disease prevalence,” the Infectious Diseases Society of America said in a statement.
Will my insurance still cover the vaccines?
Yes, all 17 of the vaccines will still be covered by private insurance as well as the Affordable Care Act and federal programs, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Vaccines for Children Program, according to the HHS.
Does my child still need these vaccines for school?
Possibly. Each state sets those requirements. The website immunize.org tracks state-level requirements.
What about HPV — is one dose enough?
Short answer: No. FDA approval still says two doses. There isn’t enough scientific evidence on single-dose effectiveness, Hijano said.
What should I ask my child's doctor?
Your child’s doctor can discuss both the health risks of skipping vaccines as well as the potential benefits of vaccination — such as minimizing missed schooldays or workdays and costs and time associated with hospitalization or emergency room visits.
Hijano estimated that a COVID booster or flu shot could mean the difference between a child being out sick from school for a day or two versus an entire week. For rotavirus infection, different areas in the U.S. may not offer the same access to hydration treatments, Hijano said.
If I'm undecided, what immediate steps can I take?
Talk to your child’s doctor. That is the best way to get information that aligns with your values and to weigh the side effects and benefits of vaccination for your child, Hijano said.
And talk to your child’s grandparents too, Hijano said.
“We often say don't talk to your parents or your in-laws about your kids because those [conversations are] sometimes messy,” said Hijano. “But when it comes to vaccines, there is a new movement of grandparents promoting vaccines for their grandchildren because they don’t want to see them get polio or measles.”
What's the bottom line?
All of the vaccines are still available, listed on the CDC childhood vaccination schedule, and covered by insurance.
Where can I get reliable info fast?
Hijano recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics website for parents and caregivers: healthychildren.org.
