CDC Alters Child Vaccine Schedule: What Parents Need to Know Now

• CDC updated its childhood vaccine schedule, reducing automatically recommended shots from 18 to 11 for healthy children.
• Vaccines for meningococcal disease, hepatitis A/B are now for high-risk groups; flu, COVID-19, rotavirus require consultation.
• Medical groups like AAP and IDSA oppose the changes, warning of public health risks and weakened protection against diseases.
• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. led the announcement, but critics note the process bypassed traditional independent scientific review.
• Parents can still request all vaccines; insurers cover CDC-recommended ones, and paediatricians advise following AAP's broader schedule.

Why It Matters: New CDC vaccine guidance reduces automatic recommendations, sparking debate among health experts and parents.