US Rewrites Childhood Vaccine Rules: Flu, Hep, Meningitis Guidance Narrows

• US federal government, under Trump administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., revised childhood vaccination recommendations.
• Flu shots, Hepatitis A/B, Meningococcal, and Rotavirus vaccines are no longer routinely recommended for all children, shifting to optional or targeted groups.
• HPV vaccine guidance changed to a single dose, aligning with WHO, but FDA raises concerns about long-term efficacy.
• Officials cite alignment with other countries and parental flexibility; critics warn of lower vaccination rates and disease outbreaks.
• The changes shift decision-making burden onto parents and physicians, sparking alarm among public health experts.

Why It Matters: US childhood vaccine recommendations are revised, sparking debate over parental autonomy versus public health risks.