Vaccine guidelines are changing. Here's what you need to know.
Last week, a sudden decision was made by RFK Jr and the CDC to make some pretty dramatic policy shifts with the childhood vaccine schedule in the United States.
“Wait, did everything just change?”
This move was not based on scientific evidence, but rather on politics and vibes. The change shifts many of the previously universally recommended vaccinations to “shared decision making” or recommendations for use for “high-risk” groups. Typically this type of change takes quite a bit of discussion and is open to public comment for a period before a change is made. Normally the changes were based on scientific evidence and are intended to protect the public. In this case, it seems the goal of MAHA was to reduce the total number of vaccine doses. The movement continues to claim that the adjuvants in vaccines cause neurodevelopmental disorders in spite of a study released in July of 2025 of over a million children that disproved this theory. Ironically, the study was Danish and the US is now emulating the Danish vaccination schedule.
“Eliminating vital US childhood vaccine recommendations without public discussion or transparent review of the data the decision was based on is a radical and dangerous decision,” Osterholm said. “This wildly irresponsible decision will put lives at risk.” -Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, of the Vaccine Integrity Project and the director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP)
It seems that for now insurance companies will continue to cover vaccinations the way they have in the past and they’ve pledged to cover them until the end of 2026. And honestly, I cannot comprehend them dropping coverage because of how expensive it will be for them to cover the diseases that could have and would have been prevented with the vaccines. I don’t know what the future coverage looks like, but for now we are ok.
The problem with this policy change is multi-fold. There is a huge erosion in public trust because there is lack of transparency, as well as the lack of evidence to support the policy. Another is that people following the new guidelines will ultimately leave their babies unprotected from some pretty serious diseases. Unsuspecting medical providers and/or providers that don’t believe in the importance of vaccines might also follow these guidelines.
These policies will create gaps in coverage, decrease herd immunity and lead to outbreaks of disease that are preventable. Comparing the US to Denmark is flawed because Denmark has Universal Health Care and the US does not, therefore Danish compliance with prenatal care is much higher. The disease prevalence is also different in Denmark, which makes this problematic.
These diseases remain just as dangerous as they were prior to vaccines and outbreaks are equally as likely as they once were without the use of vaccines. There is no new science to justify any change.
Emotional Whiplash
Just as the discussion around autism has created a lot of fear and guilt, this policy shift brings out a lot of emotion for parents: fear of making the wrong choice, anger that the rules have moved, guilt about decisions they’ve made in the past, and confusion when headlines conflict with pediatric advice.
This is extremely confusing and unfair. Having any or all of these feelings is completely understandable. This is uncharted territory for all of us and I’m learning to deal with the whiplash as well. We are all accustomed to being able to trust our government agencies to base decisions on facts and evidence, and for the media to report these things accurately. These days, figuring out who you can trust is complicated.
Why trusted experts may not change course
You may have noticed that the American Academy of Pediatrics, the IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America, AMA and other bodies of professionals will continue to recommend following the long-standing schedule. This is because the schedule is based on decades of safety data, disease surveillance, and peer reviewed research. When these changes began months ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics published their own immunization schedule. I am a partner at a group practice and we have made the decision to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics August 2025 immunization schedule because we know that it is the safest way to keep your baby healthy. I am including a copy of that here: AAP Immunization Schedule.
How to lean on your pediatric team
I recommend using your pediatrician as a partner in this. Make sure to take specific questions when you go to see them. Make sure to ask if your child’s personal risk affects the vaccine recommendations that are made. If you are concerned about side effects, or if there are things you don’t understand, make sure to ask. Your doctor should be able to have a full conversation with you about risks, unknowns, potential side effects and benefits. This is true informed consent. A good practice should be willing to have open and respectful conversation and they should be committed to caring for your child, even if you’re feeling hesitant or overwhelmed.
I am available in my Substack chat for general questions and answers. It is a judgment-free zone to ask questions!!
What parents can do
Here are a few questions you might consider asking your doctor:
“Will you be making any changes in your practice based on the new vaccine schedule?”
“I’m feeling anxious about the new schedule. Can you walk me through what you recommend and why?”
“Can you think of any disadvantages to following the AAP schedule instead of the federal one?”
Please share this post with a friend that might also be anxious about this change. I hope this newsletter reassures you. I’m very confident in saying that science has not changed. There’s no need to panic or to change what you’re doing. Confirm that the professionals you are working with are following the evidence. Set up an appointment with your pediatrician or talk with them at your next well child visit about what they recommend. I am including a guide to science based, trustworthy resources to help you navigate these difficult times. Make sure to download the PDF. Take care and I’ll see you in the chat!
