US narrows childhood vaccine guidance to 11 core shots
The US administration now recognises only 11 core childhood inoculations, dropping universal recommendations for hepatitis B, COVID-19 and flu.
The United States administration has revised its childhood immunisation guidance, now recognising only 11 core inoculations, President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.
Trump said that vaccines for hepatitis B, COVID-19 and influenza, among others, are no longer recommended for all children. The change marks a significant narrowing of the federal vaccination schedule, which previously included these shots as routine for every child.
The announcement was made during an impromptu press interaction at the White House. The President did not elaborate on the rationale behind the revised list or specify which other inoculations have been dropped from the universal recommendation.
Public health experts and paediatricians are expected to scrutinise the revised guidance closely, given the long-standing consensus on the safety and efficacy of these vaccines. The administration's move could have wide-ranging implications for school entry requirements, insurance coverage and federal immunisation programmes.
No further details were provided on when the new guidance takes effect or how it will be implemented across states.