January-February 2026 (vaccine recommendations, oral GLP-1 approvals, appropriations bill)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its childhood vaccine recommendations on January 5, 2026, reducing routine immunizations from 17 to 11 diseases across the United States. The changes followed a presidential directive to align U.S. vaccine schedules with international practices, shifting six vaccines to high-risk or shared decision-making groups, officials said.
The updated CDC schedule includes routine vaccinations for 11 diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV), and varicella, according to a January 5 decision memorandum signed by CDC Acting Director Jim O’Neill. Six vaccines—respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, and influenza—were moved to high-risk or shared decision-making categories, officials said. This change followed a December 5, 2025, Presidential Memorandum directing the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services to review U.S. childhood immunization practices in comparison with international peers, such as Denmark, which administer fewer vaccine doses, sources confirmed.
The CDC noted that in 2024, the United States recommended more childhood vaccines than any peer nation, with some European countries administering less than half the number of doses, records show.
The agency also reduced the HPV vaccine regimen from two doses to one while maintaining core recommendations, officials said. Despite these adjustments, all vaccines available before January 2026 remain accessible and covered by insurance, according to CDC communications.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its 2026 immunization schedule on January 26, maintaining routine recommendations for 18 diseases, unchanged from 2025. The AAP’s schedule continues to endorse vaccines for hepatitis B within 24 hours of birth and influenza for all children beginning at six months of age, citing the increased risk of severe illness and hospitalization in young children, according to AAP statements. The California Department of Public Health also supports the AAP schedule, aligning with the state’s Public Health for All recommendations, officials said.
The AAP, representing approximately 67,000 pediatricians, rejected the CDC’s changes, stating they lack sufficient scientific evidence. The organization’s January 26 release was backed by 12 professional groups, including the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association, sources confirmed. The AAP continues to recommend the hepatitis B vaccine for all newborns, citing a 90% risk of chronic infection in infants who contract the virus and a 99% reduction in childhood infections since vaccination began in 1991.
Several medical organizations voiced criticism of the CDC’s revised schedule. The West Coast Health Alliance issued a statement on January 5, 2026, opposing the changes for bypassing established vaccine policy procedures and warning of potential increases in preventable diseases. Pediatric groups expressed concern that the reduction from 17 to 11 routine vaccines could cause confusion among parents and healthcare providers, records indicate. Some organizations, including the Council of Pediatric Practice Committees (COPC), continue to follow the original 17-vaccine schedule for all children, despite the CDC’s shift to shared decision-making for six vaccines.
Specific vaccine impacts were detailed by public health experts. The RSV vaccine, now recommended for high-risk groups or shared decision-making, can reduce hospitalizations by up to 92%. Hepatitis A vaccination, previously routine, is over 80% effective against an estimated 17,500 annual U.S. illnesses and 75 deaths but has been moved to a targeted recommendation. Hepatitis B vaccination has cut infections by 99% since 1991 but is now recommended based on parental testing and shared decision-making, according to CDC reports.
Legal developments have influenced the implementation of these changes. In March 2026, a federal judge ordered a hold on HHS vaccine guidance changes issued from June 2025 through March 2026, including the CDC’s adjustments. As of March 16, 2026, modifications such as the shared decision-making recommendation for hepatitis B and the removal of thimerosal from influenza vaccines are paused pending further review, court records show. The AAP’s 2026 schedule remains endorsed and in use despite the federal hold, providing consistent vaccination guidance, according to AAP officials.
The CDC categorizes vaccines post-update into three groups: recommended for all children, recommended for high-risk groups, or based on shared decision-making between parents and healthcare providers. Pediatricians continue to urge adherence to vaccination schedules to prevent illness, school absences, hospitalizations, and deaths, sources said. Public health professionals advise parents and providers to consult current guidance carefully, especially in light of the federal hold on recent changes.
The timeline of events includes the December 5, 2025, Presidential Memorandum directing the review of vaccine schedules; the CDC’s January 5, 2026, memorandum revising the routine vaccine list; the AAP’s January 26 release of its unchanged 2026 schedule; and the March 2026 federal court order halting recent changes. The CDC and partner agencies continue to monitor vaccine safety and effectiveness while aligning U.S. policies with evolving scientific evidence and international practices.
