Aligning United States Core Childhood Vaccine Recommendations with Best Practices from Peer, Developed Countries

Key Points

• President Trump has ordered health officials to review the list of vaccines recommended for all children in the United States. Currently, the U.S. recommends vaccines for 18 different diseases, which is more than many other developed nations.
• The Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC will compare U.S. policies to countries like Denmark, Japan, and Germany. These countries recommend vaccines for fewer diseases—ranging from 10 to 15—compared to the 18 recommended in the U.S.
• If health officials find that the practices in these other countries are backed by better scientific evidence, they are directed to update the U.S. vaccine schedule to match them. This could result in fewer vaccines being officially recommended for all children.
• The order specifically points out that the U.S. is an outlier for recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for all children. The review aims to ensure that American medical advice aligns with the best global standards.
• While the official recommendations might change, the memorandum states that the government must preserve access to vaccines that are currently available to Americans who still want them.
• This policy is significant because CDC recommendations often influence state laws, school entry requirements, and what insurance companies cover for families.