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An extensive overhaul of US childhood immunisation guidelines has resulted in a reduction in the quantity of universally advised vaccines from 17 to 11.

The newly issued list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention includes core vaccines for diseases like poliomyelitis and rubeola. However, several others, including hepatitis A and B and Covid immunizations, are now classified based on personal risk factors and subject to "shared medical deliberation" involving physicians and parents.

"This revised guideline is risky and needless," stated the AAP, labeling the change.

This far-reaching guideline change constitutes the latest major move implemented under the current administration by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Government Rationale and International Comparison

Kennedy asserted the revision came "after an thorough review" and "safeguards kids, honors parents, and rebuilds trust in public health."

"This aligning the American pediatric vaccine calendar with international consensus while enhancing transparency and parental choice," he continued.

According to the statement, the updated universal recommendation for all children will cover vaccines for:

• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
• Poliovirus
• DTaP/Tdap (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Pneumococcal infection
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Varicella (chickenpox)

3 Categories of Recommendations

The revised framework establishes 3 separate tiers of immunization guidance:

1. Core Vaccines: The eleven shots mentioned above are recommended for all youngsters.
2. Risk-Based Vaccines: This category contains vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis A, Hep B, dengue fever, and meningococcal strains (ACWY and B). These are recommended based on a child's individual health circumstances.
3. Optional Group: Immunizations for the coronavirus, the flu, and a stomach virus are now subject to discretionary consultation and choice between families and their doctors.

Currently, health insurance will continue to cover vaccines that are still recommended until the close of 2025.

International Context and Prior Debate

The CDC performed a review of existing childhood recommendations with those of twenty other industrialized countries. It found the US was "a global outlier" in both the number of illnesses covered and the number of shots administered, the HHS said.

This latest change comes a short time following a different advisory panel modified the schedule for the first liver infection vaccine. Previously, a first shot was recommended for infants within 24 hours of birth. Updated guidelines last December shifted that to 60 days after birth if the parent tested non-reactive for the virus.

That prior recommendation was roundly condemned by paediatricians, with the American Academy of Pediatrics calling it "a risky step that will harm children."