CDC SLASHES CHILDHOOD SHOTS: Routine Childhood Vaccine Schedule Cut From Nearly 90 Doses to About 30

The new food guidelines follow closely on the release of an updated childhood vaccination schedule that significantly reduces the number of recommended injections for children. After a comprehensive scientific review comparing the U.S. child and adolescent immunization schedule with those of other developed nations, the Department of Health and Human Services announced revisions to federal guidance. Under the updated schedule, the CDC will continue to recommend immunization against 10 diseases for which there is broad international consensus, along with varicella (chickenpox). For other diseases, vaccination will be recommended only for high-risk groups or through shared clinical decision-making when public health authorities cannot clearly identify who will benefit. This marks a substantial shift from the CDC’s schedule at the end of 2024, which recommended 17 immunizations for all children.

BREAKING: CDC SHRINKS ROUTINE CHILDHOOD VACCINE SCHEDULE BY ~55 DOSES

The CDC just cut the ROUTINE childhood schedule from ~84–88 DOSES down to ~30. Here’s what changed

REMOVED from “Routine for All Children”
• COVID
• Influenza
• Hep A
• Hep B (birth dose)
•… https://t.co/xESplFd1Oq pic.twitter.com/NBf5xE19QL

— Nicolas Hulscher, MPH (@NicHulscher) January 5, 2026

The new food guidelines (above) come on the heels of new recommended vaccination schedule—significantly reducing the number of recommended injections for our little ones. HHS: After a scientific review of the underlying science, comparing the U.S. child and adolescent immunization schedule with those of peer, developed nations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Acting Director Jim O’Neill has updated the U.S. childhood immunization schedule. The CDC will continue to recommend that all children are immunized against 10 diseases for which there is international consensus, as well as varicella (chickenpox). For other diseases, the CDC will recommend immunization for high-risk groups and populations, or through shared clinical decision making when it is not possible for public health authorities to clearly define who will benefit from an immunization. The updated schedule is in contrast to the CDC child and adolescent schedule at the end of 2024, which recommended 17 immunizations for all children (HHS).