Trump’s big change to childhood vaccines, briefly explained

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.

Welcome to The Logoff: Hi readers, welcome back. President Donald Trump’s invasion of Venezuela over the weekend has, understandably, been the leading story of the day, and you can find Vox’s continuing coverage of the attack and its implications here. But the newsletter is focusing on another big story out of the Trump administration this evening: major changes to the pediatric vaccine schedule. 

What just happened? On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention slashed the number of routine vaccines recommended for children in the US from 17 to 11 and shifted several shots into two additional categories: those recommended only for high-risk groups, and those available subject to “shared clinical decision-making.”

Shots in the latter category, including those for Covid-19, flu, and rotavirus, would first require a conversation with a health care provider.

Why does this matter? These changes will unquestionably make some childhood vaccines less available by creating new barriers to access. They also add more confusion to an already fractured US public health consensus, contrary to the Trump administration’s protestations that the change is needed to restore faith in public health. 

What’s the big picture? The previous US vaccine schedule existed for a reason: It was the product of a rigorous, evidence-based process by experts at the CDC. This one was not; there was no public process leading up to Monday’s announcement, and CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, was not involved. (Though it’s unclear if the result would have been different: ACIP was purged last year by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who installed several anti-vaccine advocates to the new panel.)

How does this compare to other countries? Denmark, which the Trump administration has invoked as a rationale for the updated recommendations, does recommend fewer vaccines than the US. Experts, however, say that isn’t a good reason to change US policy, citing Denmark’s vastly smaller size and easier access to health care.

And with that, it’s time to log off…

It might feel like longer, but we’re just five days into the new year. If you’re chipping away at some brand-new New Year’s resolutions, my colleague Bryan Walsh has some great advice on how to stick with them. Have a great evening, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!