Navigating the 2026 Childhood Vaccine Schedule

Written By Charles Becker MD

As a family physician, one of my core responsibilities is helping families navigate complex and sometimes confusing health information. The recent changes to the CDC childhood vaccine schedule have understandably raised questions and concerns among many parents. Here is what you need to know.

On January 5, 2026, the CDC officially revised the national childhood immunization schedule, reducing the number of universally recommended vaccines from 17 to 11. Vaccines for rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, meningococcal disease, and hepatitis A and B have been removed from the routine schedule and moved to "Shared Clinical Decision-Making."

This shift was implemented via a federal memorandum without the traditional public hearings or approval from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). As a physician, my responsibility is to provide clarity when national guidance diverges from established clinical evidence.


The "International Consensus" Misconception

The primary justification for this reduction is a move to align with "international standards," specifically citing Denmark’s schedule. Denmark is a nation of only 6 million people with a centralized health system and a different epidemiological context than the United States. While international comparisons can be informative, direct applications of another' country’s schedule to our population - without accounting for differences in disease prevalence, healthcare access, population diversity, and social infrastructure -is problematic.

The Weight of the Evidence

The vaccines removed from the routine schedule were placed there because they work.

  • Rotavirus: Since the universal vaccine was introduced, hospitalizations for rotavirus-related dehydration in children have dropped by nearly 90%.

  • Meningitis: Vaccines have reduced invasive meningococcal cases by 90% since the 1990s—a critical achievement for a disease with a 15% fatality rate in healthy children.

  • Hepatitis A: Since the 2006 universal recommendation, the incidence of Hep A in the U.S. has declined by over 95%. This vaccine isn’t just for the child, it protects the entire household including the vulnerable infirm/elderly

  • Hepatitis B: Universal infant vaccination has virtually eliminated Hep B in U.S. children under 19. Prevention in infancy is a primary defense against liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma later in life.

  • COVID-19: While the risk of severe outcomes in healthy children is statistically lower than in seniors, the vaccine continues to reduce the risk of MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children) and long-term health consequences.


The Immediate Risk: Subclade K Influenza

We are currently facing a high-severity flu season dominated by the A(H3N2) subclade K variant. While this specific mutation is not a perfect match for this year's vaccine, real-time data from the UK this month shows a 70-75% reduction in hospitalizations for vaccinated children. Removing "universal" status from the flu vaccine during a record-breaking hospitalization wave is a departure from reactive, patient-centered care, and not justified.


What This Means for Your Family

If you’re a parent wondering whether this change affects your child’s vaccine plan, here’s what I recommend: continue following the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and NJ Department of Health guidelines, which continue to recommend these vaccines based on decades of safety and efficacy data. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks for your individual child, and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Informed decision-making requires good information and a provider who takes the time to discuss it with you.



  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Decision Memo: Adopting Revised Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule. Office of the Secretary. January 5, 2026. Available at: hhs.gov/sites/default/files/decision-memo-adopting-revised-childhood-adolescent-immunization-schedule.pdf

  • Desai SN, Shapiro ED, Dennehy PH, et al. Effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in preventing hospitalization of young children. NIH National Library of Medicine. 2022. PMC9199965.

  • Stephens DS. Evaluating the impact of meningococcal vaccines with synthetic controls. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2022;191(4):724-726. doi:10.1093/aje/kwab253.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Progress Toward Eliminating Hepatitis A Disease in the United States. MMWR. 2016;65(1):29-41.

  • World Health Organization. Hepatitis B Fact Sheet. July 23, 2025.

  • National Institutes of Health. COVID-19 vaccine for children after MIS-C appears safe. NIH News Release. January 3, 2023.

  • UK Health Security Agency. Early influenza virus characterisation and vaccine effectiveness in England: Autumn 2025. GOV.UK. November 10, 2025.

  • New Jersey Department of Health. Statement on CDC/HHS Updates to Childhood Immunization Schedule. Office of the Acting Commissioner. January 5, 2026. Available at: nj.gov/health/news/2026/approved/20260105c.shtml.


Charles Becker MD