The hottest Immunization Substack posts right now

Vaccine policy is changing a lot right now, with many moving parts happening behind the scenes.
Some decisions — and some delays — are starting to surface, so the situation may shift quickly.
Those tracking policy should anticipate changes and get ready to prepare clear communications for their communities.

The federal government abruptly changed the routine childhood vaccine schedule to recommend protection against 11 instead of 17 diseases and moved many vaccines to a shared clinical decision-making approach without the usual advisory process.
Because the U.S. health system is fragmented and uneven, that shift is likely to reduce vaccination rates and lead to more preventable infections — examples include risks for hepatitis B and flu when universal protections are removed.
The American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends the previous schedule, vaccines are currently covered by major public and private insurers, and families should talk to their pediatrician and advocate with state officials to keep strong vaccine protections.

CDC removed five childhood vaccines (Hep B, rotavirus, MenACWY, Hep A, and influenza) from its routine schedule and shifted them into "high risk" or "shared clinical decision‑making" categories.
HHS emphasized personal autonomy and informed consent, warned against coercion, and called for better, more transparent science—including placebo‑controlled trials—while acknowledging that vaccine adverse events can occur months or years later.
The vaccines remain available and are generally still covered by insurance, and some advocates are urging further changes to classify other vaccines (like DTaP, Tdap, and IPV) as non‑routine because they don’t fully stop transmission.

Vaccination has had a huge impact on public health, eradicating diseases like smallpox and reducing cases of polio and measles to near-zero with high vaccination rates.
Most people still trust vaccines, with a significant percentage of parents ensuring their kids are vaccinated, despite the loud voices questioning vaccine safety.
It's normal to have questions about vaccines, but it's important to seek answers from trusted experts to separate fact from fiction.

Clinical trials used to license childhood vaccines matter a lot because ACIP often recommends those vaccines soon after licensure.
There is a lack of post-licensure safety data and current safety monitoring isn't adequate, so more thorough follow-up is needed after vaccines are approved.
ACIP has a historic opportunity to recommit to vaccine safety and to more carefully weigh efficacy issues when making its vaccine schedule recommendations.

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Not all fats are the same, so different kinds should be recognized and treated differently when thinking about diet and health.
There is concern that aluminum salts used as vaccine adjuvants can be toxic in a dose-dependent way, and that multiple childhood vaccines might create cumulative exposure that needs reevaluation.
Private medical claims about individuals should not be assumed true or shared without public confirmation, and such information deserves cautious handling.

Florida's health department made controversial recommendations that contradict standard practice guidelines for managing measles outbreaks, risking the spread of the disease.
Isolation after measles exposure is critical to prevent transmission since measles is highly contagious compared to other viruses and has a long incubation period.
Measles can have severe consequences, including hospitalization, pneumonia, and encephalitis, highlighting the importance of following established guidelines and maintaining high vaccination rates.

HHS revised the childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule on January 5, 2026, cutting routine recommendations from about 17–18 to 11 vaccines and moving others (like flu, COVID‑19, hepatitis, rotavirus, RSV) to high‑risk or shared clinical decision‑making, while keeping all vaccines available and covered by insurance.
The administration ordered more rigorous research—double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trials when ethical and expanded long‑term observational studies—and said advisory committees and agencies will continuously reassess recommendations, so more schedule changes are likely as data emerge.
The move is highly controversial: some medical groups warn it could risk disease resurgence and call placebo trials unethical when effective vaccines exist, while supporters praise greater scientific rigor and parental choice; there are also concerns that CDC management of many trials could introduce bias or face capacity limits.

Vaccination rates in America are high, often over 80% for childhood shots. This shows that many people are choosing to get vaccinated.
Public perception of vaccines can be skewed by negative news. When people believe that most doctors don't support vaccines, they are less likely to get vaccinated.
Despite some controversy, many Americans actually see vaccines as a safe and normal choice for health. This is an important point that often gets overlooked.

The CDC ACIP meeting will be livestreamed starting at 8:00 AM.
The CDC agenda and related materials are provided and shown with images so viewers can follow the topics, with links to the agenda.
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