January 6, 2026

(Philadelphia, PA) — Yesterday, RFK Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services overhauled the immunization schedule, rolling back the number of recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11. 

“Let’s call this out for what it is: the next step in undermining Americans’ trust in safe and effective vaccines,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action. “It’s clear that RFK Jr. hasn’t consulted any real vaccine experts in the decision-making process. Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the spear—eliminating recommendations for all childhood vaccines is the endgame—that’s why we need to elect more doctors and scientists in Congress before it’s too late.”

New York Times: Kennedy Scales Back the Number of Vaccines Recommended for Children

Key Points:
Federal health officials on Monday announced dramatic revisions to the slate of vaccines recommended for American children, reducing the number of diseases prevented by routine shots to 11 from 17.

The announcement is a seismic shift in federal vaccine policy, and perhaps the most significant change yet in public health practice by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, who has long sought to reduce the number of shots American children receive.

The new schedule circumvents the detailed and methodical evidence-based process that has underpinned vaccine recommendations in the nation for decades. Until now, a federal panel of independent advisers typically reviewed scientific data for each new vaccine, and when and how it should be administered to children.

Public health experts expressed outrage at the sweeping revisions, saying federal officials did not present evidence to support the changes or incorporate input from vaccine experts.

“The abrupt change to the entire U.S. childhood vaccine schedule is alarming, unnecessary and will endanger the health of children in the United States,” said Dr. Helen Chu, a physician and immunologist at the University of Washington in Seattle and a former member of the federal vaccine advisory committee.

But other shots, including those against rotavirus, influenza and hepatitis A, can be administered to children only after consultation with a health care provider.

“Stealth announcements of seismic changes in vaccine policy should include experts in pediatrics, infectious diseases and immunology,” Dr. Daskalakis said. “These are lacking as is scientific process and a review of the data.”

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314 Action is the only national organization working to elect scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care.