What changed?
Previously, the federal vaccine schedule recommended 17 total vaccines for children. As of January 5, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend only 11 universal vaccines for the following diseases:
Vaccines that are still available, but no longer required.
However, it is important to speak with your doctor to request the appropriate vaccines.
Were these vaccines eliminated? No. According to CDC, this change does not involve the removal of any vaccine from the health system. All immunizations included in the schedule above will continue to be available and fully covered by the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, at no direct cost to families.
It’s important to speak with your medical provider to understand which vaccines each child needs.
Why are these changes a cause for concern? Public health experts warn that these changes can lead to confusion, reduce vaccination rates, increase the risk of preventable outbreaks, put children with compromised immune systems at risk, increase hospitalization and preventable deaths.
What can community organizations do?
Share it on your social media channels.
