US vaccination rates have been declining, while cases of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough are on the rise nationwide, according to government data.
By Asaye Bankole
Leading medical organizations in the United States have expressed alarm after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under President Donald Trump, took the unprecedented step of reducing the number of vaccines it recommends for children.
The sweeping decision on Monday, which reflects the agenda of Trump-appointed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., removes recommendations for rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal, and hepatitis A vaccines for children.
US vaccination rates have been declining, while cases of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough are on the rise nationwide, according to government data.
“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Kennedy said in a statement on Monday.
In response, the American Medical Association (AMA) expressed deep concern over the recent changes to the childhood immunization schedule, saying they threaten the health and safety of millions of children.
“Vaccination policy has long been guided by a rigorous, transparent scientific process based on decades of evidence showing that vaccines are safe, effective, and lifesaving,” said Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, an AMA trustee, in a statement on the organization’s website.
She emphasized that major policy changes require careful review and transparency, both of which she said are lacking in the CDC’s decision.
“When longstanding recommendations are altered without a robust, evidence-based process, it undermines public trust and puts children at unnecessary risk of preventable diseases,” Fryhofer added.
The change took effect immediately after being approved by another Trump appointee, CDC acting director Jim O’Neill, bypassing the agency’s usual review by outside experts.
“The changes were made by political appointees, with no evidence that the existing recommendations were harming children,” said Sean O’Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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