What Trump’s push for fewer vaccines could mean for US children

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is asking the public to weigh in on potential changes to how the federal government recommends and communicates vaccines, opening a new debate over the childhood immunization schedule following President Donald Trump’s push to reduce the number of routine shots.

The department has invited comments from parents, doctors, health officials and other members of the public as it reviews whether the current vaccine recommendation system should be restructured.

The feedback window will remain open until September 20.


The move follows an executive order signed by Trump earlier this month directing federal officials to review the timing and sequencing of childhood vaccinations while seeking to reduce the recommended schedule to 11 immunizations.

HHS considers new ways to classify vaccine recommendations

At the centre of the review is the question of whether vaccines should continue to be grouped under the existing recommendation system or whether new categories should be introduced.

Currently, federal vaccine guidance generally falls into three broad approaches: routine recommendations for the wider population, risk-based recommendations for specific groups, and shared clinical decision-making between patients and healthcare providers.

HHS is now seeking feedback on whether some vaccines should be recommended with additional qualifications, offered within different age ranges or advised at stages other than infancy.

The department is also asking whether the timing of vaccinations should become more flexible, including the possibility of wider age windows or administering certain vaccines during separate medical visits.

Trump order puts childhood vaccine schedule under review

The public consultation comes shortly after Trump signed an executive order calling for changes to the childhood vaccination schedule.

The order directed health officials to examine which vaccines should be included in the recommended schedule and how their timing and sequence could be adjusted. Trump said the proposed approach would provide children with what he described as “gold-standard” protection while reducing the number of recommended immunizations.

The initiative also advances a long-running policy objective associated with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been a prominent critic of existing vaccine policies.

Debate over shared decision-making

One area where HHS is specifically seeking public feedback is the role of shared decision-making in vaccine recommendations.

Under this approach, patients and healthcare providers discuss the potential benefits and considerations surrounding a vaccine before deciding whether it should be administered.

However, the department has also acknowledged possible drawbacks. It is asking for input on whether this model could create confusion for families and doctors, reduce vaccination rates or place additional time demands on healthcare providers.

The review suggests the administration is examining not only which vaccines are recommended, but also how those recommendations are presented to the public.

Public trust is also part of the review

HHS said the consultation is partly aimed at addressing declining trust in federal health authorities following the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the department, concerns about how some previous recommendations were developed and communicated may have contributed to a loss of confidence in the federal vaccine system.

The agency is now seeking public views on whether the existing framework does enough to balance scientific rigor, informed decision-making and public trust.

With comments open through September 20, the review could shape how the U.S. government approaches vaccine recommendations for children and other groups in the years ahead.

(With Reuters inputs)