As of January 2026, the CDC has updated the U.S. childhood immunization schedule, removing six vaccines from the universal, routine recommendation for all children. These vaccines—rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and meningococcal (ACWY)—are now recommended based on individual risk or "shared clinical decision-making" between parents and providers.

What vaccines are no longer recommended for children?

Recent major changes (early 2026) to U.S. federal vaccine guidelines removed universal recommendations for rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and meningococcal vaccines, shifting them to "shared clinical decision-making" (SCDM) or specific high-risk criteria, meaning parents must consult providers, while also reducing HPV doses. Vaccines for measles, polio, chickenpox, etc., remain routine, but families now need provider discussions for the shifted vaccines to determine individual necessity.

What vaccines did the CDC stop recommending?

Among the core vaccines CDC will no longer recommend for all children are those that protect against rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B (HBV).

Which vaccines are unnecessary for kids?

The agency's universal recommendations no longer include vaccines against flu, COVID-19, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or meningococcal meningitis. Under the new recommendations, these shots will still be available through a process of “shared clinical decision-making” between physicians and parents.

Why refuse the Tdap vaccine?

Reasons to avoid the Tdap vaccine primarily involve severe allergic reactions to previous doses or vaccine components, certain neurological conditions like Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) after a prior shot, or a history of encephalopathy (coma, prolonged seizures) following a previous pertussis vaccine, with moderate to severe illness on the day of vaccination being a reason to delay, not avoid. Personal beliefs, safety concerns (though risks of the disease far outweigh vaccine risks), or confusion about past vaccine reactions can also influence hesitancy, but medical contraindications are specific and usually involve severe reactions to past shots.

Some childhood vaccines no longer recommended by CDC | FOX 13 Seattle

Why are doctors pushing the Tdap vaccine?

Whooping cough is a serious disease that can be deadly for young babies. Pregnant women can give their babies protection against whooping cough (pertussis) before their little ones are even born. Getting a whooping cough vaccine called Tdap during pregnancy helps protect mother and baby.

Which vaccines have the worst side effects?

MMR vaccine side effects (measles, mumps, and rubella)

These can include seizures (often associated with fever) or temporary low platelet count that can cause unusual bleeding or bruising. In people with serious immune system problems, this vaccine may cause an infection that may be life-threatening.

What is the 3 2 1 rule for vaccines?

The "3-2-1" rule is a guideline for monitoring lumps at feline vaccination sites, indicating a lump needs veterinary investigation if it's still present 3 months after vaccination, is larger than 2 cm, or is growing larger 1 month after appearing. This rule helps identify potentially dangerous injection-site sarcomas, rare tumors that can develop in cats, prompting biopsies for suspicious masses. 

Do unvaccinated kids get sick more?

The prevalence of allergic diseases and non-specific infections in children and adolescents was not found to depend on vaccination status.

Which vaccines are absolutely necessary?

Necessary vaccinations

Over the first decade of your child's life, they need hepatitis A and B, RSV, rotavirus, DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis), IPV (for polio), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), varicella, Haemophilus influenzae, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Which vaccine has been withdrawn?

After more than three billion doses, the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine is being withdrawn. AstraZeneca said it was "incredibly proud" of the vaccine, but it had made a commercial decision.

Should I spread out my child's vaccines?

Children's bodies can handle multiple vaccines at once because their immune systems are in constant learning mode. Multiple vaccines in one shot don't overwhelm a child's immune system—they give it helpful practice. In childhood, the immune system develops by learning to “read” germs like books.

Why was the FIV vaccine discontinued in the USA?

It is important to know that the one existing FIV vaccine was discontinued in the United States and Canada because it is notorious for causing false positives on FIV tests.

What vaccines cannot be given together?

Note that there are two situations where vaccines cannot be given together: People who have anatomic asplenia (who do not have a spleen) or functional asplenia (whose spleen is not functioning properly) or have HIV should not get the meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) together.

What vaccines should kids not get?

The new guidelines no longer universally recommend children receive vaccines for rotavirus, hepatitis A and hepatitis B, meningitis (meningococcal disease), RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), COVID, and influenza (the flu).

Why are parents against the MMR vaccine?

Parents oppose the MMR vaccine due to concerns about side effects (like autism, though discredited), belief in stronger natural immunity, low perceived risk from measles, distrust in health institutions/pharmaceuticals, influence from social media misinformation, and personal/religious beliefs valuing "natural" living or opposing medical interventions, leading to vaccine hesitancy or refusal despite overwhelming evidence of safety and effectiveness.
 

What vaccines are being removed?

Due to changes starting in October of last year, there are now six vaccines no longer recommended for routine use by all children in the United States: rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and meningococcal vaccines.

What vaccines are absolutely necessary for babies?

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine

The DTaP vaccine is a crucial immunization for newborns. It protects against three serious bacterial diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Diphtheria can cause severe throat infections and breathing difficulties.

What are the reasons to not vaccinate your child?

These reasons vary widely between parents, but they can be encompassed in 4 overarching categories. The 4 categories are religious reasons, personal beliefs or philosophical reasons, safety concerns, and a desire for more information from healthcare providers.

What vaccines are controversial for babies?

The original whole-cell diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine was quite controversial due to its common side effects of high fever, irritability, and occasional benign febrile seizures. Furthermore, it was implicated as a cause of sudden infant death and other serious chronic conditions.

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