CDC says it is updating the U.S. childhood immunization schedule after White House-directed review

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is moving forward with an updated U.S. childhood immunization schedule after accepting recommendations from a scientific assessment ordered by the White House. In a January 5, 2026 release, CDC said the effort followed a presidential memorandum directing health agencies to compare U.S. practices with those of peer developed countries and to update the schedule if evidence supported different approaches.

According to the CDC statement, the assessment reviewed practices across 20 peer nations and concluded the United States was an outlier in the number of diseases covered and the total number of doses in its routine schedule, while not necessarily achieving higher vaccination rates than countries that recommend fewer routine vaccines. The announcement framed the goal as improving clarity, adherence and public confidence while maintaining protection against serious infectious diseases.

CDC said it will continue to present the schedule in three categories: vaccines recommended for all children, vaccines recommended for certain high-risk groups or populations, and vaccines based on shared clinical decision-making. The agency emphasized that insurance coverage would remain in place: it said all vaccines currently recommended by CDC will continue to be covered without cost sharing.

The release also cited a decline in public trust in health institutions between 2020 and 2024 alongside falling childhood vaccination rates, warning of increased risk from vaccine-preventable diseases. It described a need for additional research, including long-term studies and placebo-controlled randomized trials, and said federal agencies would be called on to fund more “gold standard” science.

The CDC said implementation would involve coordination with state health agencies, physician groups and other partners, along with educational outreach to parents and clinicians. The announcement signaled that changes to scheduling and categorization are intended to align U.S. recommendations more closely with international comparisons while preserving access to vaccines for families who want them.