At Tier Pediatrics, our primary mission has always been the health and safety of your children. We know that as parents, you are navigating a world of changing headlines and shifting guidelines, which can feel overwhelming. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a significant overhaul of the U.S. childhood immunization schedule – a move that has sparked deep concern throughout the medical community.
We want to take a moment to explain these changes, why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is opposing them, and where we stand as your child’s healthcare partners.
What Changed at the CDC?
On January 5, 2026, the CDC reduced the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines from 17 down to 11. Several immunizations that were previously standard for all children have been moved into a category called “Shared Clinical Decision-Making” (SCDM) or are now recommended only for “high-risk” groups.
The vaccines no longer universally recommended for all children by the CDC include:
- Influenza (Flu)
- COVID-19
- Rotavirus
- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
- Meningococcal disease
Additionally, the CDC has reduced the recommended dosage for the HPV vaccine from two or three doses to just one.
Why the AAP Opposes These Changes
The American Academy of Pediatrics, which represents over 67,000 pediatricians, has labeled these changes “dangerous and unnecessary.” AAP President Dr. Andrew Racine noted that this decision was made without the traditional public review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and lacks new scientific evidence to justify a rollback.
Our concerns align with the AAP for several key reasons:
- Science Hasn’t Changed: The diseases these vaccines prevent – like Hepatitis B and Rotavirus – remain just as dangerous today as they were last year. There is no new data suggesting these vaccines are less effective or less necessary.
- “High-Risk” is Hard to Predict: Moving vaccines like the flu shot to a “high-risk only” category is risky. Many children who end up hospitalized with the flu were previously healthy with no known “high-risk” factors.
- Confusion and Access: Shifting to “shared clinical decision-making” creates a hurdle. It suggests these life-saving shots are “optional,” which can lead to lower vaccination rates and a loss of herd immunity – the community-wide protection that keeps all our children safe.
The Big Picture: 30 Years of Success
When we look at the data, the “old” universal schedule has been an incredible success story. According to a CDC report spanning 1994-2023, routine childhood vaccinations in the U.S. have:
- Prevented 508 million cases of illness.
- Averted 32 million hospitalizations.
- Saved over 1.1 million lives.
This isn’t just about health; it’s about life. These vaccinations have saved our society an estimated $2.7 trillion in costs related to medical visits and missed work.
Our Commitment to You
At Tier Pediatrics, we follow the AAP recommendations. We believe that the full schedule of immunizations is the single most important intervention we provide to protect your child from life-altering illnesses.
What this means for your next visit:
- Consistent Care: We will continue to recommend and offer all vaccines on the evidence-based schedule previously established as the gold standard.
- Insurance Coverage: Despite the CDC’s change in recommendation status, these vaccines remain covered by insurance and federal programs through 2026. You should not face out-of-pocket costs for choosing to follow the AAP schedule.
- Open Dialogue: We are here to talk. If the recent news has made you feel hesitant or confused, please bring your questions to your next appointment. Our goal is to provide you with the best scientific data so you can feel confident in your child’s health decisions.
We aren’t just your doctors; we are parents too. We vaccinate our own children according to the AAP schedule because we know it works. Let’s work together to keep our community healthy and our children protected.
