Michigan doctors criticize changes to US childhood vaccination schedule

The CDC is scaling back the number of shots the public agency recommends for American children, moving to 11 from 17
Doctors and public health experts in Michigan say the decision is politically motivated and will sow ‘chaos’ among patients and their families
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued an order last year to follow the immunization guidance laid out by the country’s leading physician groups

Some Michigan physicians and public health experts say the federal government’s decision to scale back its recommendations for childhood vaccinations could be dangerous and sow “chaos” among families and their doctors.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday it would update the immunization schedule for American youth by reducing the number of recommended routine shots to 11 from 17. The decision is tied to President Donald Trump’s order last year to review vaccine policy in other countries and update the American recommendations accordingly.

“After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the US childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of US Health and Human Services, said in a statement announcing the changes. “This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health.”

But several Michigan doctors say the decision does the exact opposite.

“It will create confusion in the minds of parents and the American public,” said Dr. Anand Parekh, chief health policy officer at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

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A former US Health and Human Services deputy assistant secretary, Parekh said the CDC’s decision is “not based on science” and reflects the preferences of individual policymakers at the helm of the government. He said the change could be “quite harmful” in dissuading families from vaccination against preventable illnesses.

Following the announcement, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reiterated its support of vaccines as a successful tool to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, pointing to decisions made last year to maintain their use in the state among a shifting stance from federal policymakers.

In December, Michigan’s chief medical executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, issued a standing recommendation to follow the childhood immunization standards provided by the country’s leading physician groups, saying at the time that many public health experts “are not in agreement with recent federal vaccine recommendations.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians have criticized the immunization policy changes undertaken during the Trump administration and maintain childhood vaccination schedules that recommend more shots than the federal government.

Dr. Joseph Fakhoury, president of the Michigan chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the federal government’s decision would bring about “chaos” for families.

“It’s, truthfully, incredibly disappointing,” Fakhoury told Bridge. “Even those that already have a pretty strong confidence in immunizations and a good trusting relationship with their physician team … I worry more that it just will continue to erode that confidence.”

Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus and chickenpox will remain recommended for children under the updated federal policy. Shots to prevent influenza, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease and COVID-19 have shifted to a “shared decision-making” category, in which the government recommends consultation with a health care provider.

“All vaccines currently recommended by CDC will remain covered by insurance without cost sharing,” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said in a statement. “No family will lose access. This framework empowers parents and physicians to make individualized decisions based on risk, while maintaining strong protection against serious disease.”

Those representing many of Michigan’s health insurance companies say they are not aware of any plans to change coverage.

“Customers’ access to essential vaccinations of their choice, as well as other forms of preventive care, is crucial to ensuring affordable health care and positive health outcomes,” said Brian Mills, spokesperson for the Michigan Association of Health Plans. “If customers have any questions about their current vaccination coverage, they’re encouraged to contact their health plan.”

Some vaccine proponents had worried the CDC would stop recommending the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine after some, including President Donald Trump, have tried to link the shot to autism in children. While the American Psychiatric Association and other major physician groups discredit the claim, the CDC’s website now says the link can’t be ruled out.

Recent polling suggests 1 in 6 parents are skipping or delaying shots for their children, with skepticism toward vaccine efficacy and safety more prevalent among the GOP. According to Pew Research, 52% of Republicans support the school mandate for the MMR vaccine.