Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushes for major changes to childhood vaccine schedule
- The CDC is considering changes to the longstanding practice of administering the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns.
- Concerns have been raised about the potential rise in vaccine-preventable diseases if the vaccine recommendations are altered.
- The outcome of the committee's decisions may greatly affect children's health and public trust in vaccination.
In the United States, a highly anticipated meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is taking place, where significant changes to vaccine policies are being considered. With Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the helm, all previous committee members were dismissed in June 2025, leading to a reformation that includes individuals with vaccine-skeptical viewpoints. The agenda includes discussions on delaying the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns and potentially altering recommendations for other vaccines such as MMRV. Experts express concerns that these changes could disrupt established vaccination schedules and renew public health risks by allowing vaccine-preventable diseases to return, echoing worries over protecting children’s health. These developments come against a backdrop of a history of successful vaccine implementation, which has dramatically reduced hepatitis B infections among newborns since 1991. The implications of the upcoming decisions may have far-reaching effects on healthcare policies and public trust in vaccination, signaling a controversial shift in how childhood vaccinations are approached in America.