Flu vaccine and five others are no longer routinely recommended for kids
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced a significant update to the childhood immunization schedule reducing the number of routine vaccines from 13 to 7. Vaccines for rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and B and meningococcal are no longer recommended for routine administration to all children. Some of these vaccines continue to be recommended for patients with specific health risks, and all have been shifted from a “routine” recommendation to a “shared clinical decision-making” recommendation. The HPV vaccine remains routinely recommended, although the advised number of doses has been reduced to one. This KFF article, “The New Federal Vaccine Schedule for Children: What Changed and What are the Implications?” provides a clear explanation and includes an easy-to-understand table summarizing the changes.
The new vaccine policy which took effect immediately, bypassed the usual procedure in which ACIP holds public meetings and subsequently makes vaccine recommendations that the CDC director may accept or reject. A coalition of medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, has expanded an ongoing lawsuit to challenge and reverse the changes.
As we stated in a previous blog, “as recommendations change, so too may coverage requirements” but for the time being, we anticipate the status quo to continue. AHIP, the national trade association representing the health insurance industry, has committed to maintaining no-cost-sharing coverage of immunizations that were recommended by ACIP as of September 1, 2025 through the end of 2026. Employers should closely monitor future vaccine developments and regularly consult with their health plan administrators to ensure they are informed of any planned changes in the administration of vaccination claims.
