Trump Orders Review of U.S. Vaccine Schedule Amid Calls for International Alignment

President Donald Trump has directed a comprehensive review of the United States' childhood vaccine schedule, signaling a potential overhaul of long-standing public health policy. This directive, issued on Friday, December 5, 2025, follows a controversial vote by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel to alter newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendations.

The presidential order mandates the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to compare U.S. guidelines with those of other developed nations, with an aim to align American practices with international "best practices," as reported by India Today. This move comes amidst increasing skepticism regarding current vaccine schedules.

The CDC panel, significantly influenced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., highlighted divergent vaccine timelines in other countries, particularly regarding the number and timing of recommended immunizations. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic, has appointed members aligned with his views to the advisory committee, according to The Guardian.

Hours before Trump's directive, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to eliminate the universal recommendation for all newborns to receive a hepatitis B vaccine at birth. This decision, described by CBS News as the most significant change under Kennedy Jr.'s leadership, suggests parents of infants whose mothers test negative for the virus should consult with doctors on timing.

President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, criticized the current U.S. schedule, claiming it requires "72 'jabs'" for healthy babies, which he deemed "ridiculous" and "far more than any other Country in the World." This statement echoes his long-held concerns about the efficacy and necessity of the extensive U.S. immunization program, as noted by Anadolu Ajansı.

Public health experts, however, have voiced strong concerns that these changes could undermine decades of successful disease prevention efforts. The American Academy of Pediatrics, for instance, pointed to the thorough study and effectiveness of the existing U.S. schedule in controlling once-rampant pathogens.

The White House fact sheet accompanying the memorandum emphasized that the U.S. is an "outlier" in the number of vaccinations recommended for children, citing countries like Denmark, Japan, and Germany with fewer required immunizations. This comparison forms the basis for the mandated review by HHS and the CDC.

• Historical Context of U.S. Vaccine Schedule: The U.S. childhood immunization schedule has historically been comprehensive, emphasizing early and frequent vaccinations to achieve herd immunity and prevent disease outbreaks. According to CBS News, the universal recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, in place since 1991, led to a 99% drop in infections among U.S. children. Medical associations have long credited this schedule for controlling diseases that were once widespread.

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Influence on CDC Policy: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, has significantly reshaped the CDC's advisory bodies. The bmj reported in June 2025 that Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the ACIP and replaced them with individuals critical of vaccines. This new panel has already made several controversial recommendations, including changes to COVID-19 and MMR/chickenpox vaccine guidelines, as noted by The Guardian.

• International Vaccine Schedule Comparisons: The White House highlighted that the U.S. recommends vaccinations for 18 diseases, including COVID-19, while Denmark recommends 10, Japan 14, and Germany 15. Dr. Bob Sears noted in March 2025 that countries like Sweden and Norway administer fewer vaccines overall and at a slower pace, often skipping vaccines like chickenpox and annual flu shots, which are routine in the U.S.

• Implications of the Hepatitis B Vaccine Decision: The ACIP's vote to remove the universal newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendation has drawn sharp criticism from public health advocates. Michaela Jackson, program director of prevention policy at the Hepatitis B Foundation, warned that this change could lead to an increase in preventable infections and create confusion for parents. The Illinois Department of Public Health, through Director Dr. Sameer Vohra, expressed deep concern, emphasizing that no new scientific evidence supported the change.

• Political Motivations and "Make Our Children Healthy Again" Initiative: President Trump's directive aligns with his administration's broader "Make Our Children Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative, launched in September 2025. This strategy, detailed in a White House fact sheet, aims to reverse policies contributing to childhood chronic diseases and prioritize a vaccine framework rooted in "common sense." Trump's rhetoric often questions the necessity of the current number of vaccines, as reported by India Today.

• Expert Concerns and Public Health Warnings: Medical experts and public health organizations have consistently warned against changes to the established vaccine schedule. Dr. Cody Meissner, a professor of pediatrics at Dartmouth, strongly opposed the hepatitis B change, stating, "We are doing harm by changing this wording," according to CBS News. Experts fear that revisiting the schedule could undermine public trust in vaccines and lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases, as highlighted by The Guardian.

• State-Level Responses and Regulatory Context: In anticipation of federal changes, some states have taken proactive measures. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill in December 2025 allowing the state's Department of Public Health to create its own vaccine guidelines, independent of federal recommendations. This legislation aims to safeguard vaccine access and ensure state-regulated health insurance covers vaccines based on Illinois's own immunization advisory committee, as reported by wttw.