By Kate Yandell and Jessica McDonald
ANALYSIS — In sweeping changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer recommends universal vaccination against six diseases. In justifying the move, health officials made misleading claims about vaccine safety while downplaying or omitting benefits.
In signing a Jan. 5 memo, CDC Acting Director Jim O’Neill eliminated routine childhood recommendations for vaccines against four diseases: rotavirus, hepatitis A, meningococcal disease and influenza. We’ll assess the rationale for the change for those vaccines. Previously, O’Neill accepted proposals to end the universal recommendation for hepatitis B and COVID-19 vaccination. We previously addressed misleading and unfounded claims about those shots.
