When it comes to vaccine schedules, the U.S. is now the outlier
statnews.com••general
Key Points:
- The U.S. has significantly reduced its childhood vaccination schedule from 18 to 11 diseases, claiming it now aligns with peer countries, but analysis shows the U.S. still vaccinates against fewer diseases than most affluent nations.
- Countries like South Korea and Brazil recommend vaccines against 18 diseases, while the U.S. schedule excludes vaccines for rotavirus, RSV, hepatitis A and B, influenza, meningococcal disease, and COVID-19 from universal recommendation.
- Experts criticize the rationale behind the U.S. reduction, emphasizing that immunization schedules are complex decisions based on local disease burden, healthcare systems, and population needs, rather than simple international comparisons.
- The removed vaccines remain available for at-risk children or via shared decision-making between
