On January 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Acting Director Jim O’Neill announced significant updates to the U.S. childhood immunization schedule. While the CDC continues to recommend immunization against 10 core diseases, plus varicella (chickenpox), for all children, the approach to other vaccines has changed. Instead of recommending every vaccine universally, the CDC will now organize the schedule into three categories, all of which remain covered by insurance without cost-sharing:
- Immunizations Recommended for All Children
- Immunizations Recommended for Certain High-Risk Groups or Populations
- Immunizations Based on Shared Clinical Decision-Making
This means some vaccines that were previously recommended for nearly all children will be included in a different categories based on individual risk factors and family-provider discussions. These include seasonal influenza, COVID-19, Rotavirus, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), certain meningococcal vaccines, and Hepatitis A and B (in specific contexts).
The CDC clarified that these changes do not mean that vaccines in categories 2 or 3 are unsafe or discouraged. All vaccines currently recommended by the CDC will continue to be covered by insurance without cost-sharing, even if they now fall into conditional categories.
Additionally, CDC recommendations are guidelines, not mandates. Decisions about school entry requirements are made at the state and territorial level, and it remains unclear how these recent changes will impact local policies. Consumers should consult their health care providers to understand the vaccines that are necessary and recommended for them. Learn more here.
Last Updated on January 22, 2026 by Aimed Alliance
