01/07/2026
Joint Statement from the Allegheny County Health Department, the Allegheny County Medical Society, and the Allegheny County Immunization Coalition on CDC Updates to the Childhood Immunization Schedule – January 7, 2026
The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS) and Allegheny County Immunization Coalition (ACIC) are closely monitoring the federal changes to the U.S. childhood immunization schedule announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The revised schedule represents a significant departure from decades of evidence-based, expert-driven public health practice and the revision is not based on new data or new evidence.
For generations, the childhood immunization schedule has been regarded as the gold standard of preventive medicine - carefully developed through transparent processes, rigorous scientific review, and broad consensus among independent experts. Weakening or removing universal recommendations without clear, compelling evidence sends a confusing message to parents, clinicians, and communities.
Vaccines recommended for all children are not arbitrary. Moving away from universal guidance introduces avoidable gaps in protection and disproportionately harms families and communities that already face barriers to care. The practical concern is not whether vaccines remain technically available. It is how changes in recommendation structure alter uptake, timing, and equity in real world systems.
"Vaccines remain one of the most effective tools we have to prevent serious illness and protect our communities,” said Dr. Iulia Vann, Allegheny County Public Health Director. “While national guidance has shifted in how recommendations are categorized, the science behind vaccines has not changed. We continue to strongly encourage families to talk with trusted healthcare providers and make informed decisions that keep children, families, and communities healthy.”
The recent changes to the U.S. immunization schedule were informed, in part, by a comparison to vaccination practices in approximately 20 other countries. While international comparisons can offer useful perspective, they represent only a fraction of the full picture. These countries operate under fundamentally different health care systems, legal structures, population health policies, and approaches to universal medical guidance and access. Differences in social safety nets, primary care integration, public trust, and disease surveillance all shape how immunization policies function in practice. For these reasons, international comparisons should be interpreted cautiously and cannot be directly applied to the U.S. context without considering the unique structure, challenges, and responsibilities of our public health system.
Dr. Vann added, “The childhood immunization schedule has never been about politics; it has been about science, equity, and protecting every child. Departing from long-standing, evidence-based recommendations deter public trust and weakens the very foundation of public health that communities rely on in moments of uncertainty.”
Major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, continue to recommend routine childhood immunization against the diseases affected by this change. ACHD and ACIC remain aligned with the overwhelming consensus of pediatric, medical, and public health organizations that support strong, universal vaccine recommendations grounded in the best available science. As we have stated previously regarding hepatitis B vaccination at birth, universal approaches are among the most effective and equitable tools in public health. They reduce missed opportunities for prevention, close gaps caused by inconsistent access to care, and protect children during their most vulnerable periods.
ACHD, ACMS, and ACIC will continue to promote and support evidence-based immunization practices for all children in Allegheny County. Coverage pathways also remain intact through private insurance, Medicaid, and the Vaccines for Children program. These facts matter, but they do not fully offset the operational consequences of less clear guidance. We will work closely with healthcare providers, schools, and community partners to ensure families receive clear, accurate information and that children remain protected from preventable diseases.
Our commitment is, and will remain, to the health and safety of every child we serve - and to upholding the scientific integrity and public trust that effective public health requires.
