First published December 2025
Updated January 2026
Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death in children.
The previous U.S. childhood vaccine schedule was based on decades of scientific research and designed to protect children at the ages when they are most vulnerable. Altering the existing vaccine schedule leaves children unprotected against diseases the U.S. has largely contained through widespread immunization.
Vaccines save lives. Families and caregivers should talk to their child's pediatrician about any questions or concerns.
Answers to some frequently asked questions are below:
What is the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) childhood immunization schedule? What is different?
The CDC’s childhood immunization schedule is a guide for the vaccines that children should receive and when they should receive them. On January 5, 2026, the CDC changed the schedule for routine childhood vaccines.
Under the previous schedule, the CDC recommended vaccines to protect children against 17 infections for all children. Under this new schedule, the number has been reduced to 11.
Rather than recommending for all children, the CDC now recommends vaccines to protect against the remaining 6 infections only for children in high-risk groups or based on shared decision-making between families and health care providers.
What do these new recommendations mean for my child?
Online sources may contain misinformation about vaccinations. If you have questions about which immunizations are best for your child, talk with your child’s primary care pediatrician.
I want my child immunized using the previous guidelines. Are these immunizations still available? Will insurance still cover these immunizations?
Yes, all immunizations remain available and covered by insurance. Families can continue to have their children vaccinated using the previous guidelines.
Which 11 infections does the CDC recommend that all children continue to be vaccinated for?
The CDC continues to recommend that all children receive protection against:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
- Pneumococcus
- Polio
- Measles, mumps, rubella
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Varicella (chickenpox)
I have heard talk about splitting up the MMR vaccine into 3 separate vaccines. Is that a good idea?
The MMR vaccine protects young children against measles, mumps, and rubella. Children typically receive the first dose between 12-15 months of age and the second at age 4-6 years. The vaccines have been combined to reduce the number of pokes a child receives to complete the vaccine series. The combination MMR vaccine has never been shown to be less effective than separate vaccines and data over several decades has never shown a benefit to separating it into different vaccines. Separate vaccines are not available in the United States. The MMR vaccine has been the main reason that measles cases nearly disappeared from the United States over the past 60 years. As MMR vaccine rates have declined in recent years, more measles cases are now being seen.
What is measles? Is measles dangerous? Why is preventing measles important?
Measles typically starts with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, often followed by a rash that starts on the face and moves down the body. Nearly 1 of every 3 measles cases will end in a complication – more serious complications can include pneumonia or inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis. Some serious complications can even develop years after a person is infected with measles. About 1 in 1000 infected people will die.
Which six infections has the CDC changed its vaccine recommendations for?
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Meningococcus
- Rotavirus
- Influenza
Why is it important to protect children against RSV ?
RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. RSV symptoms make it difficult to distinguish it from the common cold or other respiratory viruses. In babies, RSV frequently causes infection of the lungs, which may be severe. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants. We prevent RSV using an antibody, not a vaccine. The antibody protects infants and some young children who have certain risk factors that increase the risk for severe RSV, which leads to fewer emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and deaths. Since being introduced, the antibody has reduced RSV-associated emergency department visits by approximately 70%, admissions by 80%, and admissions needing care in the intensive care unit by 90%.
Why do we give the hepatitis A vaccine?
Hepatitis A is a virus that can cause severe inflammation of the liver. Most children younger than 6 years of age infected with hepatitis A virus won't have symptoms. Older children and adults are much more likely to have symptoms, which typically include fatigue, fever, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, light-colored stool and dark-colored urine.
The hepatitis A virus is spread person-to-person, usually when a child eats or drinks something contaminated with the virus. This usually occurs from the stool from an infected person, even in those who have no symptoms. Young children may become infected in daycare settings that care for multiple children wearing diapers. Hepatitis A can be prevented with the vaccine, and handwashing can help to limit the spread from person-to-person.
Why do we give the hepatitis B vaccine to babies? I heard this is only transmitted from sexual activity.
Hepatitis B is a virus that can be transmitted through blood or bodily fluids. Most people think about this virus being transmitted from sexual activity or directly from the mother. But many cases are not transmitted in those ways and have an unknown source of the infection. Hepatitis B is spread easily from surfaces or from other people who may not know they have it. As many as 1 in 3 adults who become infected with hepatitis B in the United States each year have no risk factors for acquiring infection. And approximately half of people living with chronic hepatitis B did not know they had the infection. Since previously recommending the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, the number of infections in young babies has dropped by 95%. The vaccine works – it has been shown to be a safe way to prevent hepatitis B infection in babies.
If a baby gets infected with hepatitis B, it will likely cause long-term liver problems, including liver failure and liver cancer when they are older. The younger a person gets infected with the hepatitis B virus, the more dangerous it is, and the higher the risk of developing these problems. Newborns who are infected with hepatitis B during the first year of life have a 90% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B.
Why do children need the meningococcus vaccine?
Bacterial meningitis often strikes unexpectedly in otherwise healthy people, causing infections in the brain and spinal cord. The disease is a life-threatening condition and can cause permanent disabilities, disfigurement and even death. One of every ten infected people die. Signs of bacterial meningitis include headache, stiff neck, fever, and fatigue. The meningococcus vaccines protect against five of the deadliest strains.
Why does my baby need the Rotavirus vaccine?
Rotavirus is a contagious illness that can cause severe diarrhea. The virus spreads easily and infants and toddlers are at the greatest risk of severe illness. Severe vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, and some children may need to be hospitalized to replace fluids. Prior to routine Rotavirus vaccination, the virus caused over 200,000 emergency department visits and 70,000 hospital stays in children for severe dehydration. The vaccine prevents 80% of these severe infections.
Does my child need the influenza vaccine?
The influenza (flu) vaccine is extremely important for children who are more likely to become very sick from the flu. It is very helpful when family and close friends get vaccinated too: when everyone in a child’s circle is vaccinated, there is a lower risk of spreading. Some children are more likely to get very sick from the flu, including those under 5 years old (especially those under 2) and children with the conditions listed under the COVID-19 question below. Last year, nearly 300 children died from the flu. Half of those children were healthy before their illness.
What about the COVID-19 vaccine? Is it right for my child?
The COVID-19 vaccine is available for all children ages 6 months and older. Nearly half of children with severe COVID-19 have no risk factors and getting vaccinated may reduce the risk of Long COVID and/or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which can cause serious health issues.
Some children are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 such as children under the age of 2 and children with conditions such as:
- Weakened immune systems
- Lung, heart (cardiovascular), stomach (gastrointestinal) or liver problems
- Blood disorders
- Metabolic disorders (such as diabetes)
- Overweight or obesity
- Brain (neurologic) or developmental (neurodevelopmental) conditions
- Certain mental health conditions, including depression
- Rheumatologic or autoimmune issues
- Residents of long-term care facilities or other congregate settings
- Children who have never received the COVID-19 vaccine
I’m concerned about the number of vaccines that are on the immunization schedule. Do children really need this many vaccines? Won’t this many vaccines overwhelm their immune systems?
Vaccines can help protect children against 17 potentially severe and life-threatening infections. Most of these vaccines require multiple shots over several months to years to ensure a good immune response. Before vaccines were developed, these infections routinely caused serious infection in young children. Many of these infections are now uncommon due to the success of vaccines. However, as we’ve seen with recent increases in measles, these infections still circulate and cause illness in children. Vaccines are the best way to protect children against these infections.
Antigens are the molecules that trigger the immune response in the body. All vaccines contain molecules called antigens. So do all bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in the air, in dust, on surfaces, in the soil, and everywhere else in the environment. Each day, the immune systems of babies and young children are exposed to thousands of antigens. Vaccines do not overwhelm the body’s immune system, in fact the opposite – vaccines train the body’s immune system to protect against future infection.
I have heard a lot in the news and social media about vaccines and autism. What exactly is the truth? Do vaccines cause autism?
There is no credible evidence that vaccines cause autism. Over several decades, this question has been investigated by more than 40 high quality studies involving more than 5 million people. The consensus has been clear – there is no link between vaccines and autism. Immunizations keep children healthy. Talk with your child’s pediatrician or healthcare provider if you have questions about vaccines.
Where can I learn more about these infections and the risks associated with immunizations to help me make an informed decision?
More information on all vaccine-preventable infections and immunizations is available for families and health care providers at NationwideChildrens.org. You should always talk to your child’s doctor about what they recommend.
