These childhood vaccines just lost CDC backing—here are the illnesses they prevent

After several years of debate over vaccine policy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made significant changes to its childhood immunization recommendations.

The agency recently removed several vaccines from its official guidance, marking a notable shift in federal health policy that has sparked concern among pediatricians and public health experts nationwide.

The vaccines no longer receiving universal CDC backing include those protecting against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, influenza, and COVID-19.

While these immunizations remain approved by the Food and Drug Administration and available to families who choose them, they will no longer appear on the CDC's list of vaccines recommended for all children.

This change affects the framework that physicians, insurance companies, and state health departments typically follow when establishing vaccination protocols.

Understanding the diseases these vaccines prevent

Hepatitis A spreads primarily through consuming contaminated food or water, or through close contact with an infected person. The virus can lead to acute liver failure in rare cases, particularly in older adults and people with chronic liver disease. The hepatitis A vaccine provides protection in approximately 95 percent of vaccinated individuals and has dramatically reduced infection rates since its introduction in 1995.

Hepatitis B represents a more dangerous liver infection with potentially lifelong consequences. The virus causes both acute and chronic infection, with chronic cases leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. Young children infected with hepatitis B face particularly high risks, with up to 90 percent of infected infants developing chronic infection. Since universal infant hepatitis B vaccination began in 1991, new infections among children and adolescents have declined by more than 95 percent.

Rotavirus causes severe diarrhea and vomiting primarily in infants and young children. Before vaccines became available in 2006, approximately 70,000 young children were hospitalized annually from the virus, and about 50 died each year. Current rotavirus vaccines have demonstrated strong safety profiles, reducing hospitalizations by approximately 85 to 98 percent among vaccinated infants.

Meningococcal disease and respiratory viruses

Meningococcal vaccines protect against bacterial infections that can be catastrophic. About 600 to 1,000 cases of meningococcal disease occur in the United States each year.

The bacteria can kill a healthy person within hours of symptoms appearing. More than 10 percent of those who contract the disease die, and approximately 20 percent of survivors suffer permanent disabilities including limb amputations, brain damage, and hearing loss. The disease spreads particularly well in crowded conditions, making teenagers and college students living in dormitories especially vulnerable.

Influenza continues to pose serious risks to children despite being a familiar seasonal illness. Last flu season killed 289 children in the United States. The virus currently shows increasing activity across the country, with nine pediatric deaths already reported this season. The CDC estimates that 89 percent of children who died from influenza were unvaccinated.

COVID-19 has killed hundreds of children since the pandemic began, though the virus tends to be more severe in older adults. While pediatric deaths from COVID-19 remain less common than deaths in elderly populations, the disease can cause serious illness in children, including rare but severe complications like multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

The new three-tier system

The CDC has reorganized childhood vaccinations into three distinct categories.

The first category includes vaccines recommended for all children, covering 11 diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus, and chickenpox. The agency also reduced its HPV vaccine recommendation from two doses to one, contrary to guidance from most other developed nations.

The second category designates certain vaccines for high-risk groups only. This includes respiratory syncytial virus immunization, along with hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue, and two types of meningococcal vaccines. Risk factors include unusual disease exposure, underlying medical conditions, or situations where disease transmission to others poses particular concern.

The third category relies on shared clinical decision-making between physicians and parents. This applies to rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines. Under this framework, families must consult with healthcare providers to determine whether vaccination is appropriate for their children, shifting responsibility from public health recommendations to individual medical consultations.

What this policy change means for families

The removal of these vaccines from universal recommendations creates uncertainty for parents navigating childhood healthcare decisions. Many pediatricians have expressed concern that the change could lead to confusion about vaccine importance and potentially lower immunization rates. The American Academy of Pediatrics maintains its own vaccination schedule that continues to recommend all the vaccines the CDC has moved to other categories.

Insurance coverage remains secure through 2026, with major insurers confirming they will continue covering all vaccines recommended as of September 2025. Federal programs including Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Vaccines for Children program will also maintain coverage. However, questions remain about long-term private insurance coverage beyond 2026.

State immunization requirements for school entry vary widely and may not immediately reflect federal guideline changes. Some states may continue requiring these vaccines for childcare or school attendance based on existing legislation, while others might revise their requirements in response to the CDC's updated position. Parents should consult their state health department and healthcare providers to understand local requirements.

Public health experts emphasize that these vaccines remain scientifically sound and effective tools for preventing serious childhood diseases. The CDC's decision reflects policy changes rather than new safety concerns or diminished vaccine effectiveness.

The policy shift occurred without the typical public review process involving the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, drawing criticism from medical organizations and former health officials who argue that transparent scientific debate should precede such sweeping changes.

The long-term public health implications remain uncertain. Decades of high vaccination rates have dramatically reduced the burden of these diseases in American communities. Whether this protection will persist as vaccination patterns change depends on future immunization rates and disease surveillance in the coming years.