"Meant to confuse": Public health advocates slam RFK Jr.’s vaccine schedule changes

CDC's Vaccine Schedule Change Sparks Outrage from Medical Community

A move by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to revise the childhood immunization schedule has ignited widespread criticism, with many medical and pediatric institutions expressing concerns over the potential harm it could cause to children.

The change, which was triggered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal critic of vaccines who has linked them to autism, removes five widely recommended vaccinations from the schedule and reduces the HPV vaccination recommendation to a single dose. The decision comes as a new strain of the H3N2 flu virus is spreading across the US, with nine pediatric deaths reported this season.

Critics argue that the revised schedule is an attempt to "confuse parents" and limit access to life-saving vaccines. The National Public Health Coalition described the move as "health policy malpractice at its highest level," warning that it could put children's lives at risk.

Experts point out that Denmark, Germany, and Japan – countries which have fewer immunization recommendations than the US schedule – are not directly comparable due to their significantly smaller populations, different healthcare systems, and regional public health concerns. Dr. Jose Romero of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases noted, "We don't follow Denmark's vaccine recommendations because we don't live in Denmark."

Dr. Anders Hviid, a leading vaccine safety expert from Denmark, echoed this sentiment, stating that "public health is not one-size-fits-all." He emphasized that each country must consider its unique circumstances and needs when developing vaccination policies.

As the flu season continues to worsen with a 25-year high in cases, many are left wondering if the revised schedule is a reckless gamble on public health. With nine pediatric deaths already reported this season, it remains to be seen whether the changes will ultimately prove beneficial or devastating for children's lives.

I'm not sure I agree with the outrage here . Like, I get that the medical community wants what's best for kids and all, but have we really considered the potential risks of a vaccination schedule that's just too packed? I mean, think about it - our bodies are like super complicated machines with so many moving parts . What if one thing goes out of whack due to a lack of space in the schedule? Could lead to some nasty side effects .

And let's not forget, we're living in a time where there's already so much misinformation about vaccines online . If we're gonna change things up, shouldn't we at least try to educate parents and kids properly on what they're getting themselves into? I'm all for public health, but can't we do it in a way that doesn't sacrifice some potential benefits along the way?

idk what's going on... CDC just changed vaccine schedules and its causing a stir! lots of docs & pediatric insts are worried about kids getting hurt. They're saying its like they're trying to confuse parents and make vaccines less accessible which is super concerning. nine kid deaths already this flu season? that's crazy what do u think? should we be worried about vaccine schedules or is it just a big overreaction?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this CDC vaccine schedule change ... I mean, I get that Dr Kennedy Jr has some concerns about vaccines and autism, but five vaccinations removed from the schedule? That sounds super sketchy to me . My niece is due for her first HPV vaccination in a few months and I'm already worried now . I don't know if the experts are right that Denmark isn't directly comparable to us because of population size, but come on... we can learn from other countries' experiences! And what's with the timing? We've got a super spreadin flu virus going around and they're makin changes? It just seems like too much of a risk to me... I hope those in charge are really thinkin this through before it affects our kiddos .

I'm totally stoked that the CDC is looking into revising the childhood immunization schedule, but at the same time, I get why some docs are freaking out - like, what if this ends up being a huge mistake? The flu season is already super crazy right now, and adding all these extra vaccines could just confuse parents even more. I mean, I get that vaccines are super important, but can't we just take it one step at a time? Maybe they should've consulted with more experts before making this change...

just heard about this change and I'm low-key freaking out I mean, come on, vaccines are literally saving lives over here and we're messing with the schedule? It's like playing vaccine roulette I get that some people have concerns, but to remove whole vaccinations from the schedule just because one person thinks they might be linked to autism is just not right and what about all those kids who don't even know how to fight off a flu virus yet? it's gonna be a long year if we're stuck with this new plan

omg y'all this is so bad theyre basically putting kids lives at risk just cuz some guy thinks vaccines r bad lol its not rocket science ppl we know whats good 4 us & whats not so dont come at us w/ all dis misinformation

I'm so worried about this new vaccine schedule change ! It seems like they're playing with fire, prioritizing convenience over public health . All those deaths from H3N2 flu this season is already a red flag . What's next? Will we see more cases of preventable diseases spreading? This move might be seen as a bold statement by the medical community, but I think it's just reckless . We can't afford to compromise on our children's health, no matter how "convenient" it might seem . Denmark and Germany have their own unique circumstances, but we're not living in those countries ! This is a US-specific issue that needs a tailored approach , not some one-size-fits-all solution . The CDC should've taken the time to really think this through before making any changes . Now, all we can do is wait and see if they've made a huge mistake !

Ugh this is so worrisome! Changing the vaccine schedule like this without proper research and consultation with experts is a huge red flag . I mean, what if kids aren't getting all the protection they need? It's not like we're talking about one or two missing shots here – we're talking about five whole vaccines being removed from the schedule! And now they're just going to give them a single dose of HPV? What if that doesn't work as well? I'm so scared for those kids' health and safety. We need some serious thought put into this before it's too late... or at least, we should be waiting for more data and input from the medical community before making any major changes

omg I'm so worried about these kids I mean I know vaccines are good and all but come on ... I have a little cousin who just got vaccinated last week and I was thinking like maybe it's not that strong ... then I read this article online and my anxiety went through the roof nine pediatric deaths is way too much what if we're messing up our kids ?!?!

I'm so frustrated with some ppl in the medical community right now! Like, can't we just agree on what's best for kids? This revised schedule change is a total mess and it's gonna cause more harm than good. I mean, who are they kidding by removing 5 important vaccines? And then they have the nerve to say that other countries with fewer vaccine recommendations aren't comparable because of their population size or healthcare systems? That's just a cop-out! We should be following evidence-based science here, not making it up as we go along. This is public health policy malpractice at its finest and I'm calling out the CDC for this reckless decision.

omg u guys, i just saw this and its crazy! they're actually changing the vaccine schedule?! like what r they thinking?! i know some ppl think vaccines are bad, but come on, this is just gonna cause more harm than good. idk about these other countries having different schedules, that's not really relevant in this case cuz we got a much bigger population here. and 9 pediatric deaths already? thats way too many! what if they start to see an increase in cases cuz of this new schedule?! i dont think its gonna end well

The CDC's decision to revise the childhood immunization schedule is super concerning , IMHO . I mean, think about it - a 25-year high in flu cases and they're messing with the vaccination schedule? That's like taking away life-saving oxygen from kids just because some dude thinks vaccines are bad for them . And what really gets me is that this change comes during a pandemic , when we need more protection, not less . We gotta be careful here , the stakes are too high . Did you know that the HPV vaccine has already been shown to reduce the number of cases by 70%? It's like they're playing with fire , and I'm not sure who's gonna get burned in this mess ...

I'm really worried about the change in vaccine schedule ... I mean, I get that people are concerned about vaccines, but I think we gotta prioritize kids' health here . Removing certain vaccinations from the schedule just 'cause some guy says they might be linked to autism? That's not a good look, fam . And nine pediatric deaths already this season? We can't afford to gamble with public health like that .

I'm trying to see it from the experts' perspective, though... they're saying we gotta consider our own unique circumstances and what works best for us as a country . But come on, Denmark's got a population of 5 million, not exactly the same situation as us, right? .

I think the CDC should've had more discussion before making these changes... now it feels like they're gonna be stuck with some major backlash . We gotta keep our kids safe and healthy !

I don't think this is a good idea ... Removing vaccines from childhood immunization schedules just doesn't feel right. I mean, we're already seeing a lot of flu cases and deaths, do we really want to take the risk of not having all those vaccinations? It's like playing with fire here. On one hand, I get what Dr. Romero is saying - public health isn't the same everywhere, but at the same time... what if this sets a bad precedent for other countries? We should be trying to protect children from preventable diseases, not making it harder for them. I guess only time will tell if this change was made with good intentions or just some political drama .

I'm so worried about this new vaccine schedule change . I mean, I get that Dr Kennedy Jr is trying to make a point, but vaccines have been proven time and time again to be super effective in preventing serious illnesses. It just doesn't seem like a good idea to remove five vaccinations from the schedule - what if it leads to more cases of something bad happening? And on top of that, we're already seeing a 25-year high in flu cases this season... isn't that enough to take action?