Trump-RFK Jr.’s new vaccine schedule puts families at risk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: [email protected]

Statement from APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD

The American Public Health Association has grave concerns about the new childhood vaccine schedule just announced by federal health officials. The dramatic decrease in recommended vaccines coupled with fewer boosters leaves the American public, especially our children, more vulnerable to preventable illness and death.  

The Administration announced these changes after they completed a “scientific review” evaluating vaccine recommendations with other industrialized countries. This document lacks the necessary scientific rigor to be valid. The Administration did not look at the history of how the current schedule was arrived at, the current incidence of infectious diseases on the current vaccine schedule and the potential morbidity and mortality of changing vaccine recommendations.  The United States must determine the vaccination needs of our population based on our needs, not those of other nations. We are geographically larger, ethnically more diverse and the only high-income nation without universal health care coverage for all our citizens. This decision bypassed the evidence-based process of looking at the needs of our population in decisionmaking. This schedule is the result of a secretive process done by unknown people, without the benefit of public input. A review of the document used to justify the decision demonstrates a basic lack of scientific knowledge of vaccination science and public health principles.  This secretive process is consistent with Secretary Kennedy’s predetermined goal of reducing the number of vaccines for children and then finding some shred of evidence to support the goal. Also, this vaccine schedule will reduce vaccine uptake; not increase it.  

This roll out is disruptive to good public health practices as well as clinical medical care. We are also concerned that despite federal health officials' insistence that access to vaccines will not be reduced, and insurance will still cover the cost, history has shown us that that is not how the system in the U.S. works. This announcement will exacerbate the impact of the attacks on the public health system this Administration has already put into place. By cutting staff, infrastructure, research, access to care and public health and health care practitioners, the public’s health was already at increased risk.  

This is health policy malpractice at the highest level and must be reversed before children and families across the country suffer.

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The American Public Health Association champions optimal, equitable health and well-being for all. With our broad-based member community and 150-year perspective, we influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.