The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working on a radical overhaul of the schedule of recommended childhood vaccines with the aim of reducing the number of doses compared with the current schedule.
According to a source close to the plans, the proposed option envisions lowering the total number of vaccinations and, the interviewee said, will be closer to the recommendations in developed countries, notably Denmark. The informant asked to remain unnamed due to lack of consent to publicly express the position.
The plan has not yet been approved and may undergo changes. It was initially reported that the official announcement would be made on Friday afternoon, but the date was moved to 2026 to avoid conflict with White House efforts to reduce drug costs under the “Most Favored Nation” program.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services did not comment, citing the agency’s prior notice that the announcement on children’s health would be moved to next year.
The schedule update came a few weeks after President Donald Trump tasked officials with reviewing the pediatric vaccination plan and considering the possibility of reducing the number of vaccines.
“This is nonsense!” – posted earlier this month on Truth Social regarding the current U.S. schedule. “That’s why I just signed a presidential memorandum directing the Department of Health and Human Services and health services to FAST TRACK a rapid, comprehensive assessment of vaccination schedules from other countries and better align the U.S. vaccination schedule.”
– Donald Trump
In response to these remarks, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the National Vaccine Information Center said: “Thank you, Mr. President. We’re with you on this.”
Comparison with Denmark’s schedule
For Denmark, 2025 data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control show a more limited list of vaccines compared with the United States.
Specifically, Denmark currently does not recommend vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for children, while in the United States it is considered a prudent step. RSV is one of the leading causes of infant hospitalizations.
Moreover, Denmark does not support vaccination against rotavirus, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis A, meningococcal disease, or the varicella vaccine for children, while such vaccinations are part of the American schedule.
“Why would we even want to imitate such a thing?” – asked Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “They made a financial decision. They decided to tolerate that level of suffering and hospitalizations. They did not want to spend so much money on each prevented hospitalization.”
– Dr. Paul Offit
Acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Tracy Bet Heg, during a CDC meeting discussed the Danish approach and noted that Denmark could achieve better outcomes because the discussion there is not politicized.
“I think one of the reasons Denmark may better shape its vaccination recommendations is that this is not a politicized discussion”
– Dr. Tracy Bet Heg
According to Heg, a limited number of vaccines reduces the impact of aluminum as an adjuvant used to boost the immune response. While there is evidence supporting the safety of aluminum adjuvants, Robert Kennedy Jr. has expressed doubts about their impact on allergies and other health conditions.
During a recent CDC meeting, Dr. Adam Langner noted differences between the United States and Denmark that could influence vaccination decisions, including demographics and healthcare systems.
“The United States is a unique country. Denmark has about 6 million people, while New York alone has 8 million”
– Dr. Adam Langner
Langner also highlighted other aspects of the Danish system: broader screening opportunities, free prenatal care, a national health database, and stricter monitoring of infant health, which could affect vaccination decisions.
“Denmark and, generally, almost all other high-income countries are not truly peer countries”
– Dr. Adam Langner
Heg adds that the risk to infants does not decrease due to systemic differences; the experience of a mother born in Denmark and who moved to the United States shows similar risk levels in both countries. She also notes that it is unclear why one country vaccinates at the same risk, while another does not, underscoring the need to improve the U.S. healthcare system.
Despite different perspectives, final decisions on the new vaccination schedule in the United States have not yet been made. The discussions will continue, and an official position may emerge in the near future.
