RFK Jr. strips 7 childhood vaccines from universal CDC recommendation list

CDC issued a January 5 "Decision Memo" reducing universally recommended childhood vaccines from 18 to 11, stripping universal status from vaccines against rotavirus, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningitis, COVID-19, and RSV. Vaccines were downgraded to "high-risk only" or "shared clinical decision-making" categories, bypassing the standard ACIP process. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. had replaced all 17 ACIP members in June 2025 before orchestrating the overhaul. A federal judge blocked the changes in March 2026.