In a groundbreaking move, the United States announced on Monday a reduction in the number of vaccines routinely recommended for children. While families are still encouraged to consider other immunizations, such as those for influenza, the guidance leaves the decision more open-ended.

Note: This excerpt features information from an earlier report.

Authorities assured that families would not lose access to vaccines or face changes in insurance coverage due to this update. However, healthcare professionals criticized the decision, expressing concerns that it might lead to a decline in critical vaccination rates and potentially increase the prevalence of diseases.

This policy shift follows a directive from President Donald Trump in December, urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate how other nations handle vaccine recommendations and consider adjusting the U.S. guidelines accordingly.

Upon reviewing practices in 20 comparable countries, HHS found the U.S. to be an “outlier” regarding both the number and frequency of vaccinations recommended for children. The agency presented this change as a strategy to bolster public confidence by prioritizing only the most essential vaccinations for the youth.

“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement Monday.

Medical experts disagreed, saying the change without public discussion or a transparent review of the data would put children at risk.

“Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children,” said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.