How NYS and federal vaccine recommendations differ

Here's how New York State’s vaccine recommendations differ from the federal government's.

• The Trump administration recommends immunization against 11 diseases for children: measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal disease human papillomavirus (HPV) and varicella (chickenpox).
• In addition to those shots, the state recommends immunization against seven other diseases: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, influenza (flu), meningococcal disease and COVID-19. That is in line with recommendations of major medical organizations. 
• The president’s executive order recommends some of those additional vaccines, and others, for children at higher risk of the diseases or based on conversations between doctors and parents. In addition, the executive order advises spacing out vaccines and giving the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines separately, once they are available as separate shots — which major medical groups oppose.
• Pregnant women: Most of the recommended vaccines are the same on the federal and state lists. But the state and major medical groups also recommend the COVID-19 vaccine; the federal government does not. In addition, the federal government does not recommend flu shots that contain the preservative thimerosal; the state does not include that limitation. Medical groups say there's no evidence thimerosal is dangerous.

By David Olson

david.olson@newsday.com@DavidOlson11

David Olson covers health care. He has worked at Newsday since 2015 and previously covered immigration, multicultural issues and religion at The Press-Enterprise in Southern California.