Vaccine guidance has changed. The facts have not.

It's been a difficult flu season for families with children and the medical professionals caring for them. Millions in the United States have experienced the hard-hitting virus, causing a surge in both hospitalizations and deaths, including 44 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Five pediatric deaths tied to the flu have been in New York State.

While the numbers have subsided in recent weeks, this winter has long to go.

That's been happening as the CDC has revised the childhood vaccine schedule, cutting the list of recommended vaccines from 17 to 11, including dropping the universal recommendation for the influenza vaccine.

The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes the changes and recommends the unrevised immunization schedule, and many major pediatric hospitals and health systems have followed suit. The children's hospital I lead on Long Island also recommends an evidence-based schedule using AAP and New York State Department of Health guidelines. These conflicting recommendations from the federal government, states and medical societies leave families questioning next steps for their children.

There is clarity, however, in what has not changed.

The science behind vaccines, including the one for flu, is no different than it was before the new CDC guidelines. Vaccines are safe, subject to medicine's most rigorous testing, and undergo years of extensive clinical trials involving thousands of participants. After vaccines are approved, safety monitoring and tracking systems work to detect even exceedingly rare side effects. There is no scientific link between childhood vaccination and the development of autism.

Vaccine efficacy also is unchanged. Immunizations have safeguarded our children against preventable diseases, saved millions and eradicated once-feared illnesses. We want to keep in our rear view the world in which 1 in 5 children died before age 5 from infections like measles, polio, diphtheria and whooping cough. We know these illnesses reemerge when vaccine uptake is poor.

Collective action and trust in scientific advancement still drive vaccines' success. Consistent, clear communication and community engagement are key to building trust needed for broad, successful vaccine uptake. High immunization levels protect those in our communities who cannot get vaccinated due to severe disease, old age or immunosuppression.

Our country's immunization needs are unique, driven by our population, health care access and even climate. These factors provide the public health "evidence" behind an evidence-based vaccine schedule. As a Dane, I've found interesting the discussion about Denmark's childhood vaccine guidelines. The country recommends fewer immunizations than those historically recommended in the United States. That's because Denmark has a less diverse population, different disease risk, geography, environment and, notably, a free and accessible health care system.

The medical importance of receiving vaccinations also does not change by placing immunizations in a "shared clinical decision making" category. That approach isn't designed to re-adjudicate well-accepted medical recommendations; it's meant to allow medical providers and patients to consider special factors about that patient in a treatment plan. Shared decision making doesn't exist to veil what we know: that this year's imperfect flu shot is worthwhile for the vast majority of children because it lessens the severity of the disease, reducing hospitalizations and preventing deaths.

Crucially, pediatricians remain fully committed to children's health. That means we remain up to date on safety and best practices; help families use accurate information to become their children's best advocate; and communicate clearly that childhood vaccines help children grow safely into adulthood. Reshuffling immunization recommendations — including dropping the universal flu mandate in the middle of a dangerous flu season — doesn't change that fact.

This guest essay reflects the views of Dr. Annemarie Stroustrup, who leads pediatric services across Northwell Health and is chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Zucker School of Medicine.