CDC's alarming change on vaccine schedule fuels doubts

Even after nearly a year of worrisome moves by federal public health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's stunning decision to drastically change the childhood vaccine schedule is alarming.

The CDC announced this week that it is no longer recommending six key childhood immunizations for diseases like the seasonal flu, meningococcal disease, hepatitis B and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The move came unsupported by clear scientific evidence and without input from the new federal vaccine advisory panel appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

This comes at a time when, according to the state Health Department, hospitalizations due to flu hit the highest record for a single week. Flu and RSV were each up more than 20% week over week as of Dec. 27, with total hospitalizations reaching 13,605 for flu and 2,470 for RSV.

Thankfully, the CDC for now didn't touch recommendations on other key vaccines like polio and MMR, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Yet, there are legitimate concerns among physicians and scientists that those, too, could be on the chopping block. The CDC must not undo all of the good immunizations have done. 

In New York, vaccines are mandated at the state level, predominately the shots required for children to attend day care or school. As of now, two of the vaccines impacted by the CDC's changes — hepatitis B and meningococcal disease — are among the immunizations required for school attendance in New York State.

On its face, the CDC's guidance is just that — a recommendation without real teeth. But the changes fuel existing doubts and misinformation regarding immunization and could cause more parents to question vaccination more broadly.

State health officials now have an enormous job ahead of them to counteract the wrongheaded noise. They must remind parents of the mandates and provide parents with information about the safety and need for such shots. And they must assure New Yorkers that insurance will continue to pay for the vaccines. Late Tuesday, state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald took the first step, saying New York's "long-standing childhood vaccine requirements remain the same" despite the federal shift.

But McDonald didn't go far enough. New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse rightly noted earlier Tuesday that the CDC's changes "will have deadly consequences" and put "the health and well-being of children and their families at risk." 

Federal attempts to weaken and confuse parents about these long-established scientific protocols will require a broad public health campaign in response.

Local and state health officials should work with medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics to cut through the chaos and confusion, and provide parents with clear information and definitive advice. The AAP said Monday that widespread immunizations have resulted in "fewer pediatric hospitalizations and fewer children facing serious health challenges."

State and local officials must be more nimble so they can quickly combat misinformation that is likely to add doubt and hesitancy among parents about vaccines.