Bay Area health experts weigh in on CDC's reduced childhood vaccine recommendations
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Effective immediately, the U.S. is dropping the number of vaccines it recommends for every child. It's a decision local health experts say will cause confusion.
ABC7 News spoke with Stanford's Dr. Yvonne Maldonado.
"Make no mistake, this is taking away vaccines, because now people will think these vaccines are not 'quote unquote' necessary," Maldonado said.
The CDC announced Monday that it is reducing the number of recommended vaccines from 17 to 11.
Vaccines off the list include those for: flu, RSV, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, and rotavirus.
Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said this move in part "protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health," but experts say it does the opposite.
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Dr. Sean O'Leary with the American Academy of Pediatrics called the new guidelines dangerous.
"We're going to continue to publish our schedule just like we always have, and we've been working with our partners across medicine and public health to ensure that parents have credible science back recommendations they can trust - and I'll just end by saying that tragically our federal government can no longer be trusted in this role," O'Leary said.
The CDC says additional vaccines may be recommended for high risk children after families talk to their doctor.
UCSF's Dr. Peter Chin-Hong says everyone should be doing that.
"Really, just continue business as usual in terms of vaccines because there's been no change in science say that one thing is better than the other," Dr. Chin-Hong said.
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ABC7 News asked how insurance will be impacted.
"I think right now insurance is meant to cover all vaccines as usual - what's different is that some of the vaccines will have targeted use, or recommendations for targeted use," Dr. Chin-Hong said.
Some experts think this could be confusing for parents.
"How are they going to have the time to do all this? Get this all organized instead of just being able to walk into their provider's office and get the normal recommended shots - I just don't know how this is going to be any easier than what we're doing right now," Dr. Maldonado said.
Dr. Maldonado said as a pediatrician of over 30 years, these changes are remarkable to see.
"I have seen children die from liver failure from hepatitis B and it's a horrendous death, it's just terrible, and even if one child is protected I would want to see that protection happen and now we're opening it up," Dr. Maldonado said.
The CDC recommendations do not change state regulations, which can impact schools and universities.
