Aligning United States Core Childhood Vaccine Recommendations with Best Practices from Peer, Developed Countries
This Presidential Memorandum directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to review the core childhood vaccine recommendations in the United States against the vaccination policies of peer, developed countries, noting the U.S. currently recommends more vaccinations than most international counterparts.
If the review determines that peer country practices are superior based on scientific evidence, the memorandum orders an update to the U.S. core childhood vaccine schedule accordingly, while ensuring continued access to all currently available vaccines.
Arguments For
The action promotes a data-driven approach to public health policy by directing a review against established best practices in other developed nations.
Realigning vaccine schedules with peer countries may reduce the burden of potentially unnecessary vaccinations on American children while maintaining protection against serious diseases.
The directive ensures that U.S. core childhood vaccine recommendations remain scientifically supported by the most current global evidence.
Arguments Against
Changing established national vaccine schedules, even based on international comparison, could potentially erode public trust in essential public health recommendations.
Aligning with the fewest recommendations among peer nations might increase unmonitored risk exposure if the excluded vaccines guard against regionally specific or emerging health threats not prioritized by peer nations.
The directive mandates preserving access to currently available vaccines, which might create an implementation challenge if the updated schedule requires restructuring existing medical supply chains and delivery methods.
Presidential Actions
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
SUBJECT: Aligning United States Core Childhood Vaccine Recommendations with Best Practices from Peer, Developed Countries
In January 2025, the United States recommended vaccinating all children for 18 diseases, including COVID-19, making our country a high outlier in the number of vaccinations recommended for all children. Peer, developed countries recommend fewer childhood vaccinations — Denmark recommends vaccinations for just 10 diseases with serious morbidity or mortality risks; Japan recommends vaccinations for 14 diseases; and Germany recommends vaccinations for 15 diseases. Other current United States childhood vaccine recommendations also depart from policies in the majority of developed countries. Study is warranted to ensure that Americans are receiving the best, scientifically-supported medical advice in the world.
I hereby direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review best practices from peer, developed countries for core childhood vaccination recommendations — vaccines recommended for all children — and the scientific evidence that informs those best practices, and, if they determine that those best practices are superior to current domestic recommendations, update the United States core childhood vaccine schedule to align with such scientific evidence and best practices from peer, developed countries while preserving access to vaccines currently available to Americans.
This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
The post Aligning United States Core Childhood Vaccine Recommendations with Best Practices from Peer, Developed Countries appeared first on The White House.
The document begins with navigational elements for the White House Presidential Actions webpage, indicating this document is categorized under "Presidential Actions" and is part of the site's general structure.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION establishes the recipients of this directive: the head of HHS and the Director of the CDC.
SUBJECT: Aligning United States Core Childhood Vaccine Recommendations with Best Practices from Peer, Developed Countries clearly states the purpose of the memorandum, focusing on national vaccine policy comparison.
The subsequent paragraph highlights that the U.S. recommends 18 childhood vaccines (as of January 2025, including COVID-19), positioning the U.S. as a high outlier compared to peer developed nations like Denmark (10), Japan (14), and Germany (15).
This disparity warrants a study to ensure Americans receive the best scientifically-supported medical advice available globally regarding core childhood vaccinations.
The Directive: The President orders the HHS Secretary and the CDC Director to review the best practices and underlying scientific evidence from peer, developed countries concerning core childhood vaccines—those recommended for all children.
If these foreign practices are found to be scientifically superior to current domestic recommendations, the leadership must update the U.S. core childhood vaccine schedule to match, while still guaranteeing access to all vaccines currently available to Americans.
The final clause specifies that this memorandum does not create any enforceable legal rights or benefits for any party against the United States or its agents.
The memorandum concludes with the signature of Donald J. Trump.
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