Ohio health director clarifies new CDC childhood vaccine recommendations
Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff is working to clear up public confusion following last week’s changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) childhood vaccination schedule.
The CDC reduced the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines from 18 to 11, a shift that led many parents to question whether certain shots were being eliminated altogether. According to the CDC’s updated guidance, vaccines including influenza, hepatitis, and COVID‑19 have been removed from the “recommended-for-all” list and are now advised primarily for children considered at higher risk.
Dr. Vanderhoff stressed that despite the adjusted recommendations, these vaccines remain available to families who wish to keep their children up to date. Pediatricians can still administer the shots to any child, regardless of their risk category. “As in the past,” he noted, parents should consult their child’s healthcare provider to determine which vaccines are appropriate and when they should be given.
Insurance coverage is also expected to remain unchanged. Vanderhoff said insurers will continue covering the vaccines the CDC removed from its universal schedule, helping ensure families aren’t discouraged by potential costs.
Vaccines that remain recommended for all children include MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), D‑TaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), polio, and chickenpox.
Vanderhoff emphasized that the core message hasn’t changed: parents should rely on their pediatricians for guidance amid evolving national recommendations.