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1 1 (April 28, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/goveuhy0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Changes to CDC Vaccine Recommendations in 2025 and 2026 April 28, 2026 Since U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (hereinafter, HHS Secretary) was sworn in on February 13, 2025, HHS has changed several long-standing federal vaccine recommendations. In addition, HHS has issued recommendations for vaccines newly licensed (i.e., approved) by the Food and Drug Administration. This CRS Insight summarizes vaccine recommendation changes to date and related developments. For over 60 years prior to 2025, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)-a committee of scientific and health experts in immunization-made vaccine recommendations to HHS, particularly the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For each vaccine recommendation, ACIP typically reviewed scientific evidence, developed a new or updated recommendation, and then voted on the recommendation. ACIP's recommendation was subsequently reviewed by the CDC Director, who decided whether to adopt it as an official HHS/CDC recommendation. ACIP also voted annually, typically in the fall, to update the following year's childhood/adolescent and adult immunization schedules. These consolidated schedules list CDC's recommendations for vaccines routinely offered to patients, presented in a format to aid clinical practice. Many federal and state laws reference ACIP's recommendations and CDC's immunization schedules. In 2025 and 2026, HHS changed several aspects of policy and practice related to ACIP and CDC vaccine recommendations. On June 9, 2025, the HHS Secretary removed all 17 then-sitting ACIP committee members and subsequently appointed new members. At the June, September, and December meetings, the reconstituted committee voted on several vaccine recommendations, which CDC/HHS subsequently adopted. HHS also changed multiple vaccine recommendations without consulting ACIP, including for the entire childhood immunization schedule in January 2026. The changes made after June 11, 2025, are currently stayed by a district court order, meaning that they presently have no effect and the agency cannot implement them (as discussed further below). HHS Vaccine Recommendation Changes in 2025 and 2026 The following changes in federal vaccine recommendations include both changes in ACIP recommendations that were officially adopted as CDC/HHS recommendations and CDC/HHS changes Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN12684 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress