Trump moves to shrink the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule

President Trump signed an executive order directing the CDC and its vaccine advisory panel to review and potentially update the childhood immunization schedule to align with a Kennedy‑backed HHS assessment that would remove vaccines for hepatitis A/B, meningitis, rotavirus, influenza, and COVID-19 and reduce HPV doses, effectively halving the vaccines routinely recommended for children. Fifteen Democratic‑governor–led states are suing to block the changes, arguing it would weaken protection and strain resources, while critics warn of possible disease resurgence and health system impacts.