Our Vaccine Schedule: What’s Changing Nationally, and What We Recommend Here
You may have seen headlines (or social media posts) about changes to the CDC’s childhood immunization schedule. We want to make this simple and transparent:
Our practice will continue to follow the vaccine schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
We’ll attach the most current AAP schedule to this post so you can see exactly what we use in clinic.
Why we’re posting this: not to alarm anyone, and not to argue on the internet. The goal is to clarify what we recommend, highlight the areas parents are most likely to have questions about, and encourage a calm, informed discussion with your child’s provider at your next visit.
What changed?
The CDC recently reorganized parts of its schedule into categories (for example: “recommended for all children,” “recommended for certain high-risk groups,” or “shared clinical decision-making”). That means some vaccines that were previously listed as routine for all children may now show up as “shared decision-making” or “high-risk” on CDC materials.
The AAP has not changed to an abridged schedule and continues to recommend routine vaccination to protect children from preventable illness—especially during the ages when babies and young children are most vulnerable.
Three topics we expect families to ask about
1) Hepatitis B (Hep B) — why we still recommend the birth dose
You may notice that the CDC now allows “shared clinical decision-making” for Hep B in infants born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B, including the option to delay the first dose until later in infancy.
We continue to recommend the AAP approach: Hep B vaccine within the first 24 hours of life, followed by the remaining doses during infancy.
Why we stick with that:
- The birth dose acts as a safety net. Even with good prenatal care, paperwork can be missing, testing can be delayed, and real life can be messy.
- Hepatitis B can be transmitted through unexpected household or caregiver exposure (not just during delivery).
- Giving the first dose right away provides early protection during a period when babies are most medically fragile.
If you have concerns about your newborn receiving vaccines on day 1, bring them in. This is exactly the kind of decision we’re happy to talk through—calmly, with facts, and tailored to your family.
2) Rotavirus — why we still recommend it routinely
The CDC has shifted rotavirus vaccination into “shared clinical decision-making” in its updated structure.
We continue to recommend routine rotavirus vaccination for eligible infants.
Why:
- Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe vomiting/diarrhea and dehydration in infants and young children.
- The vaccine is time-sensitive and works best when given on schedule. There are firm age cutoffs:
- First dose must be started early in infancy.
- The series must be completed in infancy (there’s not a “we’ll do it later” option once a child is past the upper age limit).
If your baby missed an early window or you’re unsure whether your child can still start/finish the series, we’ll help you sort it out quickly.
3) MMRV (combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) — why we recommend the combination for most patients
Some parents ask: “Why combine them
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3) MMRV (combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) — why we recommend the combination for most patients
Some parents ask: “Why combine them? Why not split them up?”
For most children, we recommend MMRV because it’s the same protection with fewer shots. Fewer injections can mean less distress for kids (and parents), and it improves the odds that children stay fully protected on time.
A few points that often help families frame the decision:
- Protection is the goal, and timing matters. Measles in particular spreads easily, and delays leave kids exposed.
- Combination vaccines reduce needle-sticks without “overloading” the immune system. Kids’ immune systems handle far more antigens from everyday life than from vaccines.
- We individualize when it’s appropriate. There are situations where we may recommend splitting into MMR + Varicella instead of MMRV (for example, depending on age, medical history, or specific risk factors). That’s a clinician–parent conversation, not a one-size-fits-all rule.
If you’re unsure which option is right for your child, we’ll walk through the pros/cons and your child’s specific context.
What to do if you have questions (please do)
If you’ve been reading about these changes and have questions, that’s not a “problem family.” That’s a normal parent trying to make good decisions in a noisy world.
At your visit, we can discuss:
- What each vaccine protects against (and what those infections look like in real life)
- Timing, catch-up schedules, and age cutoffs (especially important for rotavirus)
- Any prior reactions, medical conditions, immune concerns, or family history that should influence decisions
- Your child’s exposure risks (daycare, travel, household contacts, community outbreaks)
Our bottom line
Our practice will continue to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) immunization schedule.
For your convenience, we’ve attached the most up-to-date AAP schedule to this post.
We’re here for the conversation, not the lecture. Bring your questions—seriously.
