Health experts in the Fargo-Moorhead area have confirmed that they will not alter their childhood vaccination guidance, despite recent changes announced by the U.S. government. On January 5, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its recommendations, no longer advising routine vaccinations for all children against certain viruses, including RSV, rotavirus, seasonal influenza, COVID-19, meningitis, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B. The updated guidelines now recommend these vaccinations only for children deemed at high risk or after a consultation with a healthcare provider.
Dr. Stephanie Hanson, a pediatrician at Sanford Health, emphasized that she and her colleagues will continue to adhere to the vaccination schedule established by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which remains unaffected by the CDC’s revision. “We’re not beholden to follow the new schedule. Families will still be able to access all of the vaccines in the same way that they had before,” she stated. Dr. Hanson also noted that both federal and commercial payers will maintain their coverage for these vaccinations unchanged.
The longstanding childhood vaccination schedule has proven effective in protecting children from infectious diseases at critical times when their immune systems are most responsive. “It is designed to prevent infectious disease for kids at the time that they are vulnerable,” Dr. Hanson explained.
Similarly, Clay County Public Health in Moorhead plans to follow the AAP’s vaccination schedule. Family Health Supervisor Elizabeth Bjur indicated that the public health agency aligns its practices with the Minnesota Department of Health, which has endorsed the AAP schedule. “We’ve relied on consistent messaging for families, and also based on science, as far as what the current recommendations would be,” Bjur added. The agency also provides vaccines at a reduced cost for patients who are underinsured or uninsured.
Concerns regarding the implications of the CDC’s revised guidelines have been voiced by various public health experts. Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, cautioned that the rollback in vaccination recommendations could jeopardize children’s health. He criticized the lack of public discourse about the risks and benefits associated with the changes, as reported by Reuters.
Infections such as RSV and rotavirus are prevalent and can lead to serious illness in young children, sometimes requiring hospitalization. “Not every child that gets these infections ends up with those more severe complications, but as a parent, I certainly would like to prevent that, if I could,” Dr. Hanson remarked.
The federal decision to revise the vaccination schedule follows a directive from former President Trump to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill to reconsider the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule in light of practices in other developed nations. The Department of Health and Human Services reviewed vaccination protocols across 20 countries, including Denmark, which is often cited for its fewer recommended childhood vaccinations.
Dr. Hanson pointed out significant differences between the U.S. and Denmark, noting that the latter has universal healthcare and a strong safety net for children. For instance, mothers in Denmark are universally screened for hepatitis B to prevent transmission to their unborn children, and the nation has extensive parental leave policies, allowing new parents to care for their infants without immediate daycare exposure.
One anticipated outcome of the CDC’s revised recommendations is increased dialogue between parents and healthcare providers concerning vaccinations. “We always welcome that,” Dr. Hanson stated, acknowledging the importance of informed discussions in healthcare.
As the public absorbs these changes, health officials in Fargo-Moorhead remain steadfast in their commitment to providing comprehensive vaccination services to families in their communities.
