What Every Parent Should Know About the New Vaccination Schedule

As a parent, getting your child their vaccinations on the schedule with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is an important part of their preventive care.

At Primary & Alternative Medical Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, family practice doctor Jean Welsh, MD, uses the CDC’s vaccination schedule to guide the creation of a vaccination schedule for your child.

In January 2026, the CDC updated its childhood vaccination guidelines based on a scientific review. This is what you need to know about the new CDC vaccination schedule and how it impacts your child.

Fewer immunizations are recommended for all children

The CDC recommends vaccines to children for fewer illnesses than they did in the past. This shift in policy focuses on vaccines that similar countries vaccinate children against internationally.

The new list of 11 diseases all children should get vaccinated against is:

Diphtheria
Tetanus
Acellular pertussis (whooping cough)
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Pneumococcal conjugate
Polio
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Varicella (chickenpox)

Nearly all children should take the recommended dosages of these vaccines, except in rare cases where a child has severe allergies to vaccine ingredients or is immunocompromised.

Vaccinations begin at birth and continue into your child’s older years, with the recommended age and number of doses depending on the individual vaccine.

Other recommendations depend on your child’s risk profile

Certain vaccinations that were once recommended for all children are now only recommended for those who meet a specific high-risk profile. What makes a child at high risk depends on the vaccine and the child's circumstances.

For example, a vaccine can be recommended if the child’s birth mother did not have the vaccine and could not pass on maternal antibodies.

Others are recommended based on whether your child has certain medical conditions, travel history, or a higher likelihood of exposure to some illnesses.

The vaccines recommended for high-risk children are:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Dengue
Meningococcal ACWY
Meningococcal B

These vaccines remain available to other children, but are now only part of the vaccine schedule if your child meets the high-risk criteria. As the CDC continues to publish its guidelines, our team will let you know if your child is considered to be at increased risk.

Shared clinical decision making guides some vaccinations

A new concept called shared clinical decision making is now in place to guide your child’s vaccination needs.

Shared clinical decision making is a process where our team speaks with you and makes decisions about certain vaccinations based on your child’s medical history and needs.

Shared clinical decision-making applies to every vaccine recommended for high-risk children. Additionally, it’s recommended to assess your child’s suitability for the flu shot, COVID-19, and rotavirus vaccines.

With shared clinical decision making in place, it’s more important than ever for you to talk to us for support in determining your child’s best vaccination schedule. Every child still has all vaccinations available to them, even if they aren’t deemed high risk.

As family practice providers who see children and adults, our team is uniquely equipped to make recommendations for your child’s vaccinations based on how they will affect them throughout their life.

All vaccinations are covered by health insurance

All childhood vaccines, whether recommended for all or high-risk children, remain covered by Medicare and Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance plans. This applies to all children, not just children with a higher risk profile.

As the CDC continues to clarify the new vaccination schedule, we encourage you to stay in touch with our team to ensure your child stays up-to-date on immunizations. Contact us to schedule a vaccination appointment for your child.