When it comes to vaccine schedules, the U.S. is now the outlier
2 months ago
- #public-health
- #international-comparison
- #vaccination-schedule
- The U.S. reduced its childhood vaccination schedule from 18 to 11 diseases, claiming alignment with peer nations, but analysis shows the old schedule was not significantly higher than many other countries.
- South Korea and Brazil recommend vaccines for 18 diseases, Greece for 17, while the new U.S. schedule is lower than most peer countries, similar only to Denmark's 10 diseases.
- Vaccine experts criticize the comparison method, emphasizing that schedules depend on disease burden, healthcare systems, and local factors, not just matching other countries.
- The revised U.S. schedule excludes vaccines for rotavirus, RSV, hepatitis A and B, influenza, meningococcal disease, and Covid-19, offering them only to at-risk children or through shared decision-making.
- Comparing schedules is complex due to regional disease threats, varying recommendations (e.g., HPV for girls only), and new products like RSV antibodies, which some countries count differently.
- International advisory groups balance cost-effectiveness, risk scale, and feasibility; the U.S. shift under Kennedy represents a departure from optimizing impact to prevent disease resurgence.