The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have reduced the number of routine shots it recommends, but New Jersey has no plans to do so.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the CDC announced revisions to the U.S. childhood immunization schedule<\/a> that cut the number of recommended shots from 17 to 11. The new guidance is controversial, but it isn\u2019t expected to affect access in New Jersey. <\/p>\n Although certain vaccines are no longer recommended for all children, all vaccines covered by the previous immunization schedule will still be available to anyone who wants them through Affordable Care Act insurance plans and federal insurance programs, including Medicaid, the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program and the Vaccines for Children program, according to the federal government<\/a>. <\/p>\n The CDC continues to recommend vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Pneumococcal conjugate, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, human papillomavirus (HPV) and chickenpox.<\/p>\n However, vaccination for the following diseases is now recommended only for high-risk groups or based on shared clinical decision making: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue, meningococcal ACWY, meningococcal B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, COVID-19 and influenza. <\/p>\n The changes were made at the request of President Donald Trump, who has previously said that the U.S. requires too many childhood vaccines. <\/p>\n In spite of the new guidance, health care providers in New Jersey can continue to vaccinate children according to the previous immunization schedule if that\u2019s what their patients prefer. <\/p>\n Under the new guidance, \u201cnon-consensus\u201d vaccines can still be given based on a shared clinical decision between physicians and parents, who know the child best.<\/p>\n