Why the U. S. Might Be Changing Its Vaccine Plan

The U. S. might be changing its vaccine schedule. This is a big deal. The plan is to make it like Denmark’s. Denmark has fewer vaccines on its list. The U. S. has 16. Denmark has 10. The idea is to cut down on shots for diseases like chickenpox, hepatitis A, rotavirus, and flu. But why Denmark? It’s not clear. Denmark is much smaller. Its healthcare system is different. Experts are worried. Fewer vaccines could mean more sickness. The U. S. has always added or dropped vaccines based on science. Not politics. The Health and Human Services Department hasn’t said much. They didn’t respond to requests for comments. But hospitals and doctors are worried. They think this could cause problems. Insurance might not cover the shots. Doctors could face more liability risks. States use the CDC’s list for school rules. If the federal government changes the list, states might have to make their own rules. This could lead to confusion. Some states might not require certain vaccines. Others might keep them. It’s unclear.The changes come from a memo. It told health officials to compare the U. S. schedule with other countries. The memo said to keep current vaccines available. But it’s not clear what will happen next. Some people think the changes are good. They say states should have more control. Others think it’s a bad idea. They worry about the science behind the changes. They think it could lead to more sickness. And more lawsuits. The legal side is murky. The CDC usually follows a process. They look at science. They take public comments. They vote. Then they make changes. This time, it’s not clear if that process was followed. Denmark’s list is short. But most other countries have longer lists. Germany has 15. Japan has 14. The U. S. has 16. The differences come from what diseases are common in each country. And what they think is worth the cost.