KC Children’s Mercy opts not to follow CDC’s new vaccine rollback for kids
Children’s Mercy says they will not follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s revised recommendations for childhood vaccinations, but instead will follow the recommendations of The American Academy of Pediatrics.
On Monday, the CDC announced they would decrease the schedule of childhood vaccinations from 17 to 11.
Some of those no longer on the list include vaccines for the flu, rotavirus and COVID-19, according to the new recommendations. Those vaccines are still available, but the CDC now says they are for either recommended high-risk groups, or for children whose parents have consulted with their doctors before receiving them.
“Children’s Mercy will continue to follow The American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended child and adolescent immunization schedule, and we encourage parents and guardians to speak with their medical providers about vaccinations for their children,” said Lisa Augustine, spokesperson for Children’s Mercy, in a statement.
The decision comes after President Trump directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services in his role of Acting Director of the CDC to review international practices from other peer nations like Denmark.
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations include vaccines like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and influenza. A full list of the schedule can be found here.
Bridgette Shaffer, health director with Jackson County Public Health, said the county public health will continue to emphasize the importance of vaccinations for both individual and community health.
“Vaccines are a proven and essential part of protecting children and communities,” Shaffer said in a statement. “Decades of scientific research and real-world use show that immunization reduces the risk of illness and complications from serious and preventable diseases.”
More information on the changes in the immunization schedule can be found on the CDC’s website.
This story was originally published January 8, 2026 at 12:17 PM.
