Major providers defy Kennedy’s vaccine schedule, sticking with pediatric guidance

Following a unilateral narrowing of the pediatric vaccine schedule by the Trump-era health department, many major health systems say they will ignore the federal guidance and instead follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidance, mirroring the previous policy. The move could polarize U.S. vaccine policy, with hospitals nationwide reaffirming trust in pediatric groups rather than federal direction and states potentially diverging on school-entry vaccine rules. HHS defends the change as aligning with international norms, even as critics warn it undermines public trust and risks inconsistent protection for children.