What Ohio Families Need to Know About Changes to the Federal Childhood Vaccine Schedule
- Jan 8
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
This blog will be updated regularly as new information becomes available. Please check back for the latest updates and developments.
Updated August 20, 2026
President Trump released Executive Order (EO) 14420, “Delivering Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations for Americans,” on August 10, 2026, affirming the Administration’s priorities for childhood vaccination policy. It is important to recognize this EO does not itself change Ohio’s vaccination requirements or immediately replace the current CDC childhood immunization schedule.
Catch Up Quick
Following the March 2026 preliminary injunction staying the January changes to the childhood immunization schedule, the CDC currently identifies the 2025 childhood immunization schedule as the current CDC schedule. The CDC's website specifically states that the January 5, 2026 changes remain stayed pursuant to the federal court's March 16 order.
What Does the Executive Order Say?
The August 10 Executive Order directs federal agencies to align childhood vaccination schedule practices with those proposed by HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. in January, reducing the 17 standard immunizations to 11, with the six non-standard vaccines placed into categories only for certain high-risk groups or to be determined by shared clinical decision-making.
Per the Executive Order, the 11 vaccinations remain in the category of vaccines recommended for all children include:
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Diphtheria
Tetanus
Pertussis
Polio
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Pneumococcal disease
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Chickenpox (varicella)
The Order places vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and meningococcal disease into categories recommended for high-risk populations or shared clinical decision-making.
A Note on the MMR Vaccine
The August Executive Order also directs federal agencies to pursue changes to combination vaccines, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The Order calls for the development and availability of separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines and recommends that childhood immunizations be administered at separate medical visits.
What do Ohio Families Need to Know?
1. The federal childhood immunization schedule has not automatically changed because of the August Executive Order. The EO establishes a federal policy direction and instructs federal agencies to take steps to implement that direction, but it does not create a new legally binding vaccination schedule for children.
The 2025 childhood immunization schedule remains the current recommended schedule at this time.
2. Ohio’s school vaccination requirements have not automatically changed. While the federal government makes recommendations, states establish their own school-entry requirements.
3. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) continues to recommend routine vaccinations outlined in its 2026 immunization schedule. Talk with your child’s pediatrician or other health care provider about your child’s individual vaccination needs.
What Happens Next?
The federal vaccine policy landscape is still evolving. Litigation related to the January 2026 schedule changes continues, and federal agencies will need to take additional steps to implement portions of the August Executive Order.
Groundwork Ohio will continue to monitor these developments and share updates as they are available.
March 26, 2026
As of March 16, a federal judge ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other leading health groups, halting all recent immunization guidance changes made by the CDC and vaccine advisory committee under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership. This includes blocking 13 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) appointees from continuing to serve in their positions while simultaneously upending votes they had previously taken to reshape vaccine policies. This temporary block is expected to be appealed by the administration.
Changes from policymakers can cause confusion. Groundwork Ohio continues to recommend that all decisions about your child's health be made in the context of conversations with your child's pediatrician, and you can read read AAP's frequently asked questions about vaccines here.
January 8, 2026
On January 5, 2026, federal health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a substantial reduction in the recommended childhood vaccination schedule from 17 to 11. Vaccinations against hepatitis A and B and rotavirus are among those recommended only for high-risk children or after consultation with a health care provider.
A statement from the Ohio American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) denotes opposition to the newest federal guidance, indicating these changes work against evidence-based practices that have protected Ohio children for decades. Ohio AAP continues to recommend routine immunizations against all 17 diseases, noting they are “safe, effective, and backed by strong science.”
This reflects similar responses from the American Medical Association, the Children’s Hospital Association, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, with each having firmly asseverated the previous U.S. childhood vaccination schedule has been based on decades of research designed to protect children. Disruptions to vaccine coverage leaves children vulnerable against diseases that had previously been considered contained under universal immunization practices.
While the CDC’s new vaccine schedule is not a mandate but rather a recommendation, experts at AAP have raised concern that this change can create uncertainty and lead to lessened vaccine uptake.
In a press conference on January 7, 2026, Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, addressed the issue, noting that there are no immediate changes to health insurance coverage of all 17 previously recommended vaccines.
Director Vanderhoff anticipates “pediatricians almost certainly will continue to recommend these vaccines to their patients.”
We recognize that any changes in federal guidance can raise questions for best practices to keep children safe and healthy. If you are the parent of a young child, we recommend discussing vaccine safety and efficacy with your child's pediatrician to determine the best possible choice.
Follow the Ohio AAP to stay informed and follow this issue.
