Trump signs memo to harmonize US child vaccines with selected foreign nations

On December 5, President Donald Trump expressed support for a decision by U.S. vaccine advisors to remove a long-standing recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination for all American newborns. Additionally, he signed a memo directing a review of aligning U.S. childhood immunization practices with the best standards from other developed nations.

The memo instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assess whether the immunization practices from peer countries outperform current U.S. guidelines. If these international practices are deemed more effective, they are directed to update the U.S. childhood vaccination schedule in accordance with scientific evidence and recommendations from these developed nations.

The goal, as outlined in a White House fact sheet, is to ensure the continued availability of vaccines while aligning the U.S. approach with the most effective strategies employed worldwide.

Author: Jackson Miller