01/19/2026
Vaccination 2026 update
The president directed HHS to revamp our vaccination schedule based upon that done in other countries. They chose Denmark, a country that has a public funded, socialized healthcare system. It provides comprehensive care for primary care, specialist and hospitalizations mainly free with a co-pay for prescriptions and dental care for all legal residents. Adapting this model, with this medical system, less is more. Our government currently purchases and provides vaccinations for those on assistance programs. With the less is more approach, it saves the government substantial money by recommending fewer vaccinations overall and fewer routinely given to complete a series.
Although this may seem to be optimal, it is actually detrimental especially for vaccinations provided in a series. For vaccinations given in a series the initial vaccination provides initial protection from a particular germ. Once a vaccination has been received, there will be immediate protection within 7 to 10 days and also generated a memory response. This means if you are exposed to the germ after the vaccination, your body in 3 to 8 days through its memory system will produce protective antibody levels. However for certain aggressive germs like Neisseria meningitis which causes meningococcal meningitis, progressing from onset of illness to death may only be several hours. In this situation your body's immunological memory system does not have enough time to produce protective antibodies and death is the outcome. Especially for this germ, receiving a series of vaccinations is critical for protection. Haemophilus influenzae, the Hib vaccination may also be a similar situation.
For the vaccination for cervical cancer, colorectal cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the HPV or Gardisil 9 vaccination, the recommendation has been changed from two or three doses depending upon the timing of their receipt, to just a single dose. It has been well documented that some protection will be generated after the first dose. This vaccination is given in a series to promote more sustained and greater levels of protective antibody. When given and completed, the series may be as effective as 99% in preventing these cancers. Unfortunately, following the current recommendation, with a single dose there will still be individuals who develop these preventable cancers. So in certain situations, less is certainly not better.
In the United States, we have routinely immunized against 18 human communicable diseases, Denmark just 10. All vaccinations that were previously recommended by the CDC will for now remain covered by insurance companies without cost sharing.
Vaccinations that will continue to be universally recommended:
Chickenpox (Varicella).
Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus (DPT).
Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).
Human Papillomavirus (Gardisil 9) only 1 dose.
Pneumococcal (Prevnar).
Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR).
Vaccinations no longer universally recommended:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Influenza
Meningococcal
Polio
Rotavirus
The decision to receive the vaccinations in the "no longer recommended" category should be individualized after a discussion with your healthcare provider.
