Dangers of Not Taking Vaccines: Doctors Warn Trump-Era Immunisation Policies and RFK Jr’s Anti-Vaccination Influence Could Put US Children’s Lives at Risk
On January 5, 2026, US federal vaccine guidelines were revised to reduce the number of vaccines universally recommended for children, changing some from routine to “shared clinical decision-making.” The newly released changes to childhood immunisation policy by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rolled out under the Trump administration with Robert F Kennedy Jr playing an influential role in shaping the narrative around vaccines, mark a significant departure from decades of evidence-based public-health practice and have drawn sharp criticism from medical experts.Public-health leaders argue that the changes echo long-standing vaccine-sceptical views promoted by RFK Jr and reflect political ideology rather than new scientific evidence, peer-reviewed data or real-world public-health needs. As per the newly released changes to the US childhood immunisation policy, the number of diseases for which vaccines are universally recommended for all children has been reduced from 17 to 11 and several vaccines that were previously standard for every child have been shifted into more selective categories.Under the updated guidelines, vaccines for influenza (flu), Covid-19, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and certain meningococcal strains are no longer broadly recommended for all children but instead are advised only for high-risk groups or through a process called “shared clinical decision-making” between parents and healthcare providers, where benefits and risks are discussed individually rather than applied universally. The schedule also cuts down the recommended HPV doses from two or three to one in many cases. Although these vaccines remain available and continue to be covered by insurance and federal programs, the shift away from blanket recommendations has sparked strong concern among many medical experts who argue that it could create confusion, weaken vaccine uptake and increase the risk of preventable diseases. This move added to other changes in the government’s recommended vaccination schedule for children that were previously made in 2025. It has alarmed paediatric clinicians and public-health officials, who warn that such language can unintentionally signal that these shots are optional rather than life-saving. Medical leaders have publicly stated that scaling back routine recommendations, without new scientific evidence, could fuel hesitancy and lead to increased rates of once-controlled illnesses.
From the clinic: Voices of medical experts
In an interview with the Times of India, Dr Amal Hejab, American Board-Certified Internist at Bahrain Royal Hospital, shared, “The current changes in vaccination schedules are made arbitrarily, there is no new evidence to support the recommended minimisations of vaccines. The previous solid vaccination schedule is evidence based, with decades long efficacy and safety records.”Dr Hejab warned that the full effect of these policy shifts won’t be seen immediately but the preventable suffering could mount over years. She said, “This change will likely lead to surges in preventable infections and as a consequence, organ damage that could be lethal. The sad part is that the policy is changed today but the catastrophic consequences would be witnessed in few years to come and then we would whine on how we failed to prevent “preventable” diseases.”Bringing his expertise to the same, Dr Amit Gupta, Senior Consultant, Paediatrics and Neonatology at Motherhood Hospitals in Noida, revealed, “Few children are missing their vaccinations and falling sick due to vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, polio, whooping cough, chicken pox, meningitis, pneumonia, flu, Hepatitis A and B and may become seriously ill and require hospital admissions and long recovery periods. Patients are missing chickenpox, flu, IPV and typhoid vaccines as most of time not available in govt set-up. These vaccines are equally important and are recommended by paediatricians to protect children from serious illnesses and complications. Parents should understand that availability does not equals importance. If a vaccine is not provided under government programs, it does not mean it is unnecessary.”
In a tumultuous year, US health policy has been dramatically reshaped under RFK Jr. President Donald Trump listens as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Dr Gupta emphasised that missing key shots like chickenpox, flu, IPV and typhoid (often due to shortages in public clinics) leaves children at risk of serious illness that can require hospitalisation or cause long-term complications. Protecting kids with shots like BCG, DTaP, IPV, MMR, pneumococcal, rotavirus, hepatitis vaccines and boosters is essential and common mild side effects should not deter parents.He cautioned, “Meningitis can become severe and cause complications like paralysis, brain damage and even death. The child can contribute to disease outbreak in the community , make other family members sick. Parents fail to follow the vaccination schedule recommended by the doctor and as a result, kids miss getting vaccinated. Protect your little ones as vaccines are safe and effective. Parents, make sure that children should take vaccination like BCG , DTaP, IPV, flu vaccine, Hepatitis B, MMR, pneumococcal vaccine, Rotavirus, Hepatitis A, Hib and Vadivella vaccine as advised by the paediatrician. Parents should not panic or hesitate or worry about the side effects which are minor such as fever, pain at the injection site, a headache, and will subside in a day or two.”Advising the parents further, Dr Gupta said, “Parents should be aware of booster doses and keep a track of the same. If they have missed on any vaccine, they can always consult a doctor and get the schedule set for the catch up vaccine. Getting a child vaccinated will ensure long-term protection from illnesses. The child’s immune system will be vulnerable if he/she is not vaccinated. So, get the children vaccinated on a priority basis to improve the overall well-being.”Jason Goldman, President of the American College of Physicians, has publicly criticised the CDC’s newly released changes to childhood immunisation policy, warning that they could “seriously undermine the vaccine programme in the United States and put patients and the public at risk.” In an Instagram reel shared from Washington, Goldman said he was briefing members of Congress alongside fellow physicians on why the policy shift is deeply concerning, stressing that vaccination remains one of the most effective tools for protecting public health.He argued that the framework used to justify the changes fails to reflect the realities of the US healthcare system, including the absence of universal healthcare, wide disparities in access and a large, diverse population. Talking about why this schedule is wrong, Goldman said, “Other nations, that this policy has been based on, do not have the same demographics, healthcare or other criteria that the United States does. We do not have universal health care and access. We have a much larger, diverse and broad population and this policy was not done with evidence, recommendations based on science or any peer review. It was arbitrary and capricious and will continue to endanger the lives of our patients.” According to Goldman, the recommendations introduced by CDC are creating confusion that could fuel vaccine hesitancy and endanger lives. He added that the American College of Physicians is calling for the policy to be rescinded and for the advisory committee to be restored as a science-driven body acting in the best interests of patients, particularly children.
What the research says vs what happens when vaccination falls
Vaccination is not just theory, it is proven public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both affirm that vaccines are safe and effective tools for preventing infectious disease and protecting community health. These global institutions have decades of population data backing immunisation programs.Peer-reviewed studies show that vaccines save lives and prevent disease. A recent 2025 systematic review of randomised clinical trials, published in Virology Journal, confirmed that polio vaccines are highly immunogenic (trigger strong immune responses) and safe in infants. This crucial evidence underpins global eradication efforts and routine immunisation programs.Live vaccines reduce mortality beyond target diseases. According to a 2019 study in Vaccine journal, trials of oral polio and measles vaccines demonstrated reductions in overall child mortality that exceed the declines expected just from preventing the target infections. This suggested broader immune benefits that are lost if vaccination is stopped.Measles vaccine has been linked to lower morbidity. A 2010 study in The BMJ (British Medical Journal) found that early measles vaccination was associated with reduced all-cause mortality (not just measles deaths), especially in girls. It highlights the broader protective effects of routine immunisation.
Why vaccine hesitancy is so dangerous
When parents skip vaccines:
- Outbreaks of diseases like measles, polio and whooping cough become more likely (just as paediatric experts warned).
- Herd immunity weakens, threatening the most vulnerable (infants, immunocompromised individuals).
- Healthcare systems face preventable hospitalisations and costs.
Historical examples like measles resurgences in contexts of low vaccination (e.g., Samoa’s 2019 epidemic after coverage fell sharply), underscore how quickly progress can reverse.World Health Organization (WHO) asserts that immunisation prevents illness and saves millions of lives annually; continued vaccination is critical to meet global health goals. CDC and American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) too insist that routine immunisation schedules are evidence-based and aim to protect individuals and communities. Even when recommendations shift in policy, professional pediatric groups reaffirm the importance of full vaccination to prevent disease.
Bottom line: Vaccines work, avoiding them doesn’t
As recent headlines make clear, policy changes and confusing language can cloud judgment but science with real research, decades of clinical data and global public-health institutions, all agree that vaccines are one of the safest and most effective tools in medicine, avoiding them leads to outbreaks of preventable disease and that trusted clinicians worldwide still recommend routine shots, not optional ones.Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment and before changing your diet or supplement regimen. Go to Source
