Trump administration weakens childhood vaccine guidance. What shots does PA require?
Friday, Pennsylvania health officials stressed routine childhood vaccinations would continue as usual in the commonwealth and remain covered by insurance, days after the federal government announced drastically weakened guidance for children.
The revised guidance is the latest shift on federal health policy under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine activist who leads the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“There are no changes in vaccine recommendations and availability in Pennsylvania, including those for children to attend school,” Pennsylvania Health Secretary Debra Bogen said in a news release. “Health care providers have always used shared decision-making and informed consent with parents, and we will continue to provide the information needed to protect their children.”
What has changed and what stays the same in PA?
The new federal guidelines, which states are not required to adopt, state vaccines for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, COVID-19, meningococcal and hepatitis, were no longer recommended for all children. Instead, the government said, parents should consult with their physician to determine whether their children should receive the jabs.
Three hepatitis B shots are still required to attend schools in Pennsylvania.
While they are not required to attend schools, the commonwealth still recommends all children receive flu, COVID, hepatitis A and RSV shots at the intervals recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The new federal guidelines have been met with scorn by health experts, who still recommend parents vaccinate their children.
“The flu shot is still recommended for anybody who is six months of age or older, and even if you go to the (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website, run by the government, it will tell you that the flu shot is still recommended for anybody who’s six months of age or older,” said Stanley Martin, a physician at Geisinger. “The president himself got a flu shot this year. It is clearly recommended and helpful for everybody.”
The dueling announcements by the state and federal governments come as an unusually strong variant of the flu is sweeping Pennsylvania and the nation, with viral activity detected by state authorities shooting upward and hospitalizations and deaths higher than in recent flu seasons, according to the state health department.
Martin said vaccination rates have dropped over the past year, especially among children. He attributed the drop, in part, to the politicization of public health and “Dr. Google.”
