I’m seeing vaccines come up a lot in the news and on social media. What is happening?
- Dr Sameeksha Meel
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Families may have many questions regarding the recent news regarding the CDC changes to the childhood immunization schedule.
One of the first questions that comes up: I’m seeing vaccines come up a lot in the news and on social media. What is happening?
Recently, government officials suddenly stopped recommending several childhood vaccines routinely for all children. This breaks from a process that has been in place for decades that was designed to make vaccine recommendations based on review of how infections spread in the U.S., how illness impacts children’s health now and as they grow, and how our health care system works.
How do we know vaccines in the U.S. are safe and beneficial for children?
The vaccination program in the U.S. has been incredibly successful in preventing illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths. Vaccines are one of the best tools we have to keep families and communities healthy, instead of missing school or work. Every vaccine, and each recommended dose, has been extensively tested and timed to work best with a child’s developing immune system to protect children when they are most at risk.
Vaccine recommendations are not made lightly. They reflect decades of research, ongoing safety monitoring, and rigorous review by experts with specialized knowledge.
Vaccines have prevented illnesses such as:
Rotavirus: Before the rotavirus vaccine was available, approximately 50,000 children in the United States would end up in the hospital every year with severe dehydration from rotavirus.
RSV: A recent study shows that RSV immunization cut RSV-associated hospitalization rates in infants by up to half when compared to previous years.
Influenza: Tens of thousands of children are hospitalized with flu every year. 289 children died from flu during the 2024-2025 flu season, one of the worst on record. The flu vaccine prevents the most serious forms of illness.
Meningococcal disease: Although rare, meningococcal disease, which can cause meningitis, is fatal in 10-15% of cases and can cause serious long-term health issues.
Hepatitis B: Children infected between one and five years of age have a 25-50% chance of becoming chronically infected. A quarter of children who develop chronic hepatitis B infection will die from the disease.
Why your child should get vaccinated
Vaccines can prevent common diseases that used to seriously harm or even kill infants, children, and adults. Without vaccines, your child is at risk of becoming seriously ill or even dying from childhood diseases such as measles and whooping cough.
It is always better to prevent a disease than to treat one after it occurs.
Vaccination is a safe, highly effective, and easy way to help keep your family healthy.
The recommended vaccination schedule balances when a child is likely to be exposed to a disease and when a vaccine will be most effective.
Vaccines are tested to ensure they can be given safely and effectively at the recommended ages.
Who else benefits if my child gets vaccinated?
When everyone is vaccinated, diseases have a harder time spreading. It helps keep your child healthy while also protecting others in the community, such as older adults, patients with cancer or other conditions that affect the immune system, and babies too young for certain vaccines.
These are not the only questions you may have. We are here to help you understand the importance of immunization for your children. Feel free to reach out to us by email office@meelpediatrics.com or phone (978) 685-0977. Connect with us on Facebook with this Link.
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