For Immediate Release: January 6, 2026
The abrupt changes to the CDC’s childhood vaccination recommendations announced today are deeply concerning and undermine decades of evidence-based public health policy.
Cook County Department of Public Health will continue following Illinois’ childhood vaccination recommendations , which are based on up-to-date scientific evidence.
CCDPH does not support the CDC’s move to reduce the number of vaccines recommended for children from 17 to 11. This decision will put children at greater risk for serious illness and death from vaccine – preventable diseases, including influenza and COVID-19.
The childhood immunization schedule has long been developed by transparent scientific review, involving independent medical experts, including rigorous evaluation of safety and effectiveness. Circumventing that process puts all American children’s health at risk.
Weakening routine recommendations, without clear evidence or expert consensus creates confusion for parents, erodes trust in public health institutions, and increases the likelihood of disease outbreaks. These changes may cause grave harm to the health of the public, resulting in the spread of diseases long controlled with routine vaccination such as rotavirus, hepatitis B and certain forms of meningitis.
Public health policy should always be made transparently and grounded in science. Our communities deserve nothing less.
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Cook County Department of Public Health, an affiliate of Cook County Health, is the nationally accredited, state-certified local health department serving suburban Cook County. We build healthier, more equitable communities by protecting health, preventing disease, engaging communities, and analyzing and sharing data for action.