DOH Statement [ [link removed] ]




*For immediate release:* January 5, 2026                        (26-003)

*Contact: *DOH Communications <[email protected]>

The West Coast Health Alliance continues to recommend vaccination in alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule

*OLYMPIA – *On January 5, 2026, the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed a decision memorandum [ [link removed] ] to revise the Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule and significantly reduce the number of vaccinations routinely recommended for all U.S. children. This decision did not follow established procedure for vaccine policy recommendations and threatens an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases in children nationwide. Children getting sick from the diseases prevented by recommended immunizations leads to missed school for children, missed work for parents, and even hospitalization and death in some children.

The current American Academy of Pediatrics Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule [ [link removed] ] is based on established vaccine safety and effectiveness evidence [ [link removed] ]. AAP recommendations consider:


* When children are most vulnerable to diseases;
* When vaccines work best with children’s immune systems;
* The safety of vaccinations being recommended;
* The risk of diseases in the United States;
* Our current access to health care and immunizations; and
* Cost effectiveness of implementing national recommendations for a particular vaccination.

While the first three concerns are similar across countries, the last three concerns may differ considerably between countries. The AAP recommended immunization schedule serves as a starting point for discussions between families and their providers, as it always has. Parents should continue to make informed decisions about the vaccines that their children receive based on discussions with their child’s health care provider.

Prior to 2025, AAP had endorsed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which followed a rigorous review of data on risk of disease and safety of vaccination in the United States. Changes in the newly released recommended immunization schedule are not based on changes in vaccine safety and effectiveness data. The changes were based on a comparison of the number of routine vaccinations recommended in the United States versus select other countries. It did not consider the different conditions in each country. These changes were also not vetted by experts from medical and public health organizations, health care providers, or the public before they were published.

We do not expect these changes to affect insurance coverage for vaccines this plan year. All child and adolescent immunizations recommended as of December 31, 2025 will remain available and covered by public and private insurers however the changes create confusion and will put more children at risk of preventable diseases.  

The West Coast Health Alliance will continue to review available vaccine science and ensure continued access to recommended vaccines. Each state is examining the impact of these federal changes on vaccine access in our respective states. WCHA and AAP continue to support these longstanding recommendations including informed parental decisions for the best protection of their children.

Our website [ [link removed] ] is your source for "a healthy dose of information". Get updates by following us on social media [ [link removed] ]. 

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Visit the DOH Newsroom [ [link removed] ] for all news releases. 
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Washington State Department of Health [ [link removed] ] is your source for a healthy dose of information. 








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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington State Department of Health · 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]

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