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News
Despite the federal government's push to overhaul the childhood vaccine schedule, a new survey finds that 67% of clinicians treating pediatric patients are sticking with the American Academy of Pediatrics' long-standing recommendations. But the political tug-of-war is taking a real toll: half of surveyed clinicians report increased patient hesitancy, and 52% say they're experiencing high levels of burnout or moral injury.
The federal government's attempt to reshape the childhood immunization schedule isn't winning over the medical community. A new survey from the Larry A. Green Center at Virginia Commonwealth University found that 67% of clinicians with pediatric patients plan to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) schedule rather than the updated federal guidance — which removed six vaccines, including those for meningococcal disease and hepatitis B, from the recommended childhood schedule.
The AAP's schedule, which aligns with the CDC's prior recommendations to vaccinate children against 17 diseases, has been publicly endorsed by 12 major medical societies, including the AMA and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Sixteen states and Pennsylvania's governor have also filed lawsuits to restore the previous guidance.
The standoff, however, is straining both patients and providers. Clinicians report longer vaccine conversations, rising patient confusion, and growing hesitancy — even for previously accepted vaccines.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: When federal health guidance diverges from established medical consensus, the fallout lands squarely on frontline clinicians — adding emotional burden to an already strained workforce while eroding patient trust in vaccines.
