U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to announce in the new year that the United States will adopt childhood vaccine recommendations mirroring those of Denmark, a move that has sparked concern among public health experts in both nations. The anticipated change, driven by a presidential directive issued on Dec. 5 by President Trump, would reduce the number of required childhood immunizations in the U.S. from 17 to 10.
The presidential directive cited Denmark, Germany, and Japan as peer countries with fewer recommended vaccines, suggesting the U.S. was an outlier. However, experts question the validity of comparing the U.S., a nation of 343 million with a complex healthcare system, to Denmark, a country of six million with universal healthcare.
"We're using the information from a country that is the size of one of our states to dictate what should happen to children. And that is just wrong," said Dr. Kathryn Edwards, a leading expert in pediatric infectious diseases.
The U.S. relies on a deliberative process involving expert panels and public comment to determine vaccine recommendations, a process that some fear will be bypassed by this directive. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently provide vaccine schedules based on extensive research and analysis.
Denmark, like other Scandinavian countries, operates under a Nordic welfare model, characterized by universal healthcare access, strong social safety nets, and high levels of public trust in government institutions. This contrasts sharply with the U.S., where healthcare access is often tied to employment and socioeconomic status, and public trust in institutions varies widely.
The Danish childhood vaccination program is publicly funded and offered free of charge, contributing to high vaccination rates. However, the specific vaccines included and the timing of their administration differ from the current U.S. schedule.
The potential shift in U.S. vaccine policy raises concerns about the impact on public health, particularly in vulnerable populations with limited access to healthcare. Experts emphasize the importance of maintaining a robust and evidence-based vaccine program to protect children from preventable diseases. The announcement from Secretary Kennedy is expected to provide further details on the implementation of the new recommendations.
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