Health Secretary RFK Jr. Proposes Reclassifying Vaccine Recommendations

Under anti‑vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , the U. S. health department is exploring a shift in how vaccine recommendations are categorized. The current system, guided by the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), uses three labels: routine (or universal), risk‑based, and shared clinical decision‑making (SCDM). Kennedy has not issued new rules, but he released a 10‑page Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register on Monday, outlining questions about the existing categories and suggesting alternatives such as “recommended with qualification” or “recommended based on shared clinical decision‑making.” The public can comment on these ideas until September 20. The proposal could change the language that frames vaccine guidance for clinicians and patients alike.