Safeguarding Healthy Ageing Through Lifelong Immunisation: IFA Responds to Changes in US Childhood Vaccine Policy

On 5 January 2026, U.S. federal health officials announced major changes to the childhood immunisation schedule, moving several vaccines, including rotavirus, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and meningococcal disease, from routine universal recommendation to “shared clinical decision-making.” This significant shift transfers responsibility for initiating vaccination from the health system to individual families and risks diminishing vaccine uptake and equitable access to vaccines. 

Childhood immunisation is a cornerstone of prevention and healthy ageing. Vaccines delivered early in life provide lifelong protection against infectious diseases, reduce the risk of outbreaks, and help ensure that individuals can grow older in good health. Routine immunisation programmes not only protect children but also reduce long-term strain on health and social care systems and contribute to population-wide wellbeing. 

Policy changes in one country can reverberate globally, influencing public perceptions, policy decisions, and vaccine uptake in other regions. As such, immunisation policies must remain grounded in evidence, informed by public health best practices, and support access to all. 

In light of these developments, IFA emphasizes the following core principles: 

• Prevention and healthy ageing across the life course
  Childhood immunisation, one of the most successful public health interventions of our time, is a foundation of preventative health, supporting health and wellbeing from childhood through older age and enabling healthier ageing for individuals and populations. 

• Evidence-driven decision-making
  Immunisation policy must be guided by the best available scientific evidence, long-term programme monitoring, and the expertise of independent public health and infectious disease specialists. 

• Equity in access to vaccines
  All individuals should have timely, affordable access to recommended vaccines. Routine vaccination supports access to immunisation, advancing health equity and population health. 

As the world navigates complex demographic and epidemiological shifts, maintaining robust, evidence-based immunisation systems is essential to realising a future where everyone can age with good health in thriving, productive societies.