The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced it will continue following its own vaccine recommendations, thereby distancing itself from newly revised federal childhood immunization guidelines.
In a statement released this week, CDPHE said it's aware of announcements by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that change the CDC's childhood immunization schedule.
On Monday, HHS announced it is updating the childhood immunization schedule, now recommending four fewer vaccines.
Vaccinations for rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, and hepatitis A will be determined through shared decision-making between parents and healthcare providers, aligning with practices in other developed nations, and supporting Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s objectives.
Federal officials have said the revisions will not affect insurance coverage or vaccine availability through the federal Vaccines for Children program.
Colorado health officials emphasized that the state will rely instead on the 2025 Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which is widely used by pediatricians and based on decades of peer-reviewed research and safety monitoring.
"Regardless of changes at the federal level, our priority is ensuring families and providers have trusted, evidence-based guidance to keep children and communities healthy," said Dr. Ned Calonge, CDPHE's chief medical officer.
Under a new state law, Colorado's Board of Health formally incorporated the 2025 AAP schedule into school and child care immunization requirements.
Another law aims to shield families from potential cost increases by requiring state-regulated insurance plans to continue covering preventive vaccines recommended as of January 2025, even if federal guidance changes later.
CDPHE said school and child care vaccine requirements remain unchanged and urged parents to continue consulting pediatricians and medical providers.
The announcement comes amid broader national debate over vaccine policy and public trust in federal health agencies, with some states signaling they may diverge from updated CDC guidance while maintaining access to vaccines and existing mandates.
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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