The same week the CDC announced it was cutting vaccine recommendations, San Mateo County reported that an unvaccinated child died of the flu.
The child, whose age and name were not released by authorities, was the second flu death in San Mateo County this season, officials said. On Monday, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O'Neill signed memorandum to no longer include influenza vaccines among vaccines for 10 other diseases so that they are included in the recommended vaccination schedule.
Other changes include eliminating mandatory hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, and identifying bacterial meningitis, rotavirus and COVID-19 as only recommended for “high-risk groups.” While the CDC's recommendations won't lead to a loss of access to such vaccines or gaps in coverage, public health experts and pediatricians warn the cuts could lead to confusion and a resurgence of illnesses in schools.
Changes to vaccine requirements have long been a topic of conversation within the Trump administration, according to the Trump administration. Timesbut gained national attention in December when Trump signed a presidential memorandum on childhood vaccines, which the CDC explicitly cited as the reason for recent changes in vaccine recommendations.
In a statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics called the changes “dangerous.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state joined Oregon, Washington and Hawaii in September to create independent vaccine guidelines.
Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana, San Mateo County's health officer, shared a statement that she was “deeply saddened” by the loss and encourages people to take preventative measures such as vaccines to avoid future deaths.
Flu can cause complications and death, especially in people 65 years of age or older or younger than 5 years of age with fever, cough, and sore throat.
