Managed Care Pharmacy Strategies for Supporting Pediatric Vaccination Amid CDC Schedule Changes: Susan Cantrell

In January, the CDC announced major revisions to the US childhood immunization schedule, reducing the number of diseases covered by routine vaccines from 17 to 11.¹ The changes followed a December 2025 presidential memorandum directing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and acting CDC director Jim O’Neill to update the schedule if “superior approaches” were identified abroad.

The revisions also come months after Kennedy ended the terms of all 17 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices members in June 2025 and quickly replaced them with new appointees, some of whom had previously expressed antivaccine views.² He said the move was intended to restore public trust in vaccines.

To better understand what these developments could mean for vaccine access and coverage, The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®) spoke with Susan Cantrell, CEO of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, about the managed care pharmacy perspective on the updated recommendations.

Throughout her conversation with AJMC, she discussed her reaction to the changes and their implications for pediatric vaccination and public health, as well as the evolving role of managed care pharmacists in supporting vaccine access and addressing vaccine hesitancy.

Learn from more experts on the potential impact of the revised childhood immunization schedule here.³

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References

1. Grossi G. CDC reduces US childhood immunization schedule from 17 to 11 diseases. AJMC. January 5, 2026. Accessed March 10, 2026. https://www.ajmc.com/view/cdc-reduces-us-childhood-immunization-schedule-from-17-to-11-diseases
2. Grossi G. RFK Jr sweeps clean CDC vaccine advisory panel, aiming to bolster public confidence. AJMC. June 9, 2025. Accessed March 10, 2026. https://www.ajmc.com/view/rfk-jr-sweeps-clean-cdc-vaccine-advisory-panel-aiming-to-bolster-public-confidence
3. McCormick B. Experts warn that CDC childhood immunization schedule revisions could reduce uptake, erode public trust. AJMC. Updated February 3, 2025. Accessed March 10, 2026. https://www.ajmc.com/view/experts-warn-cdc-childhood-immunization-schedule-revisions-could-reduce-uptake-erode-public-trust