The Trump administration is seeking public feedback on potential changes to how it recommends vaccines. A notice published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Federal Register on Friday invites comments on the existing categories for vaccine recommendations, which include routine, risk-based, and shared clinical decision-making.
Officials state that public input will help inform whether the current category structure adequately serves scientific rigor, informed choice, and public trust. The administration is also asking for feedback on whether additional or different categories should be adopted.
Some experts, including Dorit Reiss, a vaccine law expert, and Wendy Parmet, a public health law scholar, have described the notice as unusual. They note that such categorisation is typically handled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or its advisory committee. Concerns have been raised that initiating this process through HHS, particularly under the current HHS secretary, could lead to decisions made without the benefit of relevant expertise.
The notice also asks for comments on considerations that should inform vaccine recommendations, including how to evaluate scientific evidence, especially when randomised controlled trial evidence is limited. The public has 30 days to submit comments.