Last updated November 5, 2026
In January 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced significant changes to the United States’ recommended pediatric immunization schedule without following established procedures or providing a scientific rationale. As of March 2026, all of those recommendations have been put on hold. If you have specific questions about whether vaccine recommendations have changed or confusion about conflicting information, review PHCC’s “Communicating Vaccine Schedule Information In A Changing Environment” messaging and talking points.
Talking Points
Use the following talking points to discuss vaccine development, safety, and effectiveness to discuss how vaccines are developed, reviewed for safety, and used to keep people healthy.
Updated November 5, 2026
Vaccine Development Timeline
- Each vaccine goes through a rigorous process before it is made available to the public. Vaccines are carefully tested and closely monitored, from the early stages of research to their public release, and beyond.
- Some vaccines undergo a shorter-than-usual timeline for the standard development and testing phases. These vaccines are developed quickly because of decades of previous vaccine research, global collaborations, and overlapping development and testing phases.
Vaccine Review and Monitoring
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires a rigorous vaccine testing process because it ensures that people receive the greatest benefit from vaccines in the safest manner.
- The FDA have an important role in monitoring the vaccine development process, manufacturing facilities, and overall safety and effectiveness, even after a vaccine is released to the public.
Vaccines Are Developed to Keep People Healthy
- Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself against preventable, serious diseases that once commonly harmed or killed people, such as smallpox and polio.
- Vaccines have a proven track record of reducing disease when people get them. Many people you know are vaccinated against diseases that were once very common and caused serious illness and even death. When vaccination rates decline, diseases that were once eliminated or significantly reduced can return, having harmful impacts on individual and community health.
