Minnesota breaks from CDC on immunization guidance

On Jan. 8, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said it will align its immunization guidance with recommendations from professional medical associations rather than those issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The decision follows recent changes by the CDC to its recommended vaccination schedule for children. Six vaccines were moved from a category labeled “Immunizations Recommended for All Children” to one defined as “Immunizations Based on Shared Clinical Decision-Making.”

“This change at the federal level does not reflect the best available science. Medical association immunization schedules are evidence-based, reflect current clinical practice and are developed through established professional review processes,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham. “Aligning our recommendations with professional medical associations helps provide clarity and stability for families and providers by using a proven set of recommendations that doctors, and other clinicians, already know and trust.”

Minnesota has previously diverged from CDC guidance on COVID-19 and hepatitis B vaccines. MDH said continuing to follow professional medical associations will help save lives, prevent infectious diseases, and provide a simpler and more consistent approach for health care providers, parents and the public.

Under the change, MDH will follow:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics immunization schedule for children and adolescents from birth through age 18

• The American Academy of Family Physicians immunization schedule for adults age 19 and older

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ maternal immunization guidance for vaccines recommended during pregnancy

The decision comes amid broader tensions between Minnesota and the federal government that date back to the previous year. In 2025, the state sued the federal government over issues including SNAP benefits, federal funding freezes and policies related to undocumented immigrants.

“In my tenure as a commissioner, there can be conflicting recommendations or guidelines, but they’re not usually so extreme,” Cook County Commissioner David Mills, the 2025 PHHS Board Chair, told WTIP. “We’re an arm of the state, you know, and so that’s ultimately what we’re going to be following. We can certainly advocate at the national level and share what our concerns are to our federal representatives, but at the end of the day, we are an arm of the state.”

In Cook County, public health officials and leaders at North Shore Health have continued to advocate for vaccinations.

Josh Hinke January 13, 2026