Federal health officials moved to reduce the number of vaccines universally recommended for U.S. children from 17 to 11, a policy shift attributed to directives from the White House and HHS. The change reclassifies six vaccines — including flu, RSV, hepatitis A/B, meningococcal disease and rotavirus — to ‘shared clinical decision-making’ or targeted recommendations for high-risk groups, according to government statements reported across outlets. Biotech trade group BIO publicly criticized the move as unscientific and warned it could undermine trust in immunization programs; physician groups and other clinicians also expressed concern that loosening universal recommendations may lower vaccination rates and increase disease risk. The decision is effective immediately, will influence state policy debates, and is likely to prompt legal, regulatory and industry responses given its abrupt departure from established CDC advisory processes.