Preview: RFK Jr. breaks major promise on childhood vaccines. Live analysis with Demetre Daskalakis & Dorit Reiss, Jan 6 at 12:00 PM ET.

Join us TODAY, for a live Q&A on Substack Live at noon ET.

Today, Tuesday, January 6, at noon ET, I’ll be joined in the Doctor’s Lounge on Substack Live by Professor Dorit Reiss and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis to discuss the Trump administration’s announcement that the CDC has suddenly changed its vaccine recommendations—outside the transparent, evidence-based process that is required before any changes to the schedule can be made.

To be clear, under HHS Secretary Kennedy’s thumb, the agency has been forced to adopt a new policy under which the existing dosing strategies for the following vaccines will no longer be recommended for all children:

• Hepatitis B

• RSV

• Rotavirus

• Hepatitis A

• HPV

• Meningococcus

• Influenza

• Covid-19

I will discuss the details, covering both the scientific and legal issues with our two expert panelists, whose essential voices we need to hear from now more than ever.

To join us live, click this link (you can watch on any device, including the Substack app).

Below are timely statements from two major medical societies, The Infectious Diseases Society of America and The American College of Emergency Physicians¹. As you can see, experts who study these issues, and those who treat very sick people are firmly against Secretary Kennedy’s audacious and dangerous move…

IDSA STATEMENT ON CHILDHOOD VACCINE SCHEDULE

“Today’s announcement that HHS is drastically altering the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule without a transparent process or clear scientific justification represents the latest reckless step in Secretary Kennedy’s assault on the national vaccine infrastructure that has saved millions of lives. His actions put families and communities at risk and will make America sicker.

“Upending long-standing vaccine recommendations without transparent public review and engagement with external experts will undermine confidence in vaccines with the likely outcome of decreasing vaccination rates and increasing disease. Making these changes amid ongoing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases shows a disregard for the real confusion families already face.

“Disease prevalence differs country to country, and there has been demonstrated and ongoing need in the U.S. for the vaccines included in the childhood vaccine schedule. Most other high-income countries have universal health care and parental leave, both of which can support prevention and early care and contribute to lower disease prevalence.

“It is irresponsible to haphazardly change vaccine recommendations without a solid scientific basis and transparent process. The commitment the U.S. has made to protecting children from vaccine-preventable illness and death must remain a top priority.”

– Ronald G. Nahass, MD, MHCM, FIDSA – President, IDSA

January 5, 2026

ACEP Statement Regarding the CDC Limiting Vaccine Recommendations

WASHINGTON, DC—The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) issued the following statement in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reducing the number of vaccines from the recommended immunization schedule:

“This decision will create confusion among families, hurt the public health, and put children at risk for preventable illness and death. The recommendations on the vaccine schedule for children may influence insurance company decisions whether to provide coverage for these medicines and impact the supply chain, which will lead to fewer children being vaccinated.

It is equally alarming that this decision was made without the input of independent experts who rely on evidence to make vaccine recommendations. The nation relies on the CDC to provide scientifically based recommendations, which must be made through an open and transparent process.

These unjustifiable changes to the vaccination schedule have real consequences that will harm children from preventable illnesses and create unnecessary public health risks for millions of people.”

About our panelists…

Dr. Daskalakis:

Dr. Demetre C. Daskalakis, MD, MPH, is a nationally recognized physician and public health leader in infectious diseases and emergency response. He received his BA from Columbia, MD from NYU, and MPH from Harvard, followed by advanced training at Harvard’s Beth Israel Deaconess and Partners Healthcare.

Dr. Daskalakis is currently serving as the Chief Medical Officer of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City, a leader in LGBTQ+ health locally and nationally. Prior to this role, he has held major leadership roles at the New York City Department of Health, overseeing HIV, TB, STD, immunization, and laboratory programs, and managing responses to measles, Legionella, and New York City’s initial COVID-19 outbreak. At the CDC, he directed the Division of HIV Prevention and later led the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, where he managed strategies for influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and the transition of the U.S. COVID-19 vaccine program to commercialization. He played a critical role in national responses to respiratory virus threats and managed high-profile outbreaks including measles and avian influenza, demonstrating trauma-informed leadership during challenging events like the August 2025 CDC shooting.

As Deputy Coordinator of the White House National Mpox Response, Dr. Daskalakis’s innovative approaches led to a dramatic reduction in daily cases. Throughout his career, he has championed health equity, LGBTQ+ health, and evidence-based policy, shaping national and global strategies in HIV prevention and vaccination.

Professor Reiss:

Professor Dorit Rubinstein Reiss’ received her undergraduate degree in Law and Political Science from the Faculty of Law in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and her Ph.D. from the Jurisprudence and Social Policy program in UC Berkeley, writing her dissertation on accountability in the liberalized telecommunications and electricity sectors in England, France and Sweden.

Professor Reiss’ initial research examined accountability of administrative agencies at the state, national and international level, using as case studies the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC), the FAA, and other agencies in the United States and Europe.

Her current research and activities focus on legal and policy issues related to vaccines. She writes about vaccines mandates, policy responses to non-vaccinating, tort issues and administrative issues related to vaccines, and the anti-vaccine movement.

Professor Reiss teaches torts, administrative law, public health law, and several seminars, and appreciates the opportunity to work with UC Law SF’ talented, hardworking body of students.

I hope you will contribute questions for us in the Comments section below.

So please join us today at noon. ET on Substack Live!

1. I serve as editor of the News & Perspectives section of The Annals of Emergency Medicine, ACEP’s top academic journal. I get a stipend for that work.