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Itisha Arya

What Is Denmark’s Childhood Vaccination Schedule That RFK Jr. Is Considering For The U.S.?

denmark childhood vaccine schedule

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to announce changes to the childhood immunisation schedule early next year, with a proposal that would recommend fewer vaccines and bring U.S. policy closer to Denmark’s model. A source familiar with the discussions told NewsNation correspondent Libbey Dean that the revised schedule, expected next year, would involve fewer shots and would be “more in line with Denmark’s vaccination schedule,” according to The Hill. This has raised an important question: what does Denmark’s <span>vaccine schedule</span> look like, and is it realistic for the U.S. to follow it?

<h2><span rel="noindex">Denmark Vaccine Schedule</span>: What Is It?</h2>

Denmark runs a clearly defined childhood vaccination programme that is free and voluntary, aimed at protecting children from serious infectious diseases. Infants are given combination vaccines that cover diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b, along with the pneumococcal vaccine, at 3, 5, and 12 months. Children receive their first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 15 months, with a second dose at 4 years. 

A booster shot for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and polio is administered at 5 years. Around the age of 12, both boys and girls are offered the HPV vaccine to reduce the risk of cancers linked to the virus. Vaccines for chickenpox, rotavirus, hepatitis A, or meningococcal disease are not routinely included in Denmark’s standard schedule, according to official guidance from the Danish Health Authority’s Childhood Vaccination Programme.

<h2><span rel="noindex">RFK Jr</span>. Is Considering Denmark Vaccine Schedule For US</h2>

Reports suggest that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is exploring additional changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations, with a focus on aligning them more closely with those followed by other developed nations, especially Denmark, as per The Washington Post. This discussion comes after a meeting earlier this month of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), where childhood vaccine schedules in the U.S. and Denmark were reviewed and adjustments to the U.S. schedule were made. It was followed by a memorandum from President Trump directing HHS to begin a “process to align U.S. core childhood vaccine recommendations with best practices from peer, developed countries.”

<h2>Denmark Vaccine Schedule: What Happens If the US Adopts It?</h2>

If the U.S. were to adopt Denmark’s schedule in full, it would result in fewer vaccines being recommended for children up to age 18. When comparing vaccines that are universally advised in both countries, Denmark’s programme covers protection against 10 diseases, while the U.S. schedule includes vaccines for 16 diseases, following the removal of hepatitis B from universal recommendations. The additional vaccines recommended in the U.S. address respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rotavirus, varicella, hepatitis A, and meningococcal disease. Although the U.S. advises more childhood vaccines than many comparable countries, Denmark stands out for recommending fewer than most. Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) vaccine scheduler shows that none of the other 29 ECDC member countries limits its routine childhood schedule to just 10 diseases. Several countries, including Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Poland, recommend vaccines against 15 or more diseases, while Austria’s schedule covers 17 diseases, which is even more than the U.S. currently recommends.

Every country follows its own process when setting vaccine recommendations, shaped by its specific circumstances. Childhood immunisation schedules are built over years by reviewing available evidence and weighing factors such as healthcare systems, insurance coverage, public health infrastructure, and national priorities. This explains why vaccine schedules vary across countries, and so far, no developed nation has based its decisions solely on what another “peer” country does.

Importantly, Denmark’s approach is not based on a different interpretation of vaccine science or effectiveness. Instead, Danish health authorities prioritise recommending vaccines that significantly lower the risk of death or serious illness in children. For instance, while rotavirus infections do occur among children in Denmark, they rarely result in death or long-term harm in a setting with universal healthcare access, strong medical systems, and lower inequality than in the U.S. By contrast, neighbouring countries such as Norway and Finland do include the rotavirus vaccine in their routine schedules, as does the U.S., where before the vaccine was introduced, rotavirus caused an estimated 2.7 million infections each year, leading to 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalisations and 20 to 60 deaths among children under five.

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The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to announce changes to the childhood immunisation schedule early next year, with a proposal that would recommend fewer vaccines and bring U.S. policy closer to Denmark’s model. A source familiar with the discussions told NewsNation correspondent Libbey Dean that the revised schedule, expected next year, would involve fewer shots and would be “more in line with Denmark’s vaccination schedule,” according to The Hill. This has raised an important question: what does Denmark’s vaccine schedule look like, and is it realistic for the U.S. to follow it?Denmark Vaccine Schedule: What Is It?Denmark runs a clearly defined childhood vaccination programme that is free and voluntary, aimed at protecting children from serious infectious diseases. Infants are given combination vaccines that cover diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b, along with the pneumococcal vaccine, at 3, 5, and 12 months. Children receive their first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 15 months, with a second dose at 4 years. A booster shot for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and polio is administered at 5 years. Around the age of 12, both boys and girls are offered the HPV vaccine to reduce the risk of cancers linked to the virus. Vaccines for chickenpox, rotavirus, hepatitis A, or meningococcal disease are not routinely included in Denmark’s standard schedule, according to official guidance from the Danish Health Authority’s Childhood Vaccination Programme.RFK Jr. Is Considering Denmark Vaccine Schedule For USReports suggest that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is exploring additional changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations, with a focus on aligning them more closely with those followed by other developed nations, especially Denmark, as per The Washington Post. This discussion comes after a meeting earlier this month of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), where childhood vaccine schedules in the U.S. and Denmark were reviewed and adjustments to the U.S. schedule were made. It was followed by a memorandum from President Trump directing HHS to begin a “process to align U.S. core childhood vaccine recommendations with best practices from peer, developed countries.”Denmark Vaccine Schedule: What Happens If the US Adopts It?If the U.S. were to adopt Denmark’s schedule in full, it would result in fewer vaccines being recommended for children up to age 18. When comparing vaccines that are universally advised in both countries, Denmark’s programme covers protection against 10 diseases, while the U.S. schedule includes vaccines for 16 diseases, following the removal of hepatitis B from universal recommendations. The additional vaccines recommended in the U.S. address respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rotavirus, varicella, hepatitis A, and meningococcal disease. Although the U.S. advises more childhood vaccines than many comparable countries, Denmark stands out for recommending fewer than most. Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) vaccine scheduler shows that none of the other 29 ECDC member countries limits its routine childhood schedule to just 10 diseases. Several countries, including Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Poland, recommend vaccines against 15 or more diseases, while Austria’s schedule covers 17 diseases, which is even more than the U.S. currently recommends.Every country follows its own process when setting vaccine recommendations, shaped by its specific circumstances. Childhood immunisation schedules are built over years by reviewing available evidence and weighing factors such as healthcare systems, insurance coverage, public health infrastructure, and national priorities. This explains why vaccine schedules vary across countries, and so far, no developed nation has based its decisions solely on what another “peer” country does.Importantly, Denmark’s approach is not based on a different interpretation of vaccine science or effectiveness. Instead, Danish health authorities prioritise recommending vaccines that significantly lower the risk of death or serious illness in children. For instance, while rotavirus infections do occur among children in Denmark, they rarely result in death or long-term harm in a setting with universal healthcare access, strong medical systems, and lower inequality than in the U.S. By contrast, neighbouring countries such as Norway and Finland do include the rotavirus vaccine in their routine schedules, as does the U.S., where before the vaccine was introduced, rotavirus caused an estimated 2.7 million infections each year, leading to 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalisations and 20 to 60 deaths among children under five.