The recent change in federal guidance on childhood vaccination timing is raising alarms among state health officials. Last December, United States president Donald Trump released a presidential memorandum proclaiming that American children receive more vaccines than other first-world countries. Now, that statement is coming to life as the Health and Human Services Department (HHS), as well as their close working counterparts, have been advised to review and likely lessen the number of vaccines American children receive. 

Among other states, Michigan has openly condemned the potential changes made by the Trump administration. Governor Gretchen Whitmer took to X for a quick public statement. 

“Despite federal changes to the vaccine schedule, Michigan will continue trusting the experts and providing opportunities for Michiganders to keep their families safe,” Whitmer said. “Immunizations will remain available because in Michigan we put science before politics.” 

While federal government can have influence, ultimately vaccination mandating in public schools is an in-state issue. As declared by the state’s Chief Medical Executive Natasha Bagdasarian in a standing recommendation, Michigan is maintaining that parents should utilize vaccination schedules created by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Following the many controversial actions of HHS since Trump’s inauguration last year, Bagdasarian has made it clear how she feels. 

“I believe that damage has been done to the CDC and organizations like ACIP, and that damage will last for decades,” Bagdasarian said. “It’ll take significant work to rebuild some of these public institutions” (WLNS). 

Utica Community Schools continues to enforce the Macomb County Health Department’s School Immunization Program (SIP) for all students. UCS families cannot enroll their child in kindergarten or the Young Five Program without having received five doses DTap, four doses Polio, three doses Hepatitis B, two doses MMR, and two doses Varicella. 

“With vaccines, I tell students to make sure they talk to the right people, talk to their doctor, and do the pros and cons,” Utica High School health teacher Michael Moscato said. “There are some reasons why some people might choose to not get vaccinated, and then there’s many good reasons why you should. So, whatever that might be, make sure you talk to the right people and make a sound decision, not one that comes from someone off social media or a podcast.”