WI health experts say they are not changing childhood vaccine recommendations

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - New changes to childhood vaccine recommendations are sparking lots of confusion for Wisconsin parents. This comes after the CDC announced on Monday they are now only recommending 11 of the previous 18 vaccinations for children.

Wisconsin DHS officials say they’re not changing their recommendations for childhood vaccines, despite the federal switch. The Eau Claire City-County Health Department supports that decision; both organizations say this is because of science-based evidence from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Chief Medical Officer for Wisconsin DHS, Dr. Ryan Westergaard says “Our approach to immunization guidance is it must be grounded in systematic, transparent reviews of scientific evidence.”

The CDC shifting vaccine recommendations for RSV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue and two types of bacterial meningitis are now in high-risk groups.

The vaccines that are recommended based on shared clinical decision-making are for rotavirus, the flu, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and bacterial meningitis. The Covid vaccine was moved to shared decision-making last year.

Director of the Eau Claire City-County Health Department, Lieske Giese says “A very public process that is the typical way that any vaccine would be added or removed from the recommended list and that didn’t happen this time. What came out on Monday were recommendations that were not based on any science based change.”

However, hospitalizations for diseases like RSV and COVID-19 have still been seen still seen in the Badger State from the previous respiratory season which is from October to September, and the current season.

Public health nurse Christina Writz says “In Wisconsin for this respiratory season so far, there have been 124 hospitalizations. In Eau Claire County there have been four. In our county, there’s about 25% in that 18 & under age group that have been hospitalized. For last year, for the entire season it was around 2,500 for RSV hospitalizations, and 59 for Eau Claire County. Almost 30% at that 18 and under rate.”

Whereas for COVID-19, “For the 24-25 respiratory season, 115 COVID-19 hospitalizations in the full season, and as a state we saw over 4,500,” she said.

Giese said “so people are still being hospitalized for COVID-19. I think understanding that the goal again with vaccination is to really decrease hospitalization and death.”

Even after knowing the numbers for Eau Claire County, the difference in recommendations at the federal and state levels can be really confusing for parents on what to do for their child.

Dr. Westergaard says “My advice to parents who are confused about this new difference is to talk with their personal physicians. That’s always our recommendation for the best and most taylored, most appropriate way of getting your questions answered is talk with a healthcare provider that knows you as a person and that you trust.”