ATLANTA, GA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its recommended immunization schedules for adults and children, introducing individual-based decision-making for COVID-19 vaccinations and recommending standalone varicella (chickenpox) shots for toddlers.

The changes, approved by CDC Acting Director and Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill, reflect recent recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Updated schedules are expected to appear on the CDC’s website by October 7, 2025.

According to the CDC, the new approach to COVID-19 vaccination moves away from broad recommendations toward shared clinical decision-making between patients and healthcare providers. Under this model, vaccination decisions will be based on personal health factors, such as age, medical history, and risk for severe illness.

The ACIP guidance notes that the greatest benefit from COVID-19 vaccination continues to apply to individuals aged 65 and older or those with underlying health risks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved vaccine use for these groups, as well as for individuals with specific risk factors for severe disease.

Individual-based decision-making—referred to by the CDC as “shared clinical decision-making”—remains covered under federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Vaccines for Children Program. It also applies to private insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act.

In addition to the COVID-19 update, the CDC now recommends that toddlers up to age three receive a standalone varicella vaccine instead of the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. The decision follows data presented to ACIP showing that the combined vaccine is associated with a higher rate of febrile seizures—fevers that cause convulsions—in young children. Studies found no added protection from varicella when the vaccine was administered as part of the combination rather than separately.

The updated immunization schedules mark a shift toward more individualized vaccine recommendations as health officials continue to evaluate safety and effectiveness data for both established and emerging immunizations.

For more information, the full announcement is available on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website at hhs.gov.