Minnesota Ditches CDC Vaccine Guidelines in Favor of Medical Associations' Recommendations
In a shift away from federal guidance, Minnesota's Department of Health has announced that it will no longer align its vaccination recommendations with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The move comes on the heels of the CDC's recent recategorization of certain childhood immunizations, including hepatitis B and influenza, which are now only recommended for high-risk groups or based on clinical decision-making. Dr. Brooke Cunningham, Minnesota's health commissioner, expressed skepticism about this change, stating that it does not reflect the best available science.
In contrast, Minnesota will be relying on recommendations from three professional physician groups: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for children, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) for adults, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for vaccines during pregnancy. According to Cunningham, this approach provides clarity and stability for families and providers by utilizing tried-and-tested guidelines that clinicians already trust.
This decision is not unprecedented; Minnesota broke from federal guidance in September 2025, recommending that anyone 6 months old and older receive the COVID-19 vaccine without additional barriers – a stance also aligned with recommendations from the AAP, AAFP, and ACOG.
In a shift away from federal guidance, Minnesota's Department of Health has announced that it will no longer align its vaccination recommendations with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The move comes on the heels of the CDC's recent recategorization of certain childhood immunizations, including hepatitis B and influenza, which are now only recommended for high-risk groups or based on clinical decision-making. Dr. Brooke Cunningham, Minnesota's health commissioner, expressed skepticism about this change, stating that it does not reflect the best available science.
In contrast, Minnesota will be relying on recommendations from three professional physician groups: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for children, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) for adults, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for vaccines during pregnancy. According to Cunningham, this approach provides clarity and stability for families and providers by utilizing tried-and-tested guidelines that clinicians already trust.
This decision is not unprecedented; Minnesota broke from federal guidance in September 2025, recommending that anyone 6 months old and older receive the COVID-19 vaccine without additional barriers – a stance also aligned with recommendations from the AAP, AAFP, and ACOG.
. it's not like they're forcing people to get shot or anything, just giving families more choices...i guess what bothers me is that everyone's so divided about this stuff 
. sometimes i think we should just listen to the experts and trust their recommendations 
. but at the same time, it's cool that minnesota's looking out for its own people by making decisions based on what works best for them 
. i mean, who needs one-size-fits-all anyway? 
. One day they're telling us to vax up, next they're saying we can just follow the docs' advice instead? It's like, isn't there some sort of standardization going on? 
Either way, I'm all for families and providers having clarity, but it seems kinda fishy that Minnesota is doing its own thing again 
. At least everyone's on the same page as far as pediatric care, which is a good start 
. Can't help but think we'll be seeing more of this sort of independence from federal guidelines in the future 
lol anyway i guess it's not like this is a huge deal or anything, just another example of state governments making their own rules and healthcare professionals having to get on the same page 
what's next minnesota taking over the world with its vaccine guidelines 
. It just seems like they're trying to stick to what their physician friends say 
. Don't get me wrong, I trust Dr. Cunningham and all that, but this feels like a bit of a slippery slope. What if the medical associations start changing their minds on vaccines and they end up recommending against them? 
Wouldn't want that to happen in a state with a lot of families with young kids 
. I guess it's all about finding what works best for Minnesota, but I'm just gonna keep an eye on this one 
.
. By going their own way, Minnesota's basically giving families and docs more control over what's best for them. Plus, it's great to see the state listening to the experts who are actually on the ground, you know? The AAP, AAFP, and ACOG have been making waves with their guidance on childhood and adult vaccines 
, so it's refreshing to see a state like Minnesota taking notice. Maybe we'll see more states following suit? 
!! Minnesota is taking matters into its own hands and ditching those CDC guidelines because they're just not trusty enough for them. I mean, who needs some faceless government agency telling us what to do when you've got medical experts on your side? 
The fact that they're going with the AAP, AAFP, and ACOG is like, a no-brainer – those guys know their stuff! And let's be real, this isn't about being rebellious or anything, it's just about doing what's best for the people. I'm all about that 
. And what's with this recategorization of childhood vaccines? Are they really saying that hepatitis B and flu shots are only for high-risk groups now? I don't think so, imo 
. It's gotta be one big headache to navigate all these different guidelines...