CMS has announced that states will no longer be required to report immunization status data for children and pregnant individuals, following a Dec. 30 letter sent to state health officials. Beginning in 2026, CMS removed four vaccine-related reporting measures tied to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
This change affects a substantial portion of the population, as Medicaid covers nearly 70 million people and CHIP serves approximately 7 million, limiting the availability of nationwide vaccination data previously used for public health monitoring.
According to CMS, the decision falls within the discretion of HHS leadership and follows a series of broader federal policy shifts related to vaccines in 2025, including changes to childhood immunization recommendations. CMS indicated that it plans to explore new vaccine-related measures in future years, potentially focusing on whether families were informed about vaccine options, safety considerations, side effects, and alternative schedules rather than vaccination status alone.
Resource: 7 major vaccine policy changes in 2025