The U.S. models vaccine guidance after Denmark — but forgets the social safety net

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US Vaccine Guidance Shifted to Model Denmark's, But Without Considering Social Safety Net

The US Department of Health and Human Services has updated its recommended childhood vaccine schedule to mirror that of Denmark, but in doing so, it seems to be ignoring the country's unique social safety net. The new guidelines recommend fewer vaccines for children, focusing only on those against meningococcal disease, hepatitis B, and hepatitis A for kids who are more likely to contract infections.

Health officials have long warned about the dangers of comparing policies from one country to another due to differences in demographics, healthcare systems, social safety nets, and public health infrastructure. "Assuming that policies that work in one country will automatically work in another is a major fallacy," said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health and public health policy at KFF.

Michaud pointed out that relying on Denmark's guidelines could overlook local conditions and realities that matter for effective public health policy. The US has its own scientific institutions and experts who are capable of reviewing evidence and developing guidelines specific to the country.

However, there's also a case of "selected use" when it comes to European comparisons. Many countries have universal healthcare coverage, stronger social welfare programs, and stricter gun laws than the US, yet these policies are rarely cited as models by officials here. Instead, the focus has been narrowly placed on Denmark's vaccine recommendations.

Vaccine schedules should be based on a population's needs, not just copied from another country. Jens Lundgren, an infectious disease specialist at Copenhagen University Hospital, said that meningococcal diseases are not a major public health problem in Denmark, and other vaccines should be higher on the list.

The American Academy of Pediatrics warned about the dangers of this new guideline, calling it "dangerous and unnecessary." Dr. Andrew Racine, AAP's president, said, "There is no reason to impose the Danish immunization schedule on America's families. America is a unique country, and Denmark's population, public health infrastructure, and disease-risk differ greatly from our own."

The updated guidelines are likely to cause confusion among parents in the US, adding complexity for both providers and parents. Experts fear that this change could lead to reduced vaccination rates and increased cases of vaccine-preventable diseases.

 

[Biblical]

I'm not sure about this new vaccine guidance, it's like they're taking a page from Denmark's playbook but ignoring their own social safety net . I mean, the US has its own experts and scientists who can review evidence and develop guidelines that are tailored to our country's needs . It's not about copying someone else's plan, it's about finding what works best for us .

And let's be real, Denmark's population is way different from ours - we've got a more diverse population with different health risks and priorities . I'm worried that this new guideline is going to cause confusion among parents and lead to reduced vaccination rates... it's just not worth the risk . Can't we find a middle ground that works for everyone?

 

[Blissful P]

omg can u believe they're just copying danish vaccine guidelines without even thinkin about our own social safety net?? it's like, we gotta consider our own public health infrastructure, demographics & all that jazz here! i mean, denmark's got a whole different system goin on & their rates might not even translate to us what if we don't have universal healthcare or stronger social welfare programs? it just doesn't make sense to me

 

[Curious]

I gotta say, I'm a bit concerned about this new guideline thingy. They're basically copying Denmark's schedule without thinking about how it'll play out in the US. Our social safety net is pretty different from theirs, you know? We've got our own experts who can figure out what vaccines to prioritize based on our population and stuff. I'm all for learning from other countries, but we shouldn't just assume that their approach will work here. I mean, have you seen the state of healthcare in some parts of the country? We need to make sure we're making informed decisions about vaccines that take into account our unique situation. This new guideline is like, "Hey, let's just copy what Denmark does" without even considering how it'll affect us. That doesn't seem very smart to me.

 

[Dep]

I'm so worried about these new vaccine guidelines ! They're basically copying Denmark's schedule without considering our own social safety net system, which is like a whole different ball game. I mean, what if kids in the US need more vaccines because we have stronger immune systems or more germs going around?

It's like they're trying to fit us into some European mold, but we can't just be compared to one country and expected to magically adapt. We've got our own brilliant scientists working on vaccine schedules, so why not use that expertise instead of relying on Denmark?

And what about the parents who are already stressed out about making sure their kids get all the right shots? Now they're gonna have even more questions and doubts because of these confusing guidelines . I hope some experts speak up and clarify things, 'cause as it stands, this new guideline is just plain scary .

 

[Psycho Sunshine C]

OMG, I dont get why they changed the vaccine schedule ... like, my mom always told me to get all the shots and now its saying only some are necessary? What if Im in a situation where I need more protection than what Denmark says is needed for kids my age?

I was reading about how Denmark has a super good social safety net, but thats not something we have here... so why wouldnt they consider that when making the new rules? I mean, dont they care that some families might struggle to afford all the vaccines or get them at all?

Im kinda worried now... I was always like "get vaccinated" and now its more complicated than that

 

[Epic Hair Salon P]

omg i'm so confused about these new vaccine guidelines in my opinion they r not thinkin bout the bigger picture... like Denmark's got a sick social safety net and universal healthcare that helps keep their population healthy, but we don't have that here so why are they just copyin' their schedule ? it's all about considerin our own unique situation and makin sure our kids r protected from all the good stuff [https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/childr...ses-diseases/denmark-vaccine-guidelines.html)

 

[Silly Stag]

I'm worried about this new vaccine schedule ... I mean, I get what they're trying to do, which is look at other countries for inspiration, but Denmark's system is pretty unique, right? They've got a strong social safety net and universal healthcare coverage, which definitely plays a role in their approach to public health. Meanwhile, the US has its own set of challenges, like economic inequality and limited access to healthcare for some communities.

I also feel like this new guideline just focuses on vaccines for kids who are more likely to contract infections, but what about all the other factors that affect vaccination rates? Like, how do we make sure parents in low-income areas can get their kids vaccinated? It's not just about having the right vaccine schedule, it's about making sure everyone has access to healthcare and resources.

I'm also curious - have they considered the potential impact on public health infrastructure? Like, how will this new guideline affect funding for vaccine development and distribution? It seems like they're making a pretty big assumption that their own experts can do better with a Danish-style approach... but what if we need something more tailored to our specific needs?

 

[Brain-D]

omg i cant believe they shifted their vaccine guidance to denmark's model but totally ignored the whole social safety net thing it makes so much sense why health officials are warning about comparing policies from one country to another, cos its like apples and oranges... US has its own experts and scientists who can review evidence and develop guidelines specific to our country

i mean Denmark's got some awesome stuff going on but i dont think we should just copy everything without thinking about how it'll work for us and what about the fact that meningococcal diseases r not a major public health problem in denmark? shouldn't they prioritize other vaccines like dr Racine said?

anyway, i'm low-key worried about the parents and providers who'll be dealing with this new guideline... reduced vaccination rates and more cases of vaccine-preventable diseases is not what we need right now

 

[Tough Touca]

Denmark's social safety net is a whole different ball game . Copying their guidelines without considering ours is a recipe for disaster . We need our own experts, not just importing someone else's .

 

[The Simpsons' Che]

I'm low-key worried about these new vaccine guidelines ! Denmark's got a solid social safety net in place, but we gotta remember the US has its own unique circumstances . I mean, who's gonna consider the healthcare system and public health infrastructure here? It feels like they're just cherry-picking info from another country without thinking about how it'll play out in the States . And what's with focusing on meningococcal disease when there are other vaccines that should be prioritized? I'm all for adaptability, but we need to make sure our vaccine schedules are tailored to our population's needs, not just copied from someone else . This is gonna cause a whole lotta confusion among parents and providers, and who knows what the consequences will be?

 

[Sore]

omg what's going on with these new vaccine guidelines i mean i get it denmark has a great system but have they even considered how our social safety net is different here? we've got food stamps, medicaid, and all that jazz - it affects how vaccines are administered. plus our healthcare system is super different too. shouldn't we be looking at what works for us instead of just copying denmark's schedule? i'm so confused about this whole thing...

 

[Poor]

I don't get why they'd just copy Denmark's schedule without thinkin' about how it'll work here . We've got our own way of doin' things, with our own experts & institutions to back us up . What if our kids need vaccines for other diseases that aren't as big a deal in Denmark? And what about all the parents who are gonna be confused by this new schedule? It's not just about vaccinatin' against meningococcal disease, it's about keepin' our kids safe from all sorts of infections . This change feels like a big mistake to me .

Oh and I'm glad someone's speakin' up for the American Academy of Pediatrics ! They're right, we can't just copy other countries' policies without thinkin' about our own unique situation . We need experts who understand our country's needs to make these kinds of decisions .

I'm also wonderin' what this means for people who already rely on vaccines to keep themselves safe... like those with weakened immune systems . Are they gonna be left unprotected?

 

[Ashamed Alpaca]

I'm really worried about this shift in vaccine guidance . I think it's a huge mistake to just copy Denmark's schedule without considering our own social safety net . Our country is so different from theirs, with different demographics, healthcare systems, and public health infrastructure. It's like comparing apples and oranges . We need experts in the US to review evidence and develop guidelines that work for us, not just copy what works elsewhere. I'm also concerned about the potential impact on vaccination rates . If this change causes confusion among parents, it could lead to a lot of harm . Let's hope the American Academy of Pediatrics is right and we can stick with our own science-based approach .

 

[Lonely L]

I'm gettin' a bad vibe about these new vaccine guidelines . I mean, I know Denmark's got a great healthcare system and all, but we gotta think about our own country's needs here . We can't just copy-paste policies from another country without considerin' our own social safety net, ya know? I remember when my kids were little, we had to worry about everything from food to healthcare to school – it was a lot to handle! Now, with these new guidelines, it's like they're just gonna wing it and hope for the best . And what about all the parents out there who are already stressed about gettin' their kids vaccinated on time? This is just gonna add more complexity to the system, not solve any problems . I'm worried we're gonna see reduced vaccination rates and more cases of vaccine-preventable diseases . Let's just stick with what works for us here in the States, ya know?

 

[Pro Racing Bandits]

omg u guys think danish is a better model 4 vaccines lol no way they got like super strong social safety net & universal healthcare coverage so their vaccines r not as relevant here its all about adaptin 2 local conditions & realities instead of copy-pasting from another country we cant just ignore our own experts & scientists let's focus on gettin evidence-based guidelines that actually work for us americans

 

[Monster Sex Foo]

So they're ditchin' the old vaccine schedule and goin' with Denmark's... but don't they think about how that'll affect their own social safety net here? Like, what if more kids aren't gettin' vaccinated because they can't afford to pay for 'em or they're not on the system? It seems like a bit of a shortcut to just copy from another country without considerin' what's gonna happen in real life . And I mean, don't get me wrong, Denmark's got its own problems too, but it's not exactly the same as the US... I dunno if they've thought this through

 

[Defeate]

I feel like we're playing a game of "what works for one doesn't work for another" here . It's easy to take a look at Denmark's approach and think, "Hey, this must be the way to go!" But when you strip away all the cultural context and just look at the facts, it becomes clear that we can't just copy-paste someone else's solution here. The US has its own unique needs and realities that need to be taken into account . It's like trying to put a square peg in a round hole – it's just not gonna fit . We need to focus on developing solutions that work for us, with our own strengths and weaknesses, rather than just trying to fit someone else's model. That way, we can create policies that actually make sense for our own communities .

 

[Xerothermic X]

I'm low-key worried about these new vaccine guidelines ... According to CDC data, only 52% of eligible kids in the US got vaccinated against all recommended vaccines in 2022 . That's a major concern! The updated guidelines are shifting focus away from herd immunity and towards individual protection .

Here's some data: In 2020, Denmark had an estimated 11.3 cases of meningococcal disease per 100 million people . Meanwhile, in the US, there were 1.5 cases per 100 million in 2019 ! What does this mean? Other vaccines should be prioritized!

I've been looking at chart data and here are some stats: In 2022, vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough made up 4% of reported cases in the US . Meanwhile, countries with universal healthcare coverage have seen significant reductions in these types of infections .

According to CDC numbers, in 2022, only 36% of children aged 19-35 months had received all recommended vaccines . We need to focus on building our own vaccine schedule based on US-specific data and not just copying from other countries .

These guidelines are going to cause a lot of confusion among parents, especially those with complex healthcare situations . I'm keeping an eye on this situation and will be monitoring the impact on vaccination rates .

 

[Power]

omg, can you imagine having to choose between vaccines? i'm all about being proactive about our health, but at the same time, we gotta consider what's best for each individual. i mean, us being a super diverse country, it's not like we're gonna be able to replicate denmark's entire system here, you know? the thing is, these guidelines might make some parents feel more in control, but i'm worried that we'll end up with a bunch of kids going unvaccinated and that just can't be right . let's get our own experts on it, you know?