Public Health Reaffirms: No Modifications to Immunization Schedules or Vaccine Availability in Los Angeles County
On January 5, 2026, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a memo stating that the CDC's recommendations on childhood vaccines will be updated to align more closely with those of other high-income countries. The CDC will now routinely recommend vaccines for 11 diseases rather than 17, and the remaining vaccines are now recommended under “shared clinical decision making.” The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reaffirms that Los Angeles County is following existing California Department of Public Health (CDPH) vaccination guidelines for children that align with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are no modifications to immunization schedules or vaccine availability for people living in Los Angeles County at this time. There is no change in vaccine financing or availability through the Vaccine for Children's Program. For more information, please see our press release or refer to our webpage.
Statement from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health:
November 21, 2025: The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is aware of recent changes to the CDC’s “Autism and Vaccines” webpage. The updated statement, “Scientific studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines contribute to the development of autism,” may give people the impression that there is meaningful scientific uncertainty on this topic. There is no new evidence to support those claims and the statement is not accurate. Here’s why.
For more than 25 years, researchers around the world have rigorously examined whether vaccines cause autism. Over 40 high-quality studies involving more than 5.6 million children have found no link between any routine childhood vaccine and autism. This conclusion is supported by leading health authorities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the California Department of Public Health, the World Health Organization, and leading research institutions.
The increase in autism diagnoses reflects improved screening, broader diagnostic criteria, and greater awareness, not a link to vaccines. The spread of this harmful myth stigmatizes members of the autism community and their families. For more information, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics' website .
We understand how confusing misleading statements can be, especially for parents making decisions about their children’s health. We encourage families to talk with their child’s healthcare provider and rely on trusted, evidence-based sources such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the California Department of Public Health.
Vaccines remain safe, effective, and a vital tool for protecting children’s health. Parents should continue following the recommended vaccine schedule and consult their child’s healthcare provider with any questions.
Public Health is committed to providing clear, transparent, and science-based guidance and access to vaccines that protect families, support community health, and save lives.
Vaccine Preventable Diseases
Webpage Resources for the Public & Providers
Infants, children, adolescents, teens and adults need different vaccinations, depending on their age, location, job, lifestyle, travel schedule, health conditions or previous vaccinations. Click on the diseases below to learn more:
GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Vaccine
Misinformation
This misinformation can lead to fear and confusion, and in some cases, it's led to outbreaks of diseases we had under control, like measles. Let's set the record straight by busting some common false vaccine beliefs.
FALSE: Vaccines Cause
Autism
TRUTH:
There is no scientific proof that vaccines cause
autism. This false belief began with a flawed study
published in 1998, which was later withdrawn due to
serious errors and ethical issues. Since then, many
extensive research studies involving millions of
children worldwide have found no link between
vaccines and autism.
FALSE: Natural Immunity is
Better than Vaccine-Provided Immunity
TRUTH:
Catching a disease can sometimes give you immunity,
but it's inconsistent and can come with severe
health risks. For example, catching chickenpox can
make you immune for life, but it could also lead to
serious complications like skin infections or
pneumonia. Vaccines, on the other hand, provide
similar protection without the risk of getting
seriously ill.
FALSE: Vaccines Contain
Harmful Ingredients
TRUTH:
Vaccines contain ingredients needed to keep them
effective and safe. Some components might sound
scary, like formaldehyde and mercury. However, the
amount of formaldehyde in a vaccine is very small –
in fact, it’s significantly lower than the amount
your body produces naturally each day. Most vaccines
don't have any mercury and thimerosal, a form of
mercury, was removed from all childhood vaccines in
2001. When it is used, mercury helps prevent
bacteria and fungal growth in multi-dose vaccines.
Plus, vaccines are continually tested and monitored
for safety by scientists and health professionals.
FALSE: Vaccines Can Give You
the Disease They're Designed to Prevent
TRUTH:
Most vaccines contain pieces of the virus or
bacteria that can't make you sick. Some vaccines do
have weakened or “live” viruses, but they're too
weak to cause the actual disease. Instead, they
teach your immune system how to resist the real
thing if it ever shows up.
FALSE: Vaccines Weaken Your
Immune System
TRUTH:
Vaccines actually train your immune system to be
stronger. By introducing a harmless version of a
virus or bacteria, your immune system learns how to
protect against it. That way, if you ever come
across the real thing, your body knows what to
do.
FALSE: I Don't Need Vaccines
Because Herd Immunity Will Protect Me
TRUTH:
Herd immunity works only when a large majority of
people are vaccinated, protecting those who can't
be, like newborns or people with certain health
conditions. If too many people opt out of
vaccination, herd immunity fails, leaving everyone,
including the most vulnerable, at risk.
FALSE: Vaccines Have
Microchips That Track People
TRUTH:
There are absolutely no microchips or tracking
devices in vaccines. This myth might have started
from misunderstandings about digital health records,
which are electronic versions of patient medical
charts that are maintained by health care providers
and have nothing to do with tracking
individuals.
FALSE: You Don't Need to
Vaccinate Against Diseases We've Already
Defeated
TRUTH:
While some diseases are rare now thanks to vaccines,
they're not completely gone. If we stop vaccinating,
these diseases can come back and fast. That's why we
still need vaccines - to keep diseases away and
protect our communities.
COVID-19
Vaccine
Misinformation
The Safety Record of Vaccines
FALSE: COVID-19 vaccines
were developed too quickly to be safe.
TRUTH:
Despite the speedy development, no steps were missed
in the safety and approval process for the COVID-19
vaccines. This tremendous achievement was possible
due to global cooperation, increased funding and
scientific methods that have been in use for
decades. Safety has always been and will continue to
be the top priority. Scientists and health
professionals worldwide are working tirelessly to
ensure that the COVID-19 vaccines remain safe and
effective for everyone.
Potential Side Effects
FALSE: Vaccines cause
severe side effects.
TRUTH:
Billions of people around the world have received
the COVID-19 vaccine. Most people experience only
mild symptoms, like a sore arm or feeling a bit
under the weather for a day or two. Serious side
effects have been extremely rare. In fact, the
chance of severe side effects is much lower than the
risk of severe illness from COVID-19 itself. The
benefits of being vaccinated — preventing severe
illness, hospitalization and death — greatly
outweigh these small risks.
The Necessity of Vaccination
FALSE: I'm in good health
and don't get sick often, so I don't need the
COVID-19 vaccine.
TRUTH:
Even healthy people can get very sick with COVID-19.
Plus, if you test positive or have symptoms, you
could have to miss work, school, family gatherings
or social events.
Other Common Misconceptions
FALSE: I’ve had COVID-19,
so I won’t benefit from vaccination.
TRUTH: A
COVID-19 vaccine remains the best protection against
getting COVID-19, whether you’ve had COVID-19
already or not. Studies have shown that immunity
from prior infection wanes over time and that
vaccines provide more protection from severe
illness, long COVID and death than natural
immunity.
FALSE: I’ve already had
the early COVID-19 vaccines, I don’t need the latest
one.
TRUTH:
Like all viruses, COVID-19 can change a little bit
every time it spreads to a new person. These changes
can lead to a new version or “variant” of the virus.
If the variant is very different from the original
virus, the vaccine may need to be updated. Studies
have shown that immunity from COVID-19 vaccination
wanes over time. The updated vaccines will restore
immune protection against severe illness. For the
maximum protection against COVID-19, you should stay
up to date on recommended vaccines.
FALSE: The COVID-19
vaccine can impact fertility or puberty.
TRUTH:
There have been no reports of infertility from the
vaccine among thousands of people who participated
in clinical trials. In fact, many vaccine recipients
have effectively conceived. Nor is there evidence of
delayed puberty in children after receiving the
COVID-19 or any other vaccine.
FALSE: The COVID-19
vaccine will change my DNA.
TRUTH:
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines do not change DNA. The
mRNA in the COVID-19 vaccine cannot enter the
nucleus of the cell, where DNA lives. The mRNA helps
activate an immune response to COVID-19, and then
your cells break down the mRNA to get rid of it
without affecting other systems in the body.
- Vaccines teach your body to recognize harmful viruses or bacteria and create special antibodies to keep you healthy if you ever get infected.
- There are different types of vaccines. They can be given as injections, orally or through the nose.
- Many things can affect the level of protection a vaccine provides, including the amount of exposure to infection, time since receiving the vaccine and personal health factors. While no vaccine is 100% perfect, they are the best way to protect you from severe illness.
- Before any new vaccine is made available to the public, a lot of testing is done to know that it’s safe and provides significantly more protection than if a person is not vaccinated at all.
- Federal agencies approve new vaccines and monitor how they are used, side effects and effectiveness, making changes as needed.
- Extensive research by scientists, hospitals and universities have debunked vaccine myths and misinformation. Vaccines are not linked to autism or infertility, nor do they alter DNA or cause disease.
Page Last Updated: 6/18/2026