Guiding Vaccination Strategies for Small Practices Across Specialties
Date Posted: Wednesday,
June 176, 2025
Vaccinations remain a vital tool for preventing infectious diseases to safeguard patients and communities. For small physician practices across all medical specialties in the United States—especially general practice, our largest audience segment, alongside pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), allergy/immunology, and others—adapting to recent federal policy changes is critical to delivering high-quality care. As medical office managers, practice administrators, and physicians, you face the challenge of balancing evolving guidelines, patient trust, and operational demands. This article provides practical strategies to support your patient communities, addressing the latest HHS developments while prioritizing evidence-based care.
Recent HHS Vaccination Policy Changes
Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became HHS Secretary in February 2025, significant policy shifts have impacted practices across specialties. These changes, aimed at enhancing transparency and public trust, require careful navigation to ensure compliance and patient safety.
COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
In May 2025, Secretary Kennedy announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer routinely recommended for healthy children aged 6 months to 17 years or healthy pregnant women. The CDC now uses a “shared clinical decision-making” model, allowing providers and patients to assess individual risks and benefits. This shift, bypassing the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), may affect insurance coverage, as private insurers and Medicaid often align with CDC recommendations. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program's inclusion of COVID-19 vaccines is also uncertain, potentially increasing patient costs.
General practice and pediatric offices, which handle childhood vaccinations, should carefully record all vaccine discussions, especially when parents choose not to vaccinate, to maintain clear records and support ongoing patient care. OB/GYN practices must address maternal vaccination questions, as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) supports COVID-19 vaccines for high-risk pregnancies, citing a 61% reduction in infant hospitalizations from maternal vaccination. Allergy/immunology specialists, often serving immunocompromised patients, may see increased demand for tailored vaccine guidance under this model.
Overhaul of ACIP and Vaccine Outreach
On June 9, 2025, Secretary Kennedy dismissed all 17 ACIP members, citing conflicts of interest, and is replacing them for the committee's June 25–27, 2025, meeting, which will address vaccines for COVID-19, RSV, influenza, HPV, and meningococcal disease. This move, reported by ABC News and The New York Times, has raised concerns about the expertise of new appointees, with critics like Senator Susan Collins noting limited vetting time.
In April 2025, HHS underwent a major restructuring, with 10,000 staff cuts across CDC, FDA, and NIH, potentially impacting vaccine outreach efforts. Unconfirmed reports on X suggested the dissolution of a team focused on under-vaccinated communities, underscoring the need for practices to stay informed through CDC and professional networks like PAHCOM. For example, CDC grant cuts led to the cancellation of 50 vaccine clinics in Texas, affecting access in underserved areas.
These developments signal potential shifts in vaccine recommendations, particularly for specialties like general practice and family medicine, which serve diverse populations.
Other Vaccination Guidance
The CDC's core recommendations for childhood and maternal vaccines, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, remain unchanged.
Attending pediatric vaccines, essential for general practice and pediatrics, the schedule includes two MMR doses to protect against measles, a highly contagious disease with 1,168 U.S. cases reported in 2025, 96% among unvaccinated individuals (https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/should-you-get-a-measles-vaccine-booster).
Regarding maternal vaccines, OB/GYN practices should offer Tdap (27–36 weeks gestation), the maternal RSV vaccine (32–36 weeks), and the influenza vaccine (before flu season) to protect mothers and newborns.
For specialty-specific vaccines, allergy/immunology and internal medicine may prioritize influenza or pneumococcal vaccines for high-risk adults, per CDC guidelines.
A new HHS requirement for placebo-controlled trials for all new vaccines, announced in April 2025, may delay approvals, impacting specialties reliant on emerging vaccines.
Strategies for Small Practices Across Specialties
Small practices face challenges like limited resources, vaccine hesitancy, and policy uncertainties.
Below are strategies to strengthen your vaccination efforts:
1. Enhance patient education.
Vaccine hesitancy, fueled by misinformation and policy changes, is a widespread issue. A 2023 AAP survey found that 54.3% of pediatricians faced misinformation weekly, a trend likely intensified by COVID-19 vaccine shifts.
Initiate early discussions. General practice and pediatric providers should discuss vaccines at well-child visits, OB/GYN providers during prenatal care, and allergy/immunology specialists for immunocompromised patients. Use AAP or ACOG patient guides for clarity.
Address concerns empathetically. Acknowledge fears about COVID-19 vaccines, then share evidence, like Nirsevimab's 90% RSV protection or Tdap's prevention of 5–15 annual infant pertussis deaths.
Leverage trust. Personalized recommendations, across all specialties, boost vaccine uptake.
2. Streamline vaccine delivery.
Efficient workflows are essential.
Secure supplies. Prebook influenza vaccines and Nirsevimab, especially for general practice and pediatric offices. AAP inventory guides can help.
Integrate vaccinations. Administer vaccines during routine visits, such as Tdap in OB/GYN checkups or pneumococcal vaccines in internal medicine for older adults.
Monitor coverage. Verify insurance policies for COVID-19 vaccines under shared decision-making, documenting medical necessity for appeals, particularly for allergy/immunology patients.
3. Foster community engagement.
Community ties are a strength.
Host clinics. Organize flu or RSV vaccine events, especially in areas impacted by reduced outreach. General practice and family medicine can lead, while OB/GYN can target pregnant patients, as Dr. Naima Joseph did with RSV clinics.
Partner locally. Collaborate with schools or health departments to promote routine vaccines.
Share outcomes. Highlight successes, like reduced RSV hospitalizations from Nirsevimab, to build confidence.
4. Stay informed and compliant.
Navigating changes requires diligence.
Track CDC updates. The CDC offers training on vaccine storage and communication, with continuing education credits.
Rely on professional guidance: AAP, ACOG, and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology provide evidence-based resources, especially for COVID-19 vaccines.
Document discussions. Record vaccine conversations, particularly declinations, to ensure compliance.
Accessing Support for Your Practice
Managing vaccination programs in a dynamic environment demands clinical and administrative expertise. Professional networks like the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) offer resources for small practices across specialties, including tools to streamline vaccine documentation and forums to share strategies for addressing hesitancy or policy shifts. Connecting with the PAHCOM community or exploring its Certified Medical Manager (CMM) credential can enhance your practice's resilience. Visit my.pahcom.com to learn more.
Moving Forward
The vaccination landscape is evolving, with a phase 2 study for a 31-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine planned for early 2026 and potential ACIP changes ahead. Your leadership ensures patients receive evidence-based care. By prioritizing education, efficient workflows, and community trust, and leveraging professional resources, your practice—whether general practice, pediatrics, OB/GYN, or another specialty—can navigate federal shifts while safeguarding public health.
Sources:
CDC Immunization Schedules, May 2025
AAP, ACOG, and AAAAI statements, 2025
HHS announcements, April–June 2025
X posts on HHS restructuring, April 2025
ABC News, CNN, and The New York Times, June 2025
Yale Medicine, June 2025
Karen Blanchette, MBA
Karen Blanchette is the Executive Director of PAHCOM. The PAHCOM collaborative network enables solo providers and small group physician practices to access focused information vital to managing their healthcare businesses effectively. Contact Karen at https://my.pahcom.com/contact-karen
Trained and professionally certified managers make a difference. Learn more about the CMM and HITCM-PP at https://my.pahcom.com/certifications
