The US Government has dropped five vaccines from its universal childhood vaccination schedule, saying parents and doctors should instead decide whether to use them with reference to a child’s “individual characteristics”.

On Monday, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) removed vaccines against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, meningococcal ACWY and rotavirus from its list of universally recommended childhood vaccines.

It now recommends them for specific high-risk patients — for example, meningococcal vaccination for children with functional asplenia — or based on shared decision-making.

“It is not always possible for public health authorities to clearly define who will benefit from an immunisation, who has the relevant risk factors or who is at risk for exposure,” it said.