Dr. Sean O’Leary of the AAP said the changes could increase child illness and death from preventable disease. He voiced special concern that the U.S. would no longer recommend flu vaccine for children, just as the flu season is becoming severe and after last winter’s particularly harsh season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reducing the number of vaccines recommended for all children. The action follows a presidential memorandum ordering a review of the U.S. schedule.

Newly announced guidance from the federal government that removes a half-dozen long-standing and common vaccines from the list of recommended immunizations for children could sow further mistrust in the shots among families and lead to unnecessary confusion and challenges for schools, according to experts on vaccine law and school health.

Federal health officials upended the immunization schedule for American children this week. These are the diseases affected.

“All flu and Covid vaccines routinely should not be given to children unless they have risk,” infectious disease specialist Dr. Ed Dominguez explained. He said the update also included no more routine vaccinations for Hepatitis B or for RSV, respiratory syncytial virus.

Flu infections are rising sharply across the United States, contributing to at least 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths so far this season, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.