Reaction from Valley health officials on CDC vaccine changes

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Monday marked a major shake-up in vaccine recommendations.

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the CDC are reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11.

RELATED: US drops the number of vaccines it recommends for every child

Supporters of the move say it's about giving parents more freedom with vaccinations. Still, local health experts say the cuts could worsen the spread of disease in Fresno County, an area already struggling to achieve vaccination rates.

Of those eliminated: Rotavirus, Hepatitis A and B, Meningitis, RSV and the flu.

The CDC also states that the flu vaccine should be administered only upon a doctor's recommendation.

The move comes amid a massive spike in flu cases, and in Fresno County, experts say current vaccination trends only fuel that surge.

"Flu vaccine rate right now, every year, it's very low, it's most likely in the 30%," said Health Educator at the Fresno County Department of Public Health, Leticia Berber.

She says the county has a long way to go before it can reach healthy immunity levels.

"In order to reach protection for the entire community, it has to be in the 80%," Berber said.

The warning comes as California sits on a list of 45 states reporting "high" or "very high" flu activity, up from 30 just last week.

In a statement, Governor Gavin Newsom, denouncing the decision, wrote in part, "This reckless move by the Trump administration has nothing to do with science or informed choice - it's about appeasing a debunked anti-vaccine agenda being pushed by RFK Jr. and his allies... I strongly condemn this decision that puts infants and children at real risk."

Supporters of the move say it gives parents more power to choose which vaccines their children receive, but Berber says without the recommendations, things will only get worse.

"As we continue throughout the year for these upcoming four years, that vaccination, we're going to see it even lower than 30%," she said.

The decision was made without independent review, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has said the federal government can no longer be trusted to protect American children from these diseases.