The order advances a long-standing goal of Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccine activist who has promoted a link between vaccines and autism that scientists have repeatedly debunked.
Currently, vaccines are categorized as routine for everyone, risk-based for specific groups, or left to shared decision-making between patients and doctors.
HHS is specifically seeking feedback on shared decision-making, including its potential risks such as confusion among patients and doctors, lower vaccination rates and added time for clinicians.
The agency noted that public trust in federal health authorities fell during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It cited concerns that some past recommendation processes were seen as rushed or overconfident, which hurt the overall credibility of the vaccine system.
The department said the feedback would help inform its consideration of whether the current framework adequately supports scientific rigor, informed choice and public trust.
