Cherry Hill families preparing to fill out back-to-school forms ahead of the Aug. 26 release can cross one worry off the list: New Jersey's childhood vaccine requirements are not changing.
The New Jersey Department of Health confirmed in a statement, reported by Patch on Aug. 19, that President Donald Trump's executive order recommending fewer routine childhood vaccines does not affect state law. The vaccine schedule Cherry Hill parents and pediatricians have been following stays in place, and children are still expected to be immunized on time at the ages shown to provide the best protection.
"Families deserve clear, science-based guidance, not confusion," state Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard E. Washington said. "The evidence behind childhood vaccines is clear, it has not changed, and New Jersey will continue to make sure every family can access the vaccines that keep their children safe."
What the federal order does
Trump signed the executive order Aug. 10, directing the federal government to narrow its recommended childhood vaccine list from 18 to 11. Under the order, vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, influenza and COVID-19 would be recommended only for children in "high-risk" groups rather than all children. The order also calls for splitting the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot into three separate single-disease vaccines and spacing immunizations across more appointments.
The order changes federal recommendations but does not override state law. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is accepting public comment on the revised recommendations through Sept. 20, Reuters reported.
New Jersey's response
The NJDOH said the state's requirements continue to align with the 2026 immunization schedules issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics. New Jersey is also a founding member of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a coalition of states, territories and large cities that issued a joint statement reaffirming those schedules and warning that undermining confidence in the MMR vaccine during the largest measles outbreak in decades could lead to additional cases and deaths. The CDC reported 2,566 confirmed measles cases nationally as of Aug. 13, a 35-year high.
The department said it will use its full authority to keep vaccines accessible and to provide information to families, providers, schools and local health partners.
What Cherry Hill parents need to know
Cherry Hill Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kwame R. Morton Sr. announced in an Aug. 18 welcome-back letter that key back-to-school information, including how to access student schedules, will be released Wednesday, Aug. 26. All required forms, including immunization records, must be completed in the Parent Portal before families can view schedules. The first day of school is Wednesday, Sept. 2.
Nothing about those requirements has changed. Parents with vaccine questions can speak with their child's pediatrician or visit nj.gov/health/vaccines for the state's full immunization requirements and information on low- or no-cost vaccines.
