MDH: Student mental health improves; social media flagged
A Minnesota student survey shows overall improvements in student mental health, though social media use remains a key concern. Separately, the Minnesota Department of Health said it will not adopt the CDC’s Jan. 5, 2026 revised childhood immunization schedule—saying the CDC’s rollback “does not reflect the best available science”—and will instead follow AAP/AAFP/ACOG schedules under a Walz executive order, joining Wisconsin in rejecting the federal changes.
📌 Key Facts
- Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) says it will not adopt the CDC’s newly revised childhood immunization schedule issued Jan. 5, 2026.
- The CDC’s revised schedule, issued Jan. 5, 2026, drops several vaccines from universal childhood recommendations.
- MDH Commissioner Brooke Cunningham said the CDC’s move to drop several vaccines 'does not reflect the best available science.'
- MDH will instead align with the vaccine schedules of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, citing a Walz executive order to maintain broader access.
- Wisconsin is also rejecting the CDC’s scaled‑back childhood schedule, signaling a regional split from the new federal guidance.
- These developments were reported by Alphanews in the article 'Minnesota health department rejects CDC’s new childhood vaccine recommendations' (published Jan. 12, 2026).
📊 Relevant Data
The CDC's revised childhood immunization schedule issued on January 5, 2026, reduces the number of diseases covered by recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11, dropping universal recommendations for vaccines against rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and meningitis.
What parents should know about the new childhood immunization schedule — Yale School of Public Health
In Minnesota, children born to Somali parents had a 33% on-time MMR vaccination rate, compared to 68% for children born to Ethiopian parents and 88% for other groups, based on a 2025 study.
New study finds significant disparities by ethnicity and race in measles vaccination rates — University of Minnesota School of Public Health
In Hennepin County, Minnesota, 73% of Black children ages 4-6 have received one dose of the MMR vaccine, compared to 89% of White children, as of 2024 data.
Hennepin County's rising vaccination rates and disparities — Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Nationally, Asian children have the highest MMR vaccination rate at 95% among those born in 2017-2018, dropping to 91% for those born in 2020-2021, while Black children's rate dropped from 90% to 85%, based on 2025 data.
Recent Changes in Children's Vaccination Rates by Race and Ethnicity — KFF
In the 2025 Minnesota Student Survey, students reported improvements in mental health compared to 2022, with decreased rates of depression, though a majority still reported feeling anxious.
Survey: Minnesota students faring better compared to a few years ago — Minnesota Reformer
Four in 10 Minnesota students in the 2025 survey reported that their social media use may be negatively impacting their mental health.
State of Minnesota Releases 2025 Student Survey Results — Lakeland PBS
In Minnesota, 18% of multiracial and 15% of Hispanic or Latino/a students reported currently having or previously having an incarcerated parent, compared to 6% of White students, based on 2022 data.
2022 MINNESOTA STUDENT SURVEY: Health Equity Report — Scott County
Black youth in Minnesota made up around 6% of the total survey sample but almost 11% of those who experienced both parental incarceration and foster care, according to 2022 research.
In Minnesota, African American/Black individuals had 1.2 more mentally unhealthy days and American Indians had 2.8 more mentally unhealthy days compared to the state average, based on 2021 Minnesota Health Access Survey data.
III.C. Needs Assessment Update - Minnesota - 2023 — MCHB's TVIS
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- MDH explicitly says it will not adopt the CDC’s newly revised childhood immunization schedule issued Jan. 5, 2026.
- Commissioner Brooke Cunningham is quoted saying the CDC’s move to drop several vaccines from universal childhood recommendations 'does not reflect the best available science.'
- MDH says it will instead align with the vaccine schedules of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, backed by a Walz executive order to maintain broader access.
- The article notes Wisconsin is also rejecting the CDC’s scaled‑back childhood schedule, signaling a regional split from new federal guidance.