The CDC schedule is designed to minimize the risk of infants contracting preventable diseases during periods when they are highly vulnerable. In addition, clini

The CDC schedule is designed to minimize the risk of infants contracting preventable diseases during periods when they are highly vulnerable. In addition, clinical research and experience is based on the recommended schedule, so once you’re off the schedule you’re in terra incognita. Since research hasn’t shown any clinical benefit to going off-schedule, and because of infants’ extreme vulnerability, pediatricians aren’t generallly going to volunteer to change vaccination frequency, as it would contravene the patient’s best interests (medically speaking). As far as payers are concerned, your insurance may incentivize certain physicians based on overall (covered) patient immunization rates; this isn’t anything new, going back at least a few decades. From the insurance perspective, immunizations are a financial firewall — vaccinated kids means fewer seriously ill (read: expensive) kids. However, there’s no evidence that financial incentives materially change vaccination rates, just the quality of documentation (less of an issue with EMRs these days).