Rob Dillard

Physicians Weekly

On Tuesday, August 19, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provided updated recommendations for vaccines that differ from those of the current CDC guidelines. The AAP recommends that children aged 6 to 23 months should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, a rare and stark contrast to the CDC guidelines, which comes on the heels of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, announcing in May that the CDC would no longer recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for “healthy children and pregnant women.”
The AAP has served as a leading voice in vaccine recommendations since its inception in 1930, and its annual immunization schedule is developed with evidence-based guidance intended to support pediatricians in treating both children and families. The AAP stated, in no uncertain terms, the reason for the departure from the CDC’s recommendations. “[The immunization schedule] differs from recent recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC, which was overhauled this year and replaced with individuals who have a history of spreading vaccine misinformation.”
“The AAP will continue to provide recommendations for immunizations that are rooted in science and are in the best interest of the health of infants, children and adolescents,” said AAP President Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, via a press release. “Pediatricians know how important routine childhood immunizations are in keeping children, families and their communities healthy and thriving.”
The AAP schedule presents recommendations for routine immunizations for infants, children, and adolescents against 18 diseases. The August 19 schedule consists of updated recommendations for vaccines protecting against COVID-19, as well as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.
RSV Recommendations
<ul>
<li>The AAP recommends RSV immunization for infants younger than 8 months who are either born during or entering their initial RSV season if the pregnant parent was not vaccinated during pregnancy, if the vaccination status is unknown, or if said infant was born less than 14 days after the parent received the vaccine.</li>
<li>Vaccination for children aged 8 to 19 months who are at high risk for severe RSV and entering their second RSV season. Infants and children considered to be at high risk are those who are immunocompromised and those who have lung disease, cystic fibrosis, or other compromising conditions.</li>
</ul>
Influenza Recommendations
<ul>
<li>The AAP recommends annual flu shots for all children, beginning at 6 months of age, unless they have a medical reason for foregoing immunization.</li>
</ul>
COVID-19 Recommendations
Along with recommending COVID-19 immunization for all children younger than 2 years, the APP also recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for children and adolescents aged 2 years through 18 years who fall into certain high-risk groups, including those at high risk for severe disease, those who have never received the vaccine, those who have household contact with persons at high risk for severe COVID-19, and residents of long-term care facilities.
“We extensively reviewed the most recently available data about COVID-19 risks in kids, as well as safety and effectiveness of available COVID-19 vaccines,” stated Sean O’Leary, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. “It’s clear they are very safe for all populations. Among the reasons we decided to move to a risk-based recommendation for healthy older children is the fact that the hospitalization rate for young children and children [with] underlying medical conditions remains high, in line with rates for many of the other vaccine-preventable diseases for which we vaccinate.”
<div class="post-references"><h3>References</h3>American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed August 19, 2025. <a href="https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2025/the-american-academy-of-pediatrics-releases-its-own-evidence-based-immunization-schedule/">https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2025/the-american-academy-of-pediatrics-releases-its-own-evidence-based-immunization-schedule/</a>
ABC News. Accessed August 19, 2025. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/leading-pediatrician-group-recommends-covid-vaccine-infants-toddlers/story?id=124756899">https://abcnews.go.com/Health/leading-pediatrician-group-recommends-covid-vaccine-infants-toddlers/story?id=124756899</a>
CNN. Accessed August 19, 2025. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/19/health/covid-vaccine-recommendation-aap">https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/19/health/covid-vaccine-recommendation-aap</a>
</div>

On Tuesday, August 19, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provided updated recommendations for vaccines that differ from those of the current CDC guidelines. The AAP recommends that children aged 6 to 23 months should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, a rare and stark contrast to the CDC guidelines, which comes on the heels of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, announcing in May that the CDC would no longer recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for “healthy children and pregnant women.”The AAP has served as a leading voice in vaccine recommendations since its inception in 1930, and its annual immunization schedule is developed with evidence-based guidance intended to support pediatricians in treating both children and families. The AAP stated, in no uncertain terms, the reason for the departure from the CDC’s recommendations. “[The immunization schedule] differs from recent recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC, which was overhauled this year and replaced with individuals who have a history of spreading vaccine misinformation.”“The AAP will continue to provide recommendations for immunizations that are rooted in science and are in the best interest of the health of infants, children and adolescents,” said AAP President Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, via a press release. “Pediatricians know how important routine childhood immunizations are in keeping children, families and their communities healthy and thriving.”

The AAP schedule presents recommendations for routine immunizations for infants, children, and adolescents against 18 diseases. The August 19 schedule consists of updated recommendations for vaccines protecting against COVID-19, as well as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.

RSV Recommendations

<ul>
<li>The AAP recommends RSV immunization for infants younger than 8 months who are either born during or entering their initial RSV season if the pregnant parent was not vaccinated during pregnancy, if the vaccination status is unknown, or if said infant was born less than 14 days after the parent received the vaccine.</li>
<li>Vaccination for children aged 8 to 19 months who are at high risk for severe RSV and entering their second RSV season. Infants and children considered to be at high risk are those who are immunocompromised and those who have lung disease, cystic fibrosis, or other compromising conditions.</li>
</ul>

Influenza Recommendations

<ul>
<li>The AAP recommends annual flu shots for all children, beginning at 6 months of age, unless they have a medical reason for foregoing immunization.</li>
</ul>

COVID-19 Recommendations

Along with recommending COVID-19 immunization for all children younger than 2 years, the APP also recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for children and adolescents aged 2 years through 18 years who fall into certain high-risk groups, including those at high risk for severe disease, those who have never received the vaccine, those who have household contact with persons at high risk for severe COVID-19, and residents of long-term care facilities.

“We extensively reviewed the most recently available data about COVID-19 risks in kids, as well as safety and effectiveness of available COVID-19 vaccines,” stated Sean O’Leary, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. “It’s clear they are very safe for all populations. Among the reasons we decided to move to a risk-based recommendation for healthy older children is the fact that the hospitalization rate for young children and children [with] underlying medical conditions remains high, in line with rates for many of the other vaccine-preventable diseases for which we vaccinate.”

<div class="post-references"><h3>References</h3>American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed August 19, 2025. <a href="https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2025/the-american-academy-of-pediatrics-releases-its-own-evidence-based-immunization-schedule/">https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2025/the-american-academy-of-pediatrics-releases-its-own-evidence-based-immunization-schedule/</a>
ABC News. Accessed August 19, 2025. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/leading-pediatrician-group-recommends-covid-vaccine-infants-toddlers/story?id=124756899">https://abcnews.go.com/Health/leading-pediatrician-group-recommends-covid-vaccine-infants-toddlers/story?id=124756899</a>
CNN. Accessed August 19, 2025. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/19/health/covid-vaccine-recommendation-aap">https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/19/health/covid-vaccine-recommendation-aap</a>
</div>

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