ITASCA, Ill. — The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is urging that children as young as six months and up to 23 months old be vaccinated against COVID-19, setting its new guidance apart from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which earlier this year dropped routine vaccination recommendations for healthy children.
In a policy statement released Tuesday on its Red Book Online, the AAP stated that all infants and toddlers aged 6–23 months should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of previous infection or earlier doses. The group also recommends vaccination for older children and teens who are at greater risk of severe illness, live in group care settings, or share households with vulnerable individuals.
The pediatric association’s move contrasts with the CDC’s current position, which leaves vaccination decisions for healthy children up to parents and doctors. AAP leaders said that “shared clinical decision-making” lacks clarity and downplays the importance of protecting high-risk children.
“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 Dr. Susan J. Kressly. “Pediatricians know how important routine childhood immunizations are in keeping children, families and their communities healthy and thriving.”
“The AAP urges every insurer to cover all the vaccines that are included in this immunization schedule,” Dr. Kressly said. “AAP is committed to working with our partners at the local, state and federal levels to make sure every child, in every community has access to vaccines.”
The guidance comes amid heightened tensions between the medical community and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who in May halted the CDC’s routine COVID vaccine recommendation for healthy children, criticized the AAP on social media, claiming its vaccine schedule is influenced by corporate donors. HHS officials called on the AAP to strengthen conflict-of-interest safeguards.
The AAP, along with other medical groups, has also sued HHS over the administration’s overhaul of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee, which critics say replaced experts with individuals known for spreading misinformation about vaccines.
COVID-19 hospitalization rates among children under 2 remain the highest of any pediatric age group, comparable to rates in adults aged 50–64, according to CDC data cited by the AAP.
The Academy’s updated immunization schedule also includes guidance on influenza and RSV shots, reinforcing calls for annual flu vaccination beginning at six months of age and recommending antibody-based immunizations to protect infants from severe RSV disease.
