AAP challenges Kennedy on COVID vaccines

AAP releases an evidence based vaccine schedule that challenges Kennedy's COVID guidance, signaling a clash between clinical independence and federal policy.

Top pediatricians buck RFK Jr anti vaccine meddling on COVID shot guidance

On Tuesday the American Academy of Pediatrics published its own evidence based vaccination schedule for children, stepping in where federal guidance has shifted under Robert F Kennedy Jr. The move underscores a rift between a major medical group and the health secretary’s office, which has faced accusations of politicizing vaccines. The AAP has publicly opposed Kennedy’s changes, including personnel moves at the CDC and a broader push to restrict access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Before releasing its schedule, the AAP boycotted Kennedy’s hand picked CDC vaccine advisory meeting and later joined other medical groups in a lawsuit against the health department over changes to federal vaccine recommendations. In July the department barred several medical associations from reviewing scientific evidence used to inform vaccine policy, a move the AAP and others called a retaliation and a break with decades of practice. The AAP’s guidance diverges from the Kennedy influenced CDC stance, recommending COVID-19 vaccines for all children 6 months to 23 months and for high risk children aged 2 to 18, while allowing a conversation with a doctor for other healthy children to access vaccines.

The clash centers on how science meets politics in a crisis era. Medical groups argue that independent, evidence based guidance protects children best, while political leadership argues for faster policy shifts. This disagreement tests public trust in health institutions when messages change and when advisers are replaced. The result could be a lasting effect on whether families see vaccines as guided by science or by headlines.

The dispute also highlights the fragility of advisory processes. When doors are closed to respected medical bodies, there is a risk of confusion and hesitation among parents. The coming months will show whether the courts, governments, and professional associations can rebuild a shared standard and keep kids safe without turning medical decisions into political theatre.

Highlights

Clear, evidence based guidance remains essential even as leadership battles unfold.