AAP diverges from CDC on child COVID vaccines

The American Academy of Pediatrics issues COVID-19 vaccine guidance for children that diverges from CDC recommendations, signaling a rare policy split in pediatric health advice.

AAP diverges from CDC on child COVID vaccines

NEW YORK AP — The American Academy of Pediatrics released new COVID-19 vaccination guidance for children, recommending shots for ages 6 months to 2 years and for older children with chronic conditions. The guidance marks the first substantial divergence from the CDC recommendations in 30 years. The shift comes as public health messaging has become more politicized in the current administration climate.

Kennedy's reshaping of vaccine panels and the exclusion of major medical groups from the advisers have intensified the debate on who should guide vaccines for kids. The AAP says vaccines are important for protecting young children from severe illness, while the broader federal guidance has moved toward a more conditional stance for healthy children. The split underscores deeper tensions between clinical guidance and political signals in a time when public trust in health advice is under strain.

The split reveals a larger trend where policy shifts are increasingly entangled with politics. The AAP has long aligned with the CDC, and this break could test the credibility of centralized health guidance. Clinicians face a tougher task explaining divergent recommendations to families without clear signals about which path to follow.

If the gap widens, it may complicate conversations at the bedside and slow vaccine uptake, especially for the youngest and most vulnerable children. The Kennedy move to appoint a smaller panel that includes vaccine skeptics intensifies concerns about how independent medical advice truly is when politics enters the room and could pressure other medical groups to rethink their role in national guidance.

Highlights

The vaccine policy debate will keep evolving as science and politics intersect.