On January 26, 2026, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released the Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule: United States, 2026. The schedule outlines vaccine recommendations that differ in several areas from those recently issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Rather than adopting the CDC’s updates, the AAP maintained its long-standing recommendations for routine immunization against 18 diseases, including hepatitis A, rotavirus, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and meningococcal disease.
Vaccines Recommended for All Children by Both the AAP and CDC:
Both organizations continue to recommend routine vaccination for:
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP and Tdap)
- Polio (IPV)
- Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
- Pneumococcal disease (PCV)
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Varicella
Additional Vaccines the AAP Continues to Recommend
In contrast to the CDC’s updated guidance, the AAP continues to recommend routine use of the following vaccines or preventive products:
- RSV monoclonal antibodies
- Hepatitis A (HepA)
- Hepatitis B (HepB)
- Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY)
- Meningococcal B (MenB)
- Rotavirus (RV)
- COVID-19
Why did the AAP Maintain its Immunization Schedule?
The AAP has a long history of issuing evidence-based vaccine guidance and, for many years, collaborated with the CDC and other organizations to produce unified immunization recommendations. Ongoing differences between the organizations led the AAP to publish an independent schedule in August 2025, which largely remains in place for 2026.
One notable difference involves COVID-19 vaccination. In its August 2025 schedule, the AAP recommended COVID-19 vaccination for all children aged 6–23 months, as well as older children in certain risk groups. The CDC, by contrast, places COVID-19 vaccination under shared clinical decision-making. Dr. Pia Pannaraja, a member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases and professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, explained this recommendation, saying, “young children under 2 years of age are at high risk just by age alone even if they don’t have any other underlying disease.”
Another difference concerns HPV vaccination. The AAP recommends two doses for children aged 9–12 years, while the CDC recommends one dose at ages 11–12. “The evidence of two doses versus one is still under review. Until then, the AAP continues to recommend two doses to ensure protection,” said Dr. Pannaraja.
Overall, the AAP’s 2026 recommendations closely mirror those released in August 2025.
AAP Leadership Statements and Endorsing Organizations
AAP President Andrew Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP, said the organization’s decision reflects its ongoing approach to vaccine guidance, “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 of this country.”
The AAP’s immunization schedule has been formally endorsed by 12 medical and healthcare organizations representing more than one million healthcare professionals. These include the American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Nurse Midwives, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, American Pharmacists Association, Council of Medical Specialty Societies, Infectious Diseases Society of America, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Medical Association, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Pediatric Pharmacy Association, and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.
Ongoing Developments and the Role of Health Care Providers
The AAP is challenging the federal government’s changes to the CDC schedule, citing concerns about the removal of universal guidelines and the process used to implement the updates. The organization noted that the CDC did not reference new data or hold a public meeting with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) before issuing the revisions.
On January 19, the 12 medical and health organizations endorsing the AAP’s schedule filed an amended complaint seeking to halt the implementation of the new federal child and adolescent immunization schedule.
Additionally, the AAP, along with more than 200 medical, public health, and patient advocacy groups, urged Congress to protect vaccine access, warning that conflicting guidance could confuse families and result in delayed or missed vaccinations.
Even while the CDC’s schedule remains under review, AAP infectious disease experts encourage pediatricians to continue following the AAP schedule and act as a reliable source of information for families. As COID Chair Sean T. O’Leary, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, stated, “Following our schedule on time remains the best way to ensure children receive the strongest possible protection. We’ll be working with our partners across medicine and public health to ensure that parents have credible, science-backed vaccine recommendations they can trust.”
Dr. O’Leary further highlighted the pediatrician’s role in helping parents navigate conflicting information: “Our role as pediatricians is to cut through all that noise and understand what the science actually shows so that parents can make informed decisions with confidence alongside their pediatrician.”
Dr. Racine has also emphasized the importance of routine immunizations and the conversations between healthcare providers and the patient’s parent or caregiver, saying, “Routine childhood immunizations are an important early step in the path to lifelong health… your pediatrician welcomes conversations about all your child’s health care, including immunizations.”
Practical Steps for Clinicians
As differences between national immunization schedules continue to evolve, clinicians play a central role in interpreting guidance and communicating evidence-based recommendations to families. Reviewing the AAP’s 2026 Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, the CDC’s updated guidance, and relevant statements or clinical resources from professional organizations can help clinicians address questions from patients, parents, or guardians and support consistent, informed communication in clinical settings.
We’ve included resources below and will continue to provide our members with additional information as it becomes available.
