US Pediatricians Recommend Diverging COVID-19 Vaccination Guidelines from CDC

In a significant departure from longstanding practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has introduced new COVID-19 vaccination recommendations that notably differ from those issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This marks the first major divergence in three decades of aligning vaccine advice for children and expressed concern during a turbulent year for public health efforts.

The updated guidelines, released on August 19, 2025, emphasize the importance of vaccinating children aged 6 months to 2 years against COVID-19, recognizing their heightened vulnerability to severe illness. The AAP strongly advocates for vaccination within this age group, as well as for older children if parents choose to immunize them. This approach contrasts with recent CDC guidance, which no longer actively recommends COVID-19 shots for healthy children but suggests discussions with healthcare providers are an option.

Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP infectious disease committee, acknowledged that these new recommendations might cause some confusion, but emphasized their importance in safeguarding children's health. The AAP also recommends vaccinations for older children with chronic health conditions that increase their risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Historically, the AAP has issued childhood vaccination guidance since the 1930s, aligning closely with CDC policies since 1995. However, since May 2025, when U.S. health authorities began softening their stance on COVID-19 booster shots for healthy children and pregnant women, a clear divergence has emerged. The CDC now suggests that healthy children may choose to receive boosters without a formal recommendation to do so.

This shift coincides with broader changes in the national vaccination strategy, focusing more on high-risk populations and less on universal vaccination for all children. Notably, political decisions under the current administration led to the appointment of a vaccine advisory panel with members including skeptics of vaccine mandates, further influencing policy directions.

An additional point of difference between the groups involves flu vaccination recommendations. The new advisory panel, appointed by Kennedy, approved only single-dose flu vaccines without the preservative thimerosal, whereas the AAP states that there is no evidence linking thimerosal to harm and supports the use of any licensed flu vaccine appropriate for the patient.

Overall, these developments reflect ongoing debates around COVID-19 vaccination policies, balancing scientific evidence with public health priorities amid a changing pandemic landscape.