American Academy of Pediatrics Diverges from CDC on COVID-19 Vaccines for Young Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued new COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children that significantly diverge from current U.S. government guidance, marking the first major split in 30 years. The AAP strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations for all children aged 6 months to 2 years due to their higher risk of severe illness, and advises vaccinations for older children based on parental discretion or specific high-risk conditions. This contrasts with the CDC guidance under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which does not recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children of any age and has shifted away from universal annual boosters toward targeting only high-risk groups. The AAP criticized the CDC's advisory committee overhaul, which included individuals with vaccine misinformation histories, and emphasized its science-based approach prioritizing child health. The divergence highlights growing public health confusion amid vaccine skepticism and changes in federal vaccine policy. The AAP also updated recommendations for other vaccines, including RSV and flu, maintaining its longstanding role in pediatric immunization guidance.