In June 2025, the composition of the committee that makes vaccine recommendations to the CDC, known as the ACIP, was dramatically changed, as were the processes by which these recommendations were made historically. The result has been recommendations not supported by the body of scientific evidence. The January 2025 immunization schedules are the last schedules available reflecting changes made using the Evidence to Recommendations (EtR) framework, long regarded as a comprehensive and rational methodology for creating immunization recommendations. The result has been a divergence of vaccine recommendations by professional societies composed of clinicians from those made by federal officials and the CDC. To assist clinicians in staying abreast of the latest science-based recommendations, we have developed a one-stop webpage that will be updated as recommendations change or as new statements become available. 

On March 16, 2026, a federal court determined that the changes to immunization recommendations did not follow established procedures. Although the case is not over, the court determined that changes since Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was named Secretary of Health and Human Services must be stayed, meaning they should not be followed until the court case is decided. This included changes to COVID-19 recommendations and the childhood immunization schedule as well as all votes made by Mr. Kennedy’s hand-picked ACIP, such as the changes to the hepatitis B vaccine schedule. Dr. Paul Offit discussed this court decision in this video.

As many providers have been following the schedules and recommendations of professional societies during this time, this page continues to offer the latest information and science-based vaccine recommendations.

If you are looking for older information and statements, previously posted on this page, please check our “Science-based Vaccine Recommendations Archive” page.

Birth to 18 years of age

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has been producing immunization schedules based on the recommendations of its Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID) since the 1930s. The recommendations are published in the Red Book. Between 1995 and early 2025, the AAP and CDC schedules were harmonized. However, in August 2025, the AAP published a schedule that diverged from CDC, following a review of the latest science related to fall respiratory viruses in particular COVID-19. In December 2025, they continued to recommend universal hepatitis B vaccination of newborns, regardless of a mother’s hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) status. In January 2026, they continued to support the science-based schedule when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced changes to which vaccines are routinely recommended based on an internal, and nontransparent, review responding to an executive order to evaluate the schedule based on those of peer nations.

AAP 2026 schedule

• Red Book
• Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule: United States, 2026: Policy Statement
• AAFP 2026 birth to 18-year-old schedule

Seasonal respiratory viruses: Recommendations and statements

• Recommendations for the Prevention of RSV Disease in Infants and Children: Policy Statement
• Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2026–2027: Policy Statement
• Recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccines in Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 2026-2027: Policy Statement
•  The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) supports the immunization schedule of the AAP for those less than 18 years of age. 
• IDSA 2026 Guidelines on the Use of Vaccines for the Prevention of Seasonal COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV Infections in Immunocompromised Patients
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released recommendations for vaccine use during pregnancy, including for several respiratory viruses.
  • ACOG also has a summary PDF of these recommendations.

Hepatitis B birth dose: Recommendations and statements

• AAP statement: Hepatitis B Immunization is Critical to Protect All Newborns

18 years and older

Recommendations vary for adults based on a variety of factors, such as age, occupation, and health status. The 2025 adult immunization schedule published in January 2025 was changed in July 2025 to reflect a discontinuation of the recommendation for COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, as directed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). These changes circumvented the usual recommendation process and were not supported with the presentation of any existing or new science to support the change. Quite the opposite, pregnancy remains a high-risk condition for severe COVID-19. As a result, many scientists and clinicians, as well as professional societies representing several physician groups, disagreed with the changes. Notably, in October 2025, the CDC schedule was quietly changed to include COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy under shared clinical decision making (SCDM).

In 2026, the following groups have taken the lead on developing recommendations for different populations of adults as described:

• The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is making recommendations for healthy adults. AAFP has posted a 2026 version of the adult immunization schedule. 
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is making recommendations for providers caring for pregnant patients. See ACOG’s 2026 “Maternal Immunizations” recommendations.
• The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is making recommendations for patients with immune-compromising conditions. See IDSA’s 2026 guidelines for respiratory infections (COVID-19, influenza and RSV).

The American Medical Association (AMA) is compiling the latest recommendations for providers and the public at SpreadTheFacts.org. The AMA has also compiled a useful PDF summarizing the vaccine recommendations for the fall respiratory viruses. 

The originally approved and published 2025 adult schedule is available on the American College of Physicians (ACP) website.

Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) datasets 

The Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) has brought together groups of scientists and clinicians to ensure that the latest science is used to inform vaccine recommendations and guidance in the U.S. They are working with professional societies and insurers, and they have committed to working in a transparent and science-based manner.

2026-2027 influenza vaccine evidence review, released Sept. 2, 2026 

• Executive summary
• COVID-19 report
• Influenza report
• RSV report
• Webpage
• Perspective published in same issue of JAMA, “Respiratory Season Virus Vaccines: Restoring Confidence and Trust”

Tdap in pregnancy evidence review, released May 13, 2026

• Executive summary
• Report
• Webpage

HPV vaccine effectiveness evidence review, released May 5, 2026

• Executive summary
• Report
• Webpage

Universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth, released Dec. 2, 2025

• Online report
• Special article in Pediatrics
• Webpage, including online data tool

About VIP

VIP continues to review relevant vaccine data and provide it for use by professional societies making recommendations and for review by the public.

• Website
• Maintaining a strong vaccine infrastructure final report

Shared Clinical Decision Making (SCDM) resources

• Shared Clinical Decision Making for Vaccines, Challenges and Implications for Vaccine Awareness, Administration, and Uptake (CVEEP)
• Shared Clinical Decision-Making Guide on Vaccines for Clinicians, Common Health Coalition
• News & Views — Shared Clinical Decision-Making: What It Is and Why It Matters, Vaccine Education Center at CHOP

Additional resources

Many groups are working to ensure that clinicians and families have access to the latest, and seemingly ever-changing, information about vaccines. This section of the webpage includes links to other organizations and resources that you may find helpful. If you know of other resources, please contact us. 

• Common Health Coalition is providing “a coordinated response that better serves patients and communities.” Their “Vaccine Response” page includes a variety of resources related to vaccines.
• American Families for Vaccines, formerly SAFE Communities Coalition, tracks state and federal policy changes related to vaccines.
• Infectious Disease Prevention Network (IDPN) is another advocacy organization that is tracking state and local policy changes related to vaccines.
• Navigating Conflicting Vaccination Recommendations: Guidance for Clinicians, JAMA, 2026.
• Association of Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) statement related to covering costs of vaccines, May 2026.

Reviewed by Paul A. Offit, MD, on Sept. 14, 2026