Changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC's) Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule related to COVID-19 vaccines were made in May 2025 without adherence to the standard review procedures. As a result, many clinicians are asking where they can find a schedule that continues to reflect a rigorous scientific process.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has published its own childhood immunization schedule since the 1930s. In 1995, that schedule was harmonized with the schedule published by the CDC. Now, for the first time in decades, the AAP schedule will once again diverge from the CDC’s to continue recommending vaccines based on the best available data.
Currently, the most notable difference between the two schedules is the recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination of children. While the CDC schedule now classifies the COVID-19 vaccine under shared clinical decision-making, the AAP schedule maintains a routine recommendation. The AAP recommendation is supported by CDC data showing that completing a primary COVID-19 vaccine series reduces illness and hospitalization in children.
Healthcare providers have open access to the AAP’s schedule, including timely addenda for any vaccines added between annual publications.
The Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) will be evaluating data related to fall respiratory viruses in the coming weeks, and several professional organizations will use that information to create recommendations for their relevant populations.
- Find more about the VIP plans.
- See the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) statement regarding their joint efforts with VIP.
Stay tuned for more on this in future issues of Vaccine Update.
Contributed by: Lori Handy, MD, MSCE , Charlotte A. Moser, MS
Changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC's) Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule related to COVID-19 vaccines were made in May 2025 without adherence to the standard review procedures. As a result, many clinicians are asking where they can find a schedule that continues to reflect a rigorous scientific process.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has published its own childhood immunization schedule since the 1930s. In 1995, that schedule was harmonized with the schedule published by the CDC. Now, for the first time in decades, the AAP schedule will once again diverge from the CDC’s to continue recommending vaccines based on the best available data.
Currently, the most notable difference between the two schedules is the recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination of children. While the CDC schedule now classifies the COVID-19 vaccine under shared clinical decision-making, the AAP schedule maintains a routine recommendation. The AAP recommendation is supported by CDC data showing that completing a primary COVID-19 vaccine series reduces illness and hospitalization in children.
Healthcare providers have open access to the AAP’s schedule, including timely addenda for any vaccines added between annual publications.
The Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) will be evaluating data related to fall respiratory viruses in the coming weeks, and several professional organizations will use that information to create recommendations for their relevant populations.
- Find more about the VIP plans.
- See the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) statement regarding their joint efforts with VIP.
Stay tuned for more on this in future issues of Vaccine Update.
Contributed by: Lori Handy, MD, MSCE , Charlotte A. Moser, MS