The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its 2026 immunization schedule, reaffirming the importance of staying on track with recommended childhood and adolescent vaccines. The AMA is among a dozen physician and other health-professional organizations endorsing the AAP’s recommendations. Together, the organizations represent more than 1 million physicians, pharmacists and pediatric health professionals.
“In decades of real-world data demonstrating the lifesaving impact of timely vaccination in the midst of high seasonal flu and RSV activity and a significant resurgence in measles cases across the country, it is more important than ever for the public to have transparent and consistent communication from trusted sources,” AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD, said in an AAP press conference this week.
“We urge parents and caregivers to continue partnering with their child’s physician to make vaccination decisions. Together we can help prevent the reemergence of disease with devastating consequences like polio, measles and pertussis, and keep children healthy and safe,” Dr. Mukkamala said.
In a separate statement, AMA Board of Trustees Chair David H. Aizuss, MD, said that “parents deserve clear, evidence-based guidance when making decisions about their children’s health,” especially “at a time when unprecedented changes to the federal vaccine schedule threaten decades of scientific progress.” The AAP’s recommended vaccine schedule will “keep children safe and healthy,” he added.
The AAP continues to recommend vaccines to protect against 18 diseases in its 2026 vaccine schedule.
The updated AAP schedule is thoroughly researched and rooted in science, and contains no changes to CDC recommendations for routine vaccines that were in place as of last summer before significant changes were made to its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Here are some questions parents might have about the pediatric vaccine schedule, along with the answers that physicians should be ready to share.
Why did the AAP release another vaccine schedule this year?
“The AAP has issued a child vaccine schedule every year for the last 90 years. We continually review and update our recommendations to ensure they reflect the best available evidence and what the science supports,” said Sean O’Leary, MD, MPH, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases, during the press conference at which Dr. Mukkamala spoke.
“Our recommendations remain largely unchanged from our prior guidance in August 2025,” Dr. O’Leary said. “We continue to recommend routine immunization for protection against 18 diseases, including RSV [respiratory syncytial virus], hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, influenza and meningococcal disease. The AAP child-and-adolescent immunization schedules also continue to recommend immunizations based on the specific disease risks and health care delivery in the U.S.”
Why is the AAP’s schedule different than the CDC’s?
“For most of our history, government agencies have been important partners in developing these recommendations,” said Dr. O’Leary. “We have worked alongside government agencies enthusiastically. Unfortunately, the environment we're operating in today is different for many reasons.”
Recent changes to the CDC’s “immunization schedule depart from longstanding medical evidence and no longer offer the optimal way to prevent illness in children,” he said.
There are some vaccine recommendations for all children that all agree on, yet there are other immunizations that the CDC has stopped recommending. That is despite evidence showing severe risks of leaving children exposed and no medically justified rationale for downgrading recommendations.
“There’s no reason children should have to suffer and die from preventable disease,” said Dr. O’Leary.
Which organizations are supporting the AAP childhood vaccine schedule?
In addition to the AMA, these 11 organizations said this week that they support the AAP’s recommendations:
- American Academy of Family Physicians.
- American College of Nurse Midwives.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
- 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.
- Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.
Is this vaccine schedule new, or the same as before?
The AAP 2026 immunization schedule remains largely the same from guidance released in 2025. Updated recommendations from the AAP for routine immunizations were made after a review of vaccine-safety data, the epidemiology of the diseases in the U.S., the impact of the diseases and how the vaccines can prevent disease and complications. As a result, nothing has changed and the AAP continues to recommend the vaccines.
The recommendations differ from the CDC schedule released in early January that removed routine recommendations for hepatitis A and B, COVID-19, rotavirus, flu and meningococcal disease and moved them to shared clinical decision-making.
What does “shared clinical decision-making” mean?
“Shared clinical decision-making” can be confusing. It is a term typically reserved for discussions between patients and physicians regarding medical interventions for which the benefits do not clearly outweigh the risks, or circumstances in which the decision is highly contingent on the patient’s individual circumstances or care goals.
Infant-and-childhood vaccinations recommended by the AAP are “routine” precisely because the medical evidence shows that they are the best defense against these contagious diseases.
It is standard practice for physicians and other health professionals to have conversations with families about vaccines, said Dr. O’Leary. Those conversations are accompanied by obtaining consent for vaccination, and patients and families are provided with vaccine-information statements. All of that has not changed.
Will my child’s vaccines still be covered by insurance?
Yes, childhood immunization will be covered by insurance. Federal officials have said that insurance coverage will continue for all vaccines on the CDC schedule, even if they are no longer considered to be “routine.”
Additionally, the health-insurer trade group AHIP has also said its member organizations will cover all immunizations that were recommended as of Sept. 1, 2025, without cost-sharing through the end of 2026.
What is the recommendation for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination?
The AAP notes that toddlers can receive either an MMR vaccine plus a monovalent varicella vaccine or the MMRV vaccine for their first dose.
This is a two-dose series starting at 12–15 months old and again at 4–6 years. The AAP expresses no preference between MMR plus monovalent varicella vaccine or MMRV for toddlers receiving their first immunization of this kind.
Should my child still get the flu shot?
It is still recommended that children get an influenza vaccine starting at 6 months old. The influenza vaccination protects not only the child, but also the community. This is important because last season was the worst season seen in many years with 280 pediatric deaths, according to Dr. O’Leary.
Most pediatric deaths from the flu are preventable, which is why it is so important for children—and parents—to get vaccinated against the flu.
What is recommended for RSV protection for babies?
“RSV is a very common virus that affects the lungs and airways. It’s particularly severe in younger children and it is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants,” said Dr. O’Leary.
That is why the AAP, the AMA and many others recommend RSV immunization for all infants 8 months or younger who were born during, or entering, their first RSV season—if the pregnant parent did not receive vaccination during pregnancy or the infant was born less than 14 days after the parent received vaccination. The AAP also recommends vaccination for infants and children 8–19 months who are at high risk entering their second RSV season, primarily using long-acting monoclonal antibodies such as nirsevimab or clesrovimab.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine still recommended for children?
In August 2025, the AAP updated its recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination. The recommendation is for all children 6–23 months old get vaccinated, along with older children in certain risk groups. Children younger than 2 are at high risk by age alone, which is why the AAP recommends this for all young children and older kids at risk.
Where can I find trustworthy vaccine information quickly?
When you feel overwhelmed by vaccine headlines or see different schedules circulating, the best next step is to bring questions to your trusted physician who can explain what is recommended and what applies to your child’s age and health history. Physicians can also point families to reliable, plain-language resources from the AMA, AAP and other medical societies that translate the science into practical guidance.
Confused about vaccines? The AMA is encouraging patients to ask their physicians about vaccination, which is one of the most effective ways to protect your family’s health.
The AMA has released tools to help patients and physicians cut through the confusion around vaccines and have open, honest conversations with each other. An infographic for patients (PDF) explains why vaccines are an important part of staying healthy and encourages them to talk with their doctor if they have questions. A second infographic for physicians (PDF) includes sample conversation starters they can use when speaking with patients who may be unsure about vaccines—helping to build trust and understanding.
The AMA also offers a comprehensive listing of respiratory-virus vaccine recommendations from a variety of physician organizations.
Learn more with the AMA about what doctors wish patients knew about family immunizations and flu vaccines.
