AAP Issues Competing Childhood Vaccine Schedule After CDC Downgrades Six Routine Shots
The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued its own childhood and adolescent immunization schedule, breaking with the CDC by rejecting its recent downgrades and continuing to recommend routine vaccination against 18 diseases — including RSV, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, influenza and meningococcal disease — and saying it will no longer partner with CDC on a unified schedule, calling the revision dangerous and unnecessary. The AAP also reiterated a limited dengue recommendation for previously infected 9–16‑year‑olds in endemic areas amid halted U.S. distribution, while HHS defended the CDC changes as protective and aligned with international norms and front‑line pediatricians said they plan to follow the AAP and expect insurers to cover shots when parents choose them.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its own childhood and adolescent immunization schedule that rejects the CDC’s recent downgrade and continues to recommend routine vaccination against 18 diseases, including RSV, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, influenza and meningococcal disease.
- The AAP publicly labeled the CDC revision “dangerous and unnecessary” and announced it will no longer partner with CDC on a unified immunization schedule because CDC’s approach now diverges from AAP’s view of best pediatric practice.
- AAP President Andrew Racine said the academy will continue to issue recommendations “rooted in science,” calling the CDC schedule a departure from longstanding medical evidence that no longer offers the optimal way to prevent illnesses in children.
- The AAP’s schedule continues to recommend the dengue vaccine only for previously infected 9–16‑year‑olds in endemic areas and notes that dengue vaccine distribution in the U.S. was discontinued last year due to low demand.
- HHS defended the CDC’s updated schedule, saying it still protects children, aligns with international norms, and pledged to work with states and clinicians to provide clear information so families can make informed decisions.
- A front‑line pediatrician interviewed by CBS said many pediatricians plan to follow the AAP recommendations and argued that, despite CDC’s shift to “shared clinical decision‑making” for several vaccines, insurers should still cover those shots when parents choose them.
- CBS coverage emphasized the AAP’s role as a leading U.S. medical organization and framed the AAP schedule as distinct from the CDC’s scaled‑back guidance, reinforcing that AAP will continue to recommend routine immunizations for all children and teens.
đź“° Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 27, 2026
2:11 PM
American Academy of Pediatrics breaks from CDC in its vaccine guidelines
New information:
- CBS segment reinforces that the American Academy of Pediatrics will continue to recommend routine immunizations against 18 diseases for all children and teens, in contrast to the CDC’s scaled‑back guidance.
- The piece highlights AAP’s role as one of the nation’s leading medical organizations and frames its schedule as distinct from the CDC’s in on‑air explanation by Dr. Celine Gounder.
2:55 AM
American Academy of Pediatrics releases vaccine recommendations, breaks with CDC
New information:
- American Academy of Pediatrics released its own childhood and adolescent immunization schedule on Monday that pointedly rejects CDC’s recent downgrade and continues to recommend vaccination against 18 diseases, including RSV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, influenza and meningococcal disease.
- AAP President Andrew Racine said the academy will continue to issue recommendations 'rooted in science' and called the CDC schedule a departure from 'longstanding medical evidence' that 'no longer offer[s] the optimal way to prevent illnesses in children.'
- The AAP publicly labeled the CDC revision 'dangerous and unnecessary' and announced it is no longer partnering with CDC on a unified schedule because CDC’s approach now diverges from what AAP sees as best practice in U.S. pediatric care.
- AAP keeps recommending dengue vaccine only for previously infected 9‑ to 16‑year‑olds in endemic areas and notes that dengue vaccine distribution was discontinued in the U.S. last year due to low demand.
- HHS defended CDC’s updated schedule in a new statement, saying it 'continues to protect children' while aligning with 'international norms' and pledging to work with states and clinicians to provide clear information so families can make 'informed decisions.'
- A front‑line pediatrician interviewed by CBS says pediatricians 'are going to follow the AAP recommendations' and that, despite CDC’s shift to 'shared clinical decision‑making' for several vaccines, insurers should still cover those shots when parents choose them.
January 25, 2026