In January 2026, the American Academy of Pediatrics released its updated childhood and adolescent immunization schedule, positioning its guidance sharply against recent federal changes to recommended vaccines. The AAP’s 2026 schedule continues to recommend routine immunization against 18 diseases, including those removed from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s revised schedule. AAP leadership and a coalition of major medical organizations argue that stable, evidence-based recommendations are critical to safeguarding children’s health and preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease.

The AAP’s schedule emerged at a moment of heightened attention to vaccination policy. Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC announced a streamlined childhood vaccine schedule that reduces the number of vaccines universally recommended for all children. Under the new federal guidance, routine recommendations for several vaccines — including those for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, influenza and certain meningococcal strains — were removed or shifted to targeted or “shared clinical decision-making” categories. The federal changes drew concern from pediatricians and public health experts, who warned that reducing routine immunizations could lead to lower coverage and increased disease risk.

In announcing the AAP’s schedule on January 26, 2026, AAP president Andrew Racine emphasized continuity with decades of scientific evidence on immunization. “Nothing has changed. The science hasn’t changed. The distribution of these illnesses hasn’t changed. The risk to the children of the United States hasn’t changed, and so the vaccine schedule hasn’t changed,” Racine said at a press conference. The AAP’s recommendations are grounded in long-standing pediatric practice and reflect the organization’s assessment of the best available data on vaccine efficacy and disease prevention.

Unlike the CDC schedule, which now recommends vaccines for 11 diseases for all children, the AAP continues to endorse vaccines for a broader range of preventable illnesses. The AAP schedule covers vaccinations against diseases such as measles, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, influenza, COVID-19, and others that pediatricians say remain present in U.S. communities and pose real health threats when immunization coverage declines. This broader immunization footprint reflects decades of work showing that routine early immunizations help protect individual children and contribute to community immunity.

The AAP’s stance has drawn support from a coalition of at least a dozen national health organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association and other specialty groups. These organizations’ endorsements underscore broad professional agreement that comprehensive vaccination remains essential to pediatric health and public safety. They add weight to the AAP’s position at a time when federal guidance has diverged from traditional pediatric practice.

For parents and clinicians who rely on clear vaccine guidance, the AAP’s long history of involvement in immunizations lends institutional credibility to its recommendations. Founded in 1930, the AAP is the largest professional association of pediatricians in the United States, with tens of thousands of members focused on children’s health and well-being. For more than 90 years, the organization has issued evidence-based immunization recommendations that inform pediatric care and help guide public health practice. Its schedule recommendations have historically harmonized with CDC guidance but are now once again independently articulated in response to evolving policy landscapes.

The AAP’s vaccine schedule is developed by clinicians and infectious disease experts through regular review of scientific evidence, epidemiological trends and vaccine performance data. Unlike alternative or ad hoc vaccination timetables, which have not been tested for safety or effectiveness and can leave children vulnerable to preventable illnesses, the AAP’s recommendations are rooted in rigorous scientific review and decades of clinical experience. Pediatricians nationwide continue to advise families to follow the AAP schedule because it reflects a comprehensive approach to disease prevention.

In practice, following the AAP immunization schedule means children and adolescents receive vaccines at ages and intervals designed to align with immune system development and exposure risk. For example, routine immunizations against illnesses such as measles, whooping cough and polio have dramatically reduced the incidence of these diseases in the United States over the past several decades. Health experts say that when communities achieve high immunization coverage, diseases that once claimed thousands of lives each year become rare, and outbreaks are less likely to occur.

Supporters of the AAP schedule also stress the importance of maintaining vaccine access for all families, especially in communities of color and underserved areas where barriers to preventive care persist. Economic constraints, transportation challenges and lack of trusted information can all contribute to lower vaccination rates and exacerbate health disparities. Advocates argue that evidence-based, comprehensive vaccine guidance combined with community outreach and education helps ensure that all children benefit from life-saving immunizations, regardless of background or circumstances.

As parents navigate differing immunization schedules and public health messaging, pediatricians encourage open dialogue between families and healthcare providers. Trusted clinicians play a key role in interpreting vaccine guidance, addressing questions about safety and efficacy, and helping families make informed decisions. With multiple major medical associations endorsing its recommendations, the AAP’s 2026 vaccine schedule aims to reassure families that routine immunizations remain a cornerstone of child health.

At a time of shifting federal guidance and evolving public debate, the AAP’s unwavering support for broad immunization reflects a commitment to protecting children from preventable diseases. As the 2026 schedule takes effect, pediatricians and public health officials hope that adherence to evidence-based guidance will continue to safeguard children and communities across the United States.