In a historic shift, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued new COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for children, breaking from U.S. government guidance for the first time in three decades. Released on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the AAP’s stance emphasizes protecting vulnerable young children amid a contentious public health landscape shaped by vaccine skepticism within the new Trump administration.
The AAP strongly advocates for COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 6 months to 2 years, citing their high risk of severe illness, and recommends shots for older children with chronic conditions like lung disease or for those whose parents opt for vaccination. This contrasts sharply with guidance from U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who in May 2025 announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children or pregnant women, though they may be accessed through physician consultation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later softened this, stating healthy children may receive shots without a “should” mandate, reflecting a pivot toward prioritizing those over 65, who face higher risks of hospitalization and death.
Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP’s infectious disease committee and a University of Maryland expert, acknowledged potential confusion but stressed the need to prioritize children’s safety. “We’re making evidence-based choices to protect kids,” he said, noting that infants under 6 months have hospitalization rates comparable to adults aged 65-74. The AAP’s position is rooted in data showing about 234,000 pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations from 2020 to 2024, underscoring the virus’s impact on young patients.
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This divergence follows Kennedy’s controversial moves, including dismissing the CDC’s 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in June 2025 and appointing a smaller panel that includes vaccine skeptics, excluding major medical groups like the AAP and American Medical Association. The new panel has yet to vote on COVID-19 recommendations but has mandated single-dose, thimerosal-free flu vaccines, a decision the AAP disputes, citing no evidence of harm from the preservative and urging use of any licensed flu vaccine.
The AAP, a 95-year-old institution based in Itasca, Illinois, has issued pediatric vaccine guidance since the 1930s, aligning with the CDC since 1995, with minor differences like recommending HPV shots at age 9 versus the CDC’s preference for ages 11-12. The current split, described by Campbell as the most significant in 30 years, has led to legal action, with the AAP and other medical groups suing Kennedy in July 2025, alleging his May directive to remove COVID-19 vaccines from routine schedules for healthy children and pregnant women was unlawful and risks limiting access due to potential insurance coverage issues.
As public health debates intensify, the AAP remains steadfast, urging families to consult pediatricians to navigate the evolving guidance and protect children from COVID-19’s lingering threats, including long COVID.
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