Pediatricians Release Updated Recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccines

With COVID-19 cases in the U.S. on the rise again, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a new immunization schedule—which differs from recent recommendations made by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

During the week ending on Aug. 16, 9.9% of the 28,051 Americans tested were positive for COVID-19, according to the CDC’s latest data. This was a 1.4% increase from the week prior.

During the same period, 0.4% of cases resulted in death and 1.2% resulted in an emergency room visit.

As of Aug. 19, the AAP recommends that all children, ages 6 months through 23 months, receive a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have allergies to the vaccine or its ingredients. It also recommends a single dose of the vaccine for children ages 2 through 18 years if they are at high risk of COVID-19, residents of long-term care facilities, have never been vaccinated against COVID-19, or live in a household with people who are high risk for the virus.

Earlier this month, the CDC told health officials that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration might not renew Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 5, according to CNN. The CDC has faced significant criticism for the overhaul and replacement of its advisory committee with individuals who have a history of spreading vaccine misinformation.

AAP’s new schedule recommends routine immunizations for infants, children, and adolescents against 18 diseases. It also includes updated recommendations for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), influenza, and COVID-19 immunizations for pediatric populations.

In addition to the updated recommendations for the three respiratory viruses, the schedule incorporates recent updates regarding pentavalent meningococcal vaccine, the starting age of the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine, and removal of a hepatitis vaccine that is no longer available.

“AAP is committed to working with our partners at the local, state, and federal levels to make sure every child, in every community has access to vaccines,” said AAP President Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP.