At a Glance
- The American Academy of Pediatrics released its 2026 childhood and adolescent immunization schedule, recommending 18 routine vaccines.
- The CDC’s recent overhaul removed RSV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, influenza, and meningococcal vaccines from its national schedule.
- The AAP schedule still recommends all 18 diseases, including those cut by the CDC.
- Why it matters: Parents and health providers must decide which schedule to follow for school requirements, insurance coverage, and public health protection.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued its updated 2026 childhood and adolescent immunization schedule, largely maintaining previous recommendations that differ significantly from the controversial changes recently made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Earlier this month, the CDC announced an unprecedented overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule that recommends fewer shots to all children. Among the vaccines no longer recommended by the CDC are RSV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, influenza and meningococcal disease.
AAP 2026 Schedule Overview
The AAP’s 2026 vaccine schedule continues to recommend routine immunizations for 18 different diseases, including those removed from the CDC’s schedule. The list includes:
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
- Polio
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
- Pneumococcal disease
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Chickenpox (varicella)
- Rotavirus
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- RSV
- Meningococcal
- Influenza
- COVID-19 (when recommended)
- Others as per updated guidelines
The schedule is intended to guide insurance coverage, school entry requirements, and clinical practice.
CDC Overhaul: Key Changes
The CDC’s new schedule, published in December, recommends:
- Fewer overall shots for all children.
- Removal of RSV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, influenza, and meningococcal vaccines from the routine list.
- Continued recommendation of measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Hib, pneumococcal disease, HPV, and chickenpox.
- Flu and COVID-19 shots to be offered based on individual doctor advice in a “shared clinical decision-making” model.
The federal government now only recommends protection against diseases like RSV, hepatitis A and B, and meningococcal for certain high-risk populations.
Comparison of Recommendations
| Vaccine | AAP 2026 | CDC 2026 (New) |
|---|---|---|
| RSV | Yes | No |
| Hepatitis A | Yes | No |
| Hepatitis B | Yes | No |
| Rotavirus | Yes | No |
| Influenza | Yes | No |
| Meningococcal | Yes | No |
| Measles, Mumps, Rubella | Yes | Yes |
| Polio | Yes | Yes |
| Pertussis | Yes | Yes |
| Tetanus | Yes | Yes |
| Diphtheria | Yes | Yes |
| Hib | Yes | Yes |
| Pneumococcal | Yes | Yes |
| HPV | Yes | Yes |
| Chickenpox | Yes | Yes |
| COVID-19 | Yes (when indicated) | Yes (shared decision-making) |
The AAP schedule includes all 18 diseases, while the CDC schedule removes six.
Expert Opinions
“At this time, the AAP no longer endorses the recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases, in a policy statement published in the journal Pediatrics.
Dr. Diego Hijano, a pediatric infectious disease expert from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, explained how the MMR vaccine protects children from measles:
> “The MMR vaccine is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent measles outbreaks,” he said.
O’Leary warned that the CDC changes could increase child illness and death from preventable disease, especially noting concerns that the U.S. would no longer recommend the flu vaccine for children as the flu season becomes severe.
Endorsements and Impact
The academy’s recommendations are endorsed by 12 major medical and health care organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the American Medical Association.
Health insurers generally find vaccination a good deal, as shots are cheaper than hospitalizations. Many had previously said they would cover what was recommended last year through 2026. States determine which vaccines are required for school attendance and have historically relied on the CDC schedule, though some states have begun creating their own alliances to counter the Trump administration’s guidance on vaccines.
Government Context
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the overhaul was in response to a request from President Donald Trump in December. Trump asked the agency to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising U.S. guidance accordingly.
HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.
Key Takeaways
- The AAP’s 2026 schedule recommends 18 routine vaccines, including those removed by the CDC.
- The CDC’s new schedule removes six vaccines and shifts flu and COVID-19 recommendations to shared decision-making.
- Major medical organizations back the AAP schedule, while insurers and states may need to adjust coverage and requirements.
- The overhaul was prompted by a presidential request and a comparison to 20 peer nations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
