Pediatric group’s vaccination guidelines differ from CDC’s

The American Academy of Pediatrics released child vaccine recommendations Monday that differed from federal guidelines released earlier this month.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended eight vaccines for all children at varying points as they grew up. The CDC’s recommended vaccines protect against acellular pertussis, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b, human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, pneumococcal disease, polio, rubella, tetanus and varicella, also known as chickenpox.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all eight of those vaccines along with vaccines that protect against COVID-19, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, meningococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus and rotavirus. 

The organization directly contrasted its approach with that of the CDC, with which it used to partner, on vaccine guidance.

“Recent changes to the CDC immunization schedule depart from long-standing medical evidence and no longer offer the optimal way to prevent illnesses in children. By contrast, the AAP childhood and adolescent immunization schedules continue to recommend immunizations based on the specific disease risks and health care delivery in the United States,” the American Academy of Pediatrics said.

The new CDC guidance recommends the additional vaccines for people in high-risk groups or for people to choose for their children after “shared clinical decision-making.”

The organization joined the American Public Health Association, American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America to file a suit in federal court to stop the CDC’s new immunization schedule from being adopted.

For their part, the CDC and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. say the new federal immunization schedule for children more closely matches international practices.

“President Trump directed us to examine how other developed nations protect their children and to take action if they are doing better. After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent,” Mr. Kennedy said this month.