An influential pediatrics group in the U.S. has diverged from the CDC’s recently updated child immunization schedule and recommended COVID-19 vaccines for infants and young children on Tuesday.
Releasing its updated recommendations for RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 immunizations on Tuesday, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said that all children aged 6-23 months should receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
“Children younger than 2 years old are especially vulnerable to severe COVID-19 and should be prioritized for vaccination unless they have a known allergy to the vaccine or its ingredients,” AAP said.
Additionally, AAP recommends a single COVID vaccine dose for all children and adolescents aged 2-18 years who belong to several risk groups, such as those who have never been immunized for COVID. It also recommends COVID shots for others in the age group if their parent or guardian requests such immunization.
The update “differs from recent recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC, which was overhauled this year and replaced with individuals who have a history of spreading vaccine misinformation,” AAP said.
In May, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that the CDC no longer recommends COVID shots for healthy pregnant women and children. Later, the agency updated its child immunization schedule to indicate that children aged six months and older “may receive COVID-19 vaccination” following shared clinical decision-making.
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX), Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) and Novavax (NASDAQ:NVAX) manufacture COVID vaccines indicated for children in the U.S.