ITASCA, IL--The American Academy of Pediatrics has published the “Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule: United States, 2026,” that continues to recommend routine immunization for protection against 18 diseases, including RSV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, influenza, and meningococcal disease.
A policy statement describes the schedule, released on Jan. 26, 2026, in AAP Red Book Online, the academy’s clinical guidebook for infectious diseases prevention and treatment. A parent-friendly immunization schedule is published on HealthyChildren.org.
Since its founding in 1930, the American Academy of Pediatrics has been a leading voice in vaccine recommendations, creating evidence-based guidance to support pediatricians in caring for children and families.
“The AAP will continue to provide recommendations for immunizations that are rooted in science and are in the best interest of the health of infants, children and adolescents of this country,” AAP President Andrew Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP said. “Routine childhood immunizations are an important early step in the path to lifelong health. Every step you take alongside your child on that path is because you want them to grow up healthy and as a trusted partner on that journey, your pediatrician welcomes conversations about all your child’s health care, including immunizations.”
The 2026 AAP immunization schedule has been formally endorsed by 12 medical and healthcare organizations, including:
The 2026 AAP recommendations remain largely unchanged from prior AAP guidance released in August, 2025, but they differ from a schedule recently issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The AAP formerly partnered with the CDC to create a unified set of vaccine recommendations, but recent changes to the CDC immunization schedule depart from longstanding 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.
“AAP recommends immunizations that have been designed to teach the immune system to recognize and resist serious diseases,” said Sean O’Leary, MD, MPH, FAAP, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. “They are carefully tested and monitored over time. The pacing and combination of vaccines are based on what we know about when your child’s immune system is ready to learn and respond best.”
The AAP recommendations are based on a well-established framework for evidence evaluation, review of vaccine safety data, the epidemiology of the diseases in the United States, the impact of the diseases and how the vaccines could prevent the diseases and their complications.
The AAP recommendations protect against diseases that include:
“For more than 60 years, millions of children and countless American communities have experienced the benefits of routine childhood vaccinations,” Dr. Racine said. “The AAP is working with our partners across medicine and public health to ensure that parents have credible, science-backed vaccine recommendations they can trust. If parents have questions about vaccines or anything else, your child’s pediatrician is there to help.”
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Quotes from Endorsing Organizations
American Academy of Family Physicians President Sarah C. Nosal, MD, FAAFP:
"The AAFP supports the AAP child immunization schedule. Families need reliable, trustworthy vaccine schedules to guide the choices they and their family physicians make to keep their kids safe. Vaccines remain the best defense we have against preventable diseases, and the scientific evidence shows they are safe and effective in protecting our families and our communities."
American College of Nurse-Midwives Chief Executive Officer Michelle Munroe, DNP, CNM:
"The American College of Nurse-Midwives formally endorses the American Academy of Pediatrics’ childhood immunization schedule. This rigorously evidence-based schedule is a critical public health strategy for preventing disease and protecting the health of infants and children nationwide. As a leader in maternal and child health, ACNM is proud to partner with AAP to advance evidence-based preventive care that strengthens families, communities, and population health."
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists President Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG:
“ACOG is fully endorsing AAP’s Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule as we recognize the urgent need for people to have access to reliable, evidence-based vaccination recommendations they can use to inform health care decisions for their families. It is critically important to public health that vaccination recommendations are updated based on scientific evidence and clinical data. We must support recommendations which have been developed through a thorough process including expert review of that data. We extend our gratitude to the American Academy of Pediatrics for developing these recommendations to support the public health of our country.”
American Medical Association Board of Trustees Chair David H. Aizuss, MD:
“Parents deserve clear, evidence-based guidance when making decisions about their children’s health. At a time when unprecedented changes to the federal vaccine schedule threaten decades of scientific progress, the AMA strongly supports the American Academy of Pediatrics’ childhood and adolescent immunization schedule to keep children safe and healthy.”
American Pharmacists Association Vice President of Professional Affairs Brigid Groves, PharmD, MS:
“As one of the largest groups of vaccinators in the U.S., pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are front and center to answering parent and caregiver questions about vaccines for their loved ones and then accurately administering them. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is proud to support the AAP childhood vaccine schedule as it provides scientifically based guidance and recommendations for essential, safe, and effective vaccines for our children.”
Council of Medical Specialty Societies Chief Executive Officer Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, MACP:
“The Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) endorses the AAP's childhood vaccine schedule, recognizing the rigorous, expert-driven, evidence-based process that informs them. Now, more than ever, we must rely on the scientific expertise of specialty societies dedicated to providing high-quality care.”
Infectious Diseases Society of America President Ronald G. Nahass, MD, MHCM, FIDSA:
“Infectious diseases physicians see the devastating consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases every day, and we are proud to endorse AAP’s childhood immunization schedule. Now more than ever, families and clinicians need accurate information and evidence-based recommendations they can trust to keep our children healthy, and our nation’s physicians are united in answering the call.”
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners President Felesia Bowen, PhD, DNP, PPCNP-PC, FAAN:
“The CDC’s continued actions represent a troubling deviation from widely accepted, evidence-based research and analysis that has long guided vaccine policy in the United States. By endorsing the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2026 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, NAPNAP reaffirms its commitment to using the best available science to help pediatric providers and families safeguard children’s health.”
National Medical Association President-Elect Brandi K Freeman, MD MS FAAP:
“The National Medical Association stands with the AAP in promoting equity and optimal health outcomes for all children. The 2026 AAP Vaccine Schedule puts equity and science first for our children.”
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society President Deb Palazzi, MD, MEd, FPIDS
“The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) is committed to promoting the health and well-being of children through the prevention and control of infectious diseases. There has been no greater, more successful tool in our pursuit of that goal than safe, proven, effective vaccines. PIDS endorses the AAP’s evidence-based 2026 childhood and adolescent immunization schedule as guidance that will deliver clarity and care to families and practitioners as they navigate vital healthcare decisions and address preventable diseases.”
Pediatric Pharmacy Association President Lizbeth Hansen, PharmD, BCPPS, FPPA:
“The Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA) strongly endorses the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) childhood immunization schedule and supports the AAP’s evidence-based recommendations to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases. Pediatric pharmacists are proud to work with providers and public health leaders to help families make informed decisions by providing accurate, trustworthy, and science-based information.”
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.