Context:

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has diverged from U.S. government vaccine recommendations for the first time in 30 years, urging COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 6 months to 2 years and advising older children to be vaccinated if desired. This contrasts with guidelines under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which do not recommend COVID-19 shots for healthy children and pregnant women, while suggesting consultation with physicians for those interested. The divergence arises amid increasing confusion in government guidance and a focus shift towards prioritizing high-risk groups, such as the elderly, for vaccination efforts. The AAP maintains that younger children are at high risk for severe illness, advocating for their vaccination, and recommends shots for older children with chronic conditions. Additionally, the AAP and Kennedy's new vaccine panel differ in flu vaccine recommendations, with the AAP not limiting vaccines to single-dose, preservative-free options, contrary to the panel's decision.

Dive Deeper:

• The AAP's new COVID-19 recommendations advocate for vaccinating children aged 6 months to 2 years, emphasizing their high risk for severe illness, while older children should be vaccinated at parental discretion, marking a substantial departure from previous 30-year alignment with government guidelines.

• Contrasting with the AAP, guidance from U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advises against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children and pregnant women, allowing them only if desired after consulting with physicians, amidst a broader move towards prioritizing older, high-risk populations.

• Confusion in public health guidance has been exacerbated by Kennedy's steps to bypass a CDC expert panel on vaccines, instead appointing his own panel with vaccine skeptics and excluding major medical organizations like the AAP and AMA from the consultation process.

• The CDC had previously recommended annual COVID-19 boosters for all ages, but recent shifts have seen healthy children and pregnant women no longer receiving strong recommendations for vaccination, reflecting a focus on older individuals most at risk for severe outcomes.

• In addition to COVID-19 vaccine guidance, the AAP and Kennedy's panel differ on flu vaccine recommendations, with the AAP supporting the use of any licensed flu vaccine, while Kennedy's panel specifically endorses single-dose, thimerosal-free vaccines, despite the AAP's stance on the preservative's safety.