AAP Diverges from U.S. Vaccine Guidelines on Children's COVID-19 Shots

New York, Aug 19 (AP) — In a significant shift, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is taking a stance that diverges from U.S. government vaccine guidelines for the first time in three decades.

The AAP released new COVID-19 recommendations on Tuesday amidst a challenging year for public health. This period has seen vaccine skeptics gaining influence within the Trump administration, leading to increasingly complex government guidance.

Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP infectious disease committee, acknowledged the potential for confusion, stating, “It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them.”

The AAP is firmly advocating COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 6 months to 2 years. For older children, vaccinations are recommended if parents wish for their children to be vaccinated, the organization stated.

This guidance contrasts with that established under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who doesn't recommend the shots for healthy children of any age but allows for vaccinations after consulting with physicians.

According to Campbell, a University of Maryland infectious diseases expert, children between 6 months and 2 years old are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, making continued emphasis on their vaccination essential.

The AAP also recommends vaccinations for older children with chronic lung diseases or other conditions that heighten their risk of severe disease.

The 95-year-old Illinois-based organization, which has been providing vaccination recommendations for children since the 1930s, aligned its guidance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1995.

Over the years, there have been minor distinctions in recommendations, such as the AAP suggesting HPV vaccinations start at age 9, while the CDC focuses on ages 11 and 12. However, according to Campbell, this situation marks the first significant divergence in 30 years.

Previously, the CDC advocated annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans aged 6 months and older, in line with infectious disease experts' advice.

However, in May, Health Secretary Kennedy announced that COVID-19 vaccines were no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. Subsequently, the CDC indicated that healthy children could receive the shots but removed the "should" recommendation.

The idea that healthy older kids might be able to forego COVID-19 boosters has been considered by public health experts as the pandemic has subsided. Experts have increasingly suggested focusing vaccination efforts on higher-risk groups, particularly those aged 65 and older.

In June, a CDC expert panel was expected to make fall shot recommendations, considering options like advising high-risk groups on vaccination while allowing lower-risk individuals to choose vaccination.

Kennedy bypassed this group and also decided to dissolve the 17-member panel in favor of appointing a smaller group, including vaccine skeptics, to craft recommendations.

Later, Kennedy excluded leading medical organizations, including the AAP and the American Medical Association, from collaborating with the advisory group on vaccination recommendations.

His newly formed vaccine panel has yet to decide on COVID-19 shot guidelines. The panel has endorsed continuing fall flu vaccinations but diverged from the AAP on another matter.

They voted to recommend only single-dose flu vaccines free of the preservative thimerosal. The AAP, emphasizing no evidence of harm from thimerosal, advocates for any licensed flu vaccine suitable for the patient. (AP)

GRS GRS

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)