On January 26, the American Academy of Pediatrics released an updated childhood vaccine schedule. The guidance is largely unchanged from last year but differs from a recently revised CDC schedule that major medical organizations have rejected. Online reactions to the AAP’s schedule were mixed. Some users expressed support for vaccine guidance backed by scientific evidence. Others said they trust health care professionals more than politicians. Many posts debated whether all recommended vaccines are safe and necessary. Distrust of health care professionals, medical organizations, and health authorities was common in online discussions, as was support for parental freedom to refuse recommended vaccines.
Recommendation
Conflicting vaccine guidance may contribute to confusion and hesitancy, particularly when health officials are a source of inaccurate or unproven vaccine information. Health communicators may continue to lead with accurate information and direct audiences to trusted sources, such as the AAP. Messaging may emphasize that the CDC’s update wasn’t based on new safety data or new science and that the evidence supporting routine childhood vaccines is as robust as it’s always been. Communicators may also emphasize that the CDC’s new schedule is not mandatory, that a dozen major health and medical organizations endorsed the AAP’s 2026 vaccine schedule, and that all vaccines on the AAP schedule are still covered by insurance.
Fact-checking sources: AAP, Public Good News
Communication resources: Find more questions and answers about changes to the pediatric immunization schedule
