The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has published new vaccine recommendations that diverge from those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The move comes after changes made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., head of the Department of Health and Human Services, earlier this year.
The biggest difference is in the AAP’s guidance around COVID-19 vaccines for children. The new guidance recommends a complete series of COVID-19 vaccines for all children 6 to 23 months old, consistent with previous recommendations. For children aged 2 to 18, the AAP now advises a single dose if they are at higher risk, including those with chronic medical conditions, who live in long-term care or group settings, or who have never been vaccinated.
The AAP also recommends that COVID-19 vaccines remain available for any child or adolescent whose parent wants them to be protected, regardless of risk status. The most updated version of the vaccine should be used in all cases.
The CDC currently advises “shared clinical decision-making” for children aged 6 months to 17 years who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised. This means that individual discussions between families and their health care providers are left up to the family, with the vaccine not being treated as a routine recommendation. However, this framework can be confusing for families and difficult for providers to implement.
The AAP has been publishing vaccine guidance since the 1930s, but has diverged from the CDC on several occasions in the past. This year’s divergence is due to the federal government dismissing the advisory committee’s panel of independent scientists and immunization experts, raising questions about the credibility of CDC guidance. Additionally, misinformation about vaccines continues to spread.
Despite the new guidelines, it remains unclear whether parents will be able to follow them. The AAP recommendations do not automatically guarantee insurance coverage, and vaccine supply may also be an issue. Parents are advised to speak with their pediatricians to understand the best protection for their children until the situation is further clarified.
Source: https://theconversation.com/pediatricians-association-recommends-covid-19-vaccines-for-toddlers-and-some-older-children-breaking-with-cdc-guidance-263522