Leading Pediatricians Urge Vaccination for Children Against COVID-19

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has officially recommended that children as young as six months receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This guidance, issued on August 20, 2023, marks a significant departure from the stance of the Trump administration, which had advised against vaccination for healthy children.

In its updated childhood and adolescent immunization schedule, the AAP emphasizes that children aged six to 23 months are particularly at risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. The organization stated, “Children younger than 2 years old are especially vulnerable to severe COVID-19 and should be prioritized for vaccination unless they have a known allergy to the vaccine or its ingredients.”

This recommendation comes in direct opposition to the recent statements made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. In late May, he announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccinations for “healthy children,” arguing that there is a “lack of any clinical data” supporting the need for booster shots in this demographic.

The AAP, along with other prominent medical organizations, responded strongly to Kennedy’s position. In July, they filed a lawsuit against him for implementing “unilateral, unscientific changes” to federal vaccination policy, which they described as an “assault on science, public health, and evidence-based medicine.” Richard Hughes IV, a partner at Epstein Becker Green and lead counsel in the case, stated, “This administration is an existential threat to vaccination in America, and those in charge are only just getting started. If left unchecked, Secretary Kennedy will accomplish his goal of ridding the United States of vaccines, which would unleash a wave of preventable harm on our nation’s children.”

Kennedy’s controversial leadership has also been marked by significant personnel changes within the CDC. In June, he dismissed all members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, replacing them with appointees known for their skepticism regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes individuals who have previously testified against vaccine manufacturers and those associated with long-established anti-vaccine organizations.

The AAP’s recommendation to vaccinate young children against COVID-19 comes amidst ongoing debates about public health policy and vaccine efficacy. As the situation develops, the organization remains committed to advocating for the health and safety of children, emphasizing the importance of vaccination as a critical tool in combating the pandemic.