Recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccines in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Policy Statement
Sean T. O’Leary, James D. Campbell, Monica I. Ardura, Kristina A. Bryant, Roberta L. DeBiasi, Claudia Espinosa, Robert W. Frenck, C. Mary Healy, Betsy C. Herold, Chandy C. John, Aaron M. Milstone, Angela L. Myers, Pia S. Pannaraj, Adam J. Ratner, José R. Romero, Matthew Zahn
Abstract
This policy statement updates the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for the use of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in the prevention of severe COVID-19 in children. These COVID-19 vaccine recommendations may change in future seasons or as additional variants emerge. These recommendations for the use of 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine are contingent upon the approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of updated COVID-19 vaccine products.COVID-19 continues to be a cause of hospitalization and death in the pediatric population. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in protecting individuals and populations against serious outcomes associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, including post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).