For the first time in decades, the American Academy of Family Physicians has published an immunization schedule of its own that differs very slightly from the schedule endorsed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC. The differences aren’t drastic; in fact, they are very minor and don’t address the large number of vaccinations infants receive in the first two years of life.
The AAFP has aligned itself with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the AAP, the organization that represents American pediatricians. The rejection of the CDC’s schedule is based on the current political climate at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Advisory Committee Immunization Practices, the ACIP. The ACIP is an arm of the CDC. The AAFP and AAP have taken their own stance on this debate.
What hasn’t changed is that infants still receive 13 different vaccines before the age of two years. That’s a huge hit to a child’s immune system, but no one bats an eye at that huge number of vaccines. I can’t help but be concerned about this issue.
Where the AAFP and AAP differ from the CDC is in regard to COVID-19 vaccines. The specifics are listed below: the AAFP recommends:
1. “Universal COVID-19” for children 6 mos. to 23 mos.—if not previously vaccinated.
2. Risk-based vaccination for children 2 years to 18 years of age—children at high risk of
severe COVID-19, or have household contacts who are at high risk.
3. COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy
4. Routine Pneumococcal vaccination at 50 years of age rather than the previous 65.
5. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine for infants under 8 months of age entering their
first RSV season.
6. For Adults: If vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna vaccines before 2025, one booster dose is
recommended
That’s not much to write home about! But they are changes that keep up with the times. Everything else is the same, especially the myriad of vaccines infants receive. Fortunately, kids seem to do well with this blast to their immune systems.
For details, check with AAFP.org/family-physician/patient-care/prevention-wellness/immunizations-vaccines/immunization-schedules.html
Reference: Nelson M. 2025 Recommended Immunization Schedules: Updated Recommendations from the AAFP Am Fam Phys 2026 January;113(1):98-99.
