AAP Issues 2026–2027 COVID Vaccine Guidance for Kids — What COS Families Need to Know

Infants 6–23 Months: Recommended

The clearest part of the AAP's 2026–27 guidance is the recommendation for the youngest children. All infants between 6 and 23 months old are recommended to receive the updated seasonal COVID vaccine. The AAP's position is that this age group is at meaningful risk of severe illness and that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks for all children in that range — not just those with underlying conditions.

If your baby or toddler is under 2, the AAP's message is straightforward: get the 2026–27 vaccine as part of your fall schedule. Talk to your pediatrician about timing, especially if you're also scheduling flu shots or other routine vaccinations.

Children 2–18 at Increased Risk: Single Dose Recommended

For older children and adolescents ages 2 through 18, the recommendation depends on risk level. The AAP recommends a single dose of the 2026–27 COVID vaccine for children who meet any of the following criteria:

• Moderately or severely immunocompromised
• Living in a congregate setting
• Never previously vaccinated against COVID-19
• Having a household member who is at high risk of severe illness

If your child falls into any of these categories, the AAP's guidance is clear: one dose of the updated vaccine is recommended this season.

Healthy Children 2–18 Not at Elevated Risk: Your Call

For children ages 2 through 18 who are generally healthy and don't fall into a high-risk category, the AAP takes a different approach. Rather than a blanket recommendation or a blanket "not recommended," the guidance says the 2026–27 vaccine should be offered to any parent or guardian who wants protection for their child. The decision is left to families.

This reflects ongoing uncertainty in the data about the benefit-risk balance for healthy older children, and the AAP's acknowledgment that families have different priorities and different risk tolerances. There's no wrong answer here — what matters is that families have the information to make an informed choice with their pediatrician.

About the Guidance

The 2026–27 recommendations were published in Pediatrics, the AAP's flagship peer-reviewed journal, as a formal policy statement (doi: 10.1542/peds.2026-079045) and accompanying technical report (doi: 10.1542/peds.2026-079046). The policy statement reflects the consensus of the AAP's Committee on Infectious Diseases and is updated annually as new vaccine formulations and epidemiological data become available.

The seasonal COVID vaccine is updated each year similarly to the flu vaccine, targeting the strains most likely to be circulating. Families who vaccinated in prior seasons will still need the updated 2026–27 formulation for this fall's coverage.

What's Next

The best next step is a conversation with your child's pediatrician. They can advise on your child's specific health history, help determine which category your child falls into, and coordinate the COVID vaccine with any other fall vaccinations your child is due for.

Families in Colorado Springs can also reach out to school health offices in D11, D20, and D49 — they can advise on local vaccine availability and school-based vaccination clinics. For the full guidance text, visit publications.aap.org/pediatrics or the family-facing resource at healthychildren.org.