We upgraded AAFP.org security on Dec. 7.
Account holders must create a new password. Previous passwords will no longer work.

brand logo

MICHELLE NELSON, MD

Note: Recent changes announced by the CDC to the childhood immunization schedule were enacted after publication of this Practice Guideline and were therefore not included. The CDC recommendations were issued through a nondeliberative process and have not been endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians or the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Am Fam Physician. 2026;113(1):98-99

 This clinical content conforms to AAFP criteria for CME.

Author disclosure: Dr. Nelson disclosed stock ownership in Eli Lilly. This relevant financial relationship was mitigated when she sold her shares in May 2024, before her work on this content began.

KEY POINTS FOR PRACTICE

• The AAFP, aligning with the American Academy of Pediatrics but differing from the CDC, recommends universal COVID-19 vaccination for children 6 to 23 months of age and risk-based vaccination for those 2 to 18 years of age. The CDC recommends COVID-19 immunization for children 6 months to 17 years of age who are not immunocompromised and whose parents want their child to receive vaccination after discussion with their physician.
• The AAFP recommends COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, whereas the CDC recommends shared clinical decision-making for it in pregnant patients.
• Routine pneumococcal vaccination is now recommended at 50 years of age rather than the previous recommendation of 65 years.
From the AFP Editors

Although the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has usually endorsed the immunization schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is typically based on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP), the AAFP published its own 2025 recommendations with a few substantive differences. The AAFP's currently recommended immunization schedules are available online. This summary covers the differences from the current CDC recommendations as well as the updates since the 2024 CDC recommendations, which were endorsed by the AAFP.

Already a member/subscriber?  Log In

Subscribe

From $180
  • Immediate, unlimited access to all AFP content
  • More than 125 CME credits/year
  • AAFP app access
  • Print delivery available
Subscribe

Issue Access

$59.95
  • Immediate, unlimited access to this issue's content
  • CME credits
  • AAFP app access
  • Print delivery available
Interested in AAFP membership?  Learn More

Coverage of guidelines from other organizations does not imply endorsement by AFP or the AAFP.

This series is coordinated by Michael J. Arnold, MD, MHPE, Assistant Medical Editor.

A collection of Practice Guidelines published in AFP is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/practguide.

Continue Reading

More in AFP

Copyright © 2026 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.  See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests.

Copyright © 2026 American Academy of Family Physicians. All Rights Reserved.