AAP Releases Influenza Vaccine Recommendations for All Children 6 Months and Older

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2026 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers from the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases updated recommendations for use of influenza vaccines and antiviral medications in the prevention and treatment of influenza for children in the 2026 to 2027 influenza season. In a policy statement issued by the AAP and published online Aug. 10 in Pediatrics, the AAP recommends annual influenza vaccination starting at age 6 months for all children without medical contraindications. The recommendations state that any licensed age- and health status-appropriate vaccine can be administered as soon as possible in the season, with no preference for product or formulation. For children with suspected or confirmed influenza who are hospitalized or have severe or progressive disease, the AAP recommends antiviral treatment. In ambulatory settings, children with a high risk for complications from influenza, including those with chronic medical conditions and immunocompromised patients, should be offered antiviral treatment. Antiviral treatment should be started as soon as possible, regardless of illness duration or vaccine receipt, in all these situations. For all children with suspected or confirmed influenza, antiviral treatment is a recommended option in the ambulatory setting. For certain individuals, especially exposed children who are symptomatic and have a high risk for influenza complications but have not yet been immunized, or those who are immunized but not expected to mount an effective immune response, antiviral chemoprophylaxis is a recommended option.The AAP notes that influenza vaccination coverage was low during the 2025 to 2026 influenza season, with only 49.4 percent of children 6 months through 17 years receiving vaccinations through May 16, 2026. The 2025 to 2026 season was also a high-severity influenza season for children, according to the AAP."We want to keep kids healthy and going to school and parents healthy and going to work," Kristina A. Bryant, M.D., a member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases, said in a statement. "Flu vaccines can help us accomplish that.”Abstract/Full Text - Policy Statement (subscription or payment may be required)Abstract/Full Text - Technical Report (subscription or payment may be required).Sign up for our weekly HealthDay newsletter

AAP Releases Influenza Vaccine Recommendations for All Children 6 Months and Older

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