CDC vs AAP vaccine schedule: what differs in 2026
Comparing the table bars for 13 vaccines from birth to 6 years, the two schedules differ for 3 and match for 10. The AAP 2026 table is one document; the schedule on cdc.gov, dated 2 Jul 2025, is another.
Where things stand
- The schedule on cdc.gov is the one dated 2 Jul 2025. CDC's page says this is because of the court order of 16 Mar 2026. Source: cdc.gov
- The court order of 16 Mar 2026 stayed the January 2026 HHS change to the schedule. Source: courtlistener.com
- The government has appealed other parts of that order (First Circuit, No. 26-1503). Its reply brief of 21 Jul 2026 says: “The stay of the January 5 Memo is not challenged.” Source: the reply brief, from the court record (PDF)
- The appeal was argued on 6 Oct 2026. Source: the First Circuit docket on CourtListener
- CDC’s vaccine advisory committee (ACIP) shows all three of its 2026 meetings as cancelled “due to ongoing litigation”. The next one listed is 24-26 Feb 2027. Source: cdc.gov
Where they differ
| Vaccine | AAP 2026 | cdc.gov (dated 2 Jul 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| RSV antibodyDiffers | First RSV season: two products, “RSV-mAb (nirsevimab, clesrovimab)”; notes: “administer 1 dose clesrovimab or nirsevimab”. Second season, for high-risk children: “Age 8–19 months of age at high risk of severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season” get nirsevimab only (“administer 1 dose nirsevimab”). Same ages and categories as CDC; the high-risk groups named in the notes differ. | Names one product, in both seasons: “RSV-mAb [Nirsevimab]”; notes: “(minimum age: birth [Nirsevimab, RSV-mAb, Beyfortus])”. Second season: “1 dose (8 through 19 months)” and “1 dose nirsevimab shortly before start of second RSV season”. Same ages and categories as the AAP table; the high-risk groups named in the notes differ. |
| COVID-19Differs | Routine for all children aged 6 to 23 months: “Routine vaccination Everyone age 6–23 months”, with “1 or more doses of 2026–2027 vaccine (See Notes)”. For ages 2 through 18 years the table marks it for certain high-risk groups, and for children whose parent or guardian desires protection: “Children 2 through 18 years of age not included in the risk groups above whose parent or guardian desires their protection from COVID-19 should be offered a single dose”. | Shared clinical decision-making. CDC’s notes: “Ages 6 months–17 years who are NOT moderately or severely immunocompromised.” |
| Meningococcal ACWYDiffers | Certain high-risk groups. Minimum age for the MenACWY-TT brand: 6 weeks (“Changed Meningococcal MenACWY-TT from ≥2 years to ≥6 weeks.”). | Certain high-risk groups. Row label: “MenACWY-CRM ≥2 mos, MenACWY-TT ≥2years”. |
Where they match
Show the 10 vaccines where they match
| Vaccine | AAP 2026 | cdc.gov (dated 2 Jul 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis BSame | 1st dose; 2nd dose; 3rd dose. | 1st dose; 2nd dose; 3rd dose. |
| RotavirusSame | 1st dose; 2nd dose; see the notes. | 1st dose; 2nd dose; see the notes. |
| DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough)Same | 1st dose; 2nd dose; 3rd dose; 4th dose; 5th dose. | 1st dose; 2nd dose; 3rd dose; 4th dose; 5th dose. |
| HibSame | 1st dose; 2nd dose; see the notes; 3rd or 4th dose. Also marked for certain high-risk groups. | 1st dose; 2nd dose; see the notes; 3rd or 4th dose. Also marked for certain high-risk groups. |
| Pneumococcal conjugateSame | 1st dose; 2nd dose; 3rd dose; 4th dose. Also marked for certain high-risk groups. | 1st dose; 2nd dose; 3rd dose; 4th dose. Also marked for certain high-risk groups. |
| Polio (IPV)Same | 1st dose; 2nd dose; 3rd dose; 4th dose. | 1st dose; 2nd dose; 3rd dose; 4th dose. |
| Flu (influenza)Same | 1 or 2 doses annually. | 1 or 2 doses annually. |
| MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)Same | 1st dose; 2nd dose. Also marked for certain high-risk groups. | 1st dose; 2nd dose. Also marked for certain high-risk groups. |
| Chickenpox (varicella)Same | 1st dose; 2nd dose. | 1st dose; 2nd dose. |
| Hepatitis ASame | 2-dose series. Also marked for certain high-risk groups. | 2-dose series. Also marked for certain high-risk groups. |
How this was compared
How this was compared: each vaccine’s bars in the AAP 2026 Table 1 and in the table on the cdc.gov schedule page, at the eight visits from birth to 18 months and at 4 to 6 years, by category (routine, certain high-risk groups, shared decision) and dose wording. The footnotes of both documents were read for the rows that differ or name a product or age; the rows listed as matching were compared on the bars, so a difference that sits only in a footnote would not show here. Catch-up schedules were not compared. A difference is listed only where both documents say it in their own words.
The stayed January 2026 HHS schedule is a separate event, not a column here. It is on the changes page, dated.
What CDC publishes
This is the schedule cdc.gov shows today, with the date on its page.
- The schedule CDC currently publishes on cdc.gov is headed 'Addendum updated July 2, 2025'Source: cdc.gov
- Note on the CDC page CDC's schedule page (cdc.gov) Source: cdc.gov
Show the exact wording
“Pursuant to the preliminary order issued on March 16, 2026, in American Academy of Pediatrics et al. v. Kennedy et al., No. 1:25-cv-11916 (D. Mass.), which stayed all votes taken by the ACIP during its June, September and December 2025 meetings, and further stayed the Acting CDC Director’s January 5, 2026 Decision Memo revising the CDC’s childhood immunization schedule, the July 2, 2025 immunization schedule posted here is the current CDC Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age for Healthcare Professionals.”
What the AAP publishes
The AAP’s own schedule, visit by visit, is on the schedule page.
- One example AAP 2026 changed the minimum age for MenACWY-TT (meningococcal) from 2 years to 6 weeks (revision dated September 1, 2026); CDC's July 2025 schedule labels MenACWY-TT as 2 years and olderSource: downloads.aap.org
The January 2026 HHS change
A separate event, shown as it was announced and dated. It is not the schedule cdc.gov shows today.
- 5 Jan 2026 On 5 Jan 2026 Acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill signed a decision memorandum accepting the HHS scientific assessment and updating the childhood scheduleSource: hhs.gov (archived copy)
- HHS fact sheet HHS (fact sheet, 5 Jan 2026) said CDC would continue to recommend that all children be immunized against 10 diseases plus varicella; other immunizations to be for high-risk groups or shared clinical decision-makingSource: hhs.gov (archived copy)
- HHS fact sheet HHS (fact sheet, 5 Jan 2026) contrasted its new schedule with the CDC schedule at the end of 2024, which recommended 17 immunizations for all childrenSource: hhs.gov (archived copy)
What the AAP wrote in January 2026
The AAP’s article is dated 26 Jan 2026, after the HHS change above. It is shown as of that date, next to the HHS change and not next to the schedule cdc.gov shows today.
- AAP, 26 Jan 2026 The AAP published its 2026 schedule on 26 Jan 2026, recommending routine immunization against 18 diseases; its article says the recommendations differ from a schedule recently issued by CDCSource: healthychildren.org
Court orders and executive orders
- US District Court, D. Mass., AAP v. Kennedy (1:25-cv-11916), docket entry 354, 11 Sep 2026 “Judge Brian E. Murphy: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered GRANTING 352 Motion to Stay Proceedings Pending Resolution of the First Circuit Appeal. The case is STAYED until the Court of Appeals issues a decision.” courtlistener.com
- Executive Order 14420, signed 10 Aug 2026, published in the Federal Register 14 Aug 2026 “However, implementation of my Administration's prior directives regarding childhood vaccines has been delayed due to litigation over the composition of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and separate updates to the Federal vaccine schedule.” federalregister.gov
- US District Court, D. Mass., AAP v. Kennedy (1:25-cv-11916), docket entry 308, 30 Apr 2026 “USCA Case Number 26-1503 for 306 Notice of Appeal filed by National Institutes of Health, Marty Makary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” courtlistener.com
- US District Court, D. Mass., AAP v. Kennedy (1:25-cv-11916), docket entry 291, Judge Brian E. Murphy, 16 Mar 2026 “MEMORANDUM AND ORDER on Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction. Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary relief is GRANTED in part.(i) The Court STAYS the January 2026 Memo revising the CDC’s childhood immunization schedule pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 705. (ii) The Court STAYS the appointments of the thirteen ACIP members appointed on June 11, 2025, September 11, 2025, and January 13, 2026. (iii) The Court further STAYS all votes taken by the now-stayed ACIP.” courtlistener.com
What states say
These state health departments say which schedule they follow. For school rules in your state, see the state pages.
- California (CDPH, with the West Coast Health Alliance) recommends the AAP scheduleSource: cdph.ca.gov
- Colorado (CDPHE, 6 Jan 2026) recommends that families and providers follow the 2025 childhood immunization schedule issued by the AAPSource: cdphe.colorado.gov
- Wisconsin (DHS) continues to recommend the AAP childhood scheduleSource: dhs.wisconsin.gov
- Minnesota (MDH) tells families to follow the AAP schedule for ages birth to 18Source: health.state.mn.us
- Kansas (KDHE) recommends clinicians follow the AAP and AAFP schedulesSource: kdhe.ks.gov
- Michigan (MDHHS) adopted the AAP, AAFP and ACOG schedules as the standards of care in Oct 2025Source: michigan.gov
All facts on this page were checked on or after 11 Nov 2026.
Your child’s doctor can tell you which schedule they follow. See the AAP schedule by visit, the changes in order or how many vaccines that is.