This policy statement updates the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for the use of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in the prevention of severe COVID-19 in children. These COVID-19 vaccine recommendations may change in future seasons or as additional variants emerge. These recommendations for the use of 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine are contingent upon the approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of updated COVID-19 vaccine products.
COVID-19 continues to be a cause of hospitalization and death in the pediatric population. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in protecting individuals and populations against serious outcomes associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, including post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).