The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) has joined leading medical and scientific organizations in signing a statement supporting the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) 2026 Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.
Vaccines remain one of the most powerful tools available to protect children from preventable infectious diseases. By training the immune system to recognize and fight harmful pathogens, vaccines do far more than prevent acute illness—they help protect children from the serious and sometimes life altering complications of infection, including asthma triggered by respiratory infections, hearing loss, vision impairment, neurologic damage, and other debilitating outcomes that can follow diseases such as measles, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis, and RSV.
For nearly a century, AAP’s vaccine recommendations have served as a trusted resource for pediatricians and families, providing evidence‑based guidance on the optimal timing of routine childhood immunizations. The 2026 schedule continues this tradition by recommending routine protection against 18 vaccine‑preventable diseases using the latest clinical and scientific evidence.
AAI encourages all parents and caregivers to speak with their child’s pediatrician about AAP’s schedule and about additional ways to ensure their children are fully protected from preventable diseases. Pediatricians are best equipped to answer questions and help families make informed choices grounded in science and medical expertise.
Please visit healthychildren.org for more information about the AAP immunization schedule. For more information on the science of the immune system and how it impacts all aspects of health, please visit immunologyexplained.org.
“AAI is proud to support AAP’s 2026 immunization schedule. Parents deserve clear, trusted, and evidence‑based guidance about how best to protect their children. Decades of research continues to show that vaccines are safe, effective, and essential to preventing both infection and the serious, sometimes irreversible complications that can follow.
AAI President, Ulrich von Andrian, MD
“In an era of widespread misinformation, it is more important than ever for families to have a trusted source of recommendations grounded in rigorous science. We strongly encourage parents to speak with their pediatrician about the evidence and about the most effective ways to protect their children from preventable disease.”
