The differing recommendations for childhood vaccinations in the United States should not affect vaccinations in Canada.

Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued guidelines that contradict those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the CDC recommends only that parents consult with a doctor for children ages 6 months to 17 years, the AAP recommends vaccination for all children ages 6 to 23 months and recommends a single dose for those ages 2 to 18 who are at risk.

Dr. Karina Top, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Alberta, says the differences shouldn’t affect Canada. Canada has had clear policies since 2021 based on scientific evidence and recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

The January 2025 guidelines strongly recommend vaccination for children over six months who are at high risk, but for other children, the decision is left to the discretion of a doctor.

Top emphasizes that COVID-19 is less severe in healthy children than in adults, and is even milder than the flu, which is why the COVID vaccine is not as widely recommended as the flu vaccine.

He says that uptake of the COVID vaccine has declined among Canadian children, even among high-risk groups:
“For children with chronic illnesses or immunocompromised conditions, parents should definitely consult with their doctor to decide whether they should get vaccinated.”

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