State Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani on Tuesday endorsed the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2026 childhood vaccination recommendations.
The AAP announced its recommendations on Monday for vaccines for children and adolescents aged 18 and younger.
According to Juthani, the AAP’s immunization schedule “incorporates well-established, science-driven recommendations that physicians, public health officials, and parents can rely on to keep children healthy and communities protected.”
“These recommendations remain consistent with the current protocols we have relied on to protect Connecticut children and minimize the risk of preventable disease,” Juthani said, in an announcement Tuesday. “Public health policy in Connecticut will continue to be driven by the best available evidence-based research and data.”
Connecticut is not planning to adopt changes to the vaccine schedule recently recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the announcement.
Earlier this month, the CDC reduced the number of vaccines it recommends for every child. The CDC announced it will continue to recommend that all children are immunized against 10 diseases, as well as varicella (chickenpox). For other diseases, the CDC is recommending immunization in certain instances, such as for high-risk groups. In contrast, the CDC in 2024 recommended 17 immunizations for all children.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asserted the change aligns the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with “international consensus.”
At the time, Juthani voiced concerns about the CDC’s scaled-back recommendations.
“While doctors already work with parents to talk through the benefits and risks of vaccines, clear national guidance has helped families make informed decisions with confidence,” Juthani said. “Scaling back those recommendations risks creating confusion, placing more burden on parents and clinicians, and making preventive care harder to navigate.”