CDC advisory group votes to add COVID-19 shot to child vaccination schedule

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee has recommended that the COVID-19 vaccine be added to the childhood immunization schedule, a list that many states use as a guideline when crafting vaccination requirements for schools and day care.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously Thursday to include the COVID-19 vaccine on the 2022 Child & Adolescent Immunization Schedule, which is seen as a recommendation for parents and health providers on when certain vaccines should be administered. The schedule does not dictate what vaccinations are required for school entry, as only states can decide that, but it is likely to prompt some to add the COVID vaccine to their list.

One of the committee members, Dr. Matthew Daley, argued that adding the vaccine to the schedule reflected a "summary of existing recommendations," as the CDC has already recommended that all children 6 months and up should get COVID-19 shots, but he acknowledged concerns raised in public comments.