Over the past several weeks, pediatric practices across the United States have faced an unusual moment in vaccine policy: the 2026 U.S. childhood and adolescent immunization schedule released by federal health authorities differs significantly from the one endorsed by pediatricians and pediatric organizations. This divergence of the 2026 AAP Immunization Schedule and the federal schedule has caused confusion for families and providers alike, and it touches the core of what independent pediatric care is all about: evidence-based, child-centered recommendations.
At PCC, we fully support the American Academy of Pediatrics’ immunization schedule. Here is how PCC’s clinical tools will help you implement immunizations in your practice with confidence.
This year, the AAP published their Pediatric Vaccine Guidelines for 2026: a vaccine schedule that continues to recommend immunizations against approximately 18 diseases including hepatitis A and B, influenza, meningococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rotavirus, and COVID-19. These recommendations are consistent with longstanding evidence about vaccine safety, effectiveness, and disease risk in children and adolescents.
In contrast, the federal schedule released in January 2026 narrowed the list of routine recommendations, moving some vaccines into shared decision-making or risk-based categories. These changes reflect a shift in policy rather than new clinical evidence, and many professional organizations, including the AAP, continue to advise broader immunization to protect pediatric patients, families, and communities.
PCC’s immunization forecasting and recommendation logic are powered by the Immunization Calculation Engine (ICE) – an open-source clinical decision support tool developed and maintained by our partner, HLN Consulting LLC. The tool integrates Pediatric EHR Vaccine Forecasting into PCC EHR to provide vaccine evaluation and forecasting tailored to current, evidence-based clinical guidance.
Importantly, in the face of shifting federal guidance, HLN has reaffirmed their commitment to evidence-based recommendations interpreted by clinical leaders:
“HLN remains committed to ensuring the [immunization forecasting logic and] default immunization schedule reflects evidence-based guidelines … as interpreted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, as well as other professional associations, to inform the [forecasting] recommendations.”
That means the Immunization Calculation Engine and by extension, PCC’s forecasting tools adhere to the same clinical best-practice guidance that the AAP continues to champion, even when federal policy diverges.
PCC’s suite of clinical and practice tools supports your use of the AAP immunization schedule throughout patient care and practice operations:
These tools help you spend less time wrestling with rule interpretation and recall so that you can get patients the guidance they’re asking for.
Divergent schedules from federal sources and pediatric professional organizations can create confusion. By following the AAP’s evidence-based guidance and using PCC’s forecasting and reporting tools, your practice can:
Many caregivers (and patients!) find reassurance in consistency. You can lean into the trust you’ve so carefully built with your patient families by assuring them that your policies and the evidence for vaccines have not changed, nor has your support for their child’s healthcare outcomes and well-being.
In a time of competing guidance, pediatric primary care has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children from vaccine-preventable illnesses. PCC stands with practices that choose to follow AAP’s evidence-based immunization schedule, and we continue to develop tools that help you deliver that care efficiently and confidently.
Learn more about all of PCC’s clinical tools by visiting our website.
Need some help parsing the new 2026 immunization codes for vaccines not given? Check out our previous post: