The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children and teens receive an annual influenza vaccine this fall to keep them healthy and active in the classroom as they begin a new school year.
In the policy statement, "Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2025–2026," the AAP advises that all healthy people ages 6 months and older are vaccinated to protect against flu and keep their communities safe. Any vaccine appropriate for age and health status can be used.
Your child's immune system is learning, too
"Children are more likely to get sick during the school year because they are in such close proximity to each other in class, over lunch and in play areas," said Kristina Bryant, MD, FAAP, a member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases.
"Getting children vaccinated is like giving their immune system a book that teaches their bodies to recognize and resist a disease. Immunized kids are healthier kids who can focus on growing, playing and learning."
The 2024–2025 influenza season was an especially high-severity season for people of all ages, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC reported 253 influenza-related pediatric deaths through June 21,2025. Of those, 42.7% occurred in children without a high-risk medical condition.
Historically, up to 80% of influenza-associated pediatric deaths have occurred in unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children. Children younger than 5 years are especially vulnerable to severe illness and hospitalizations or death due to influenza.
AAP flu vaccine recommendations for 2025-26:
Any licensed influenza vaccine appropriate for age and health status can be administered, as soon as possible in the season, without preference for one product or formulation. These include inactivated (non-live) influenza vaccine (IIV) or recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), which is a nasal spray.
Children 6 months to 8 years of age should receive 2 doses if this is the first time they are being vaccinated against influenza, or if they have only received one dose of flu vaccine ever before July 1. The doses are given four weeks apart.
Influenza vaccine should be offered to children as soon as it becomes available, especially to those recommended to receive 2 doses. The recommended dose(s) ideally should be received by the end of October for optimal protection before the influenza season.
Influenza vaccination should not be delayed to obtain a specific product, including a thimerosal-free product. The safety of thimerosal-containing vaccines is discussed in the technical report, in this and in this
AAP Factchecked article. (Also see, "Vaccine Ingredients: Frequently Asked Questions.")
Influenza vaccine is recommended for all pregnant individuals, during any trimester of gestation, to protect against influenza and its complications. When given during pregnancy, the vaccine protects the newborn in the first months of life (up to 6 months) through transplacental passage of antibodies.
LAIV should not be used for immunocompromised people and those with certain chronic medical conditions.
Flu symptoms & treatment
Flu symptoms often include chills; headache, body aches, fatigue; sore throat; dry, hacking cough; stuffy, runny nose; vomit; and loose stools. The policy statement also discusses treatment for influenza. Parents with concerns about a child's sickness should contact their pediatrician for guidance.
"Each year, it is possible that flu, COVID-19, and other common viruses will spread at the same time," Dr. Bryant said. "Sometimes, the vaccine is not an exact match with the strains in the community. But the vaccine still can protect against serious illness."
The statement and an accompanying technical report are prepublished online in Pediatrics. As a prepublication, the policies have undergone peer review and been accepted for publication but are not the final version of record. Both policies will be published in the October 2025 Pediatrics.
Policy statements and technical reports created by AAP are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics.
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