# Childhood and teen vaccines (annual flu and COVID, HPV timing)

**Which childhood and teen vaccines should our child get, and when?**

Vaccines train the body to fight specific diseases. Beyond the baby shots, children and teens are offered yearly flu and COVID shots and the HPV vaccine, which protects against a virus linked to several cancers. The decision is which ones, and on what timetable.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Full AAP or provincial schedule; Federal (CDC) schedule as restored, others case by case; Delayed or spaced; Selective refusal. Evidence: guidance changing. Official guidance changed recently and is still moving — check current sources. Best settled: 6–12 months.

- Area: Health, body and toileting
- Evidence: Guidance changing
- Best settled: 6–12 months
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/health-body-and-toileting--childhood-and-teen-vaccines-annual-flu-and-covid-hpv-timing

## Childhood and teen vaccines: what are the options?

1. **Full AAP or provincial schedule**: Your child gets every vaccine recommended by the pediatric academy or your province, on time.
2. **Federal (CDC) schedule as restored, others case by case**: Your child follows the federal schedule, and you decide on others one by one.
3. **Delayed or spaced**: Your child gets the vaccines later or more spread out than recommended.
4. **Selective refusal**: Your child gets some vaccines and you decline others.

## Childhood and teen vaccines: what does the evidence say?

**Guidance changing.** Official guidance changed recently and is still moving — check current sources. (In flux)

Same split and same court status as the infant schedule; the AAP recommends COVID-19 vaccination at 6-23 months while the federal schedule lists it for shared decision-making

Sources:

- [AJMC](https://www.ajmc.com/view/aap-breaks-with-cdc-maintains-broader-2026-childhood-and-adolescent-vaccine-schedule)
- [Georgetown CCF](https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2026/03/31/court-order-presses-pause-on-new-acip-committee-and-changes-to-childhood-vaccination-schedule/)

## What else is worth knowing?

After the first year, children are offered booster doses, yearly flu and COVID shots, and at around 9 to 12 the HPV vaccine. US official bodies currently publish somewhat different schedules, so your child's doctor is the practical guide. Ask which schedule they follow.

## Questions to ask each other

- Which schedule is our pediatrician using, and do we agree with it?
- Which vaccines, if any, do we want to talk through more?
- How will we decide when guidance changes?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=health-body-and-toileting&topic=health-body-and-toileting--childhood-and-teen-vaccines-annual-flu-and-covid-hpv-timing