The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children 6 months and older without any medical contraindications receive the 2026-27 flu vaccine as soon as it’s available. 

“The good news is flu vaccines have been thoroughly studied,” Kristina A. Bryant, MD, a member of AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID) said in a press release. 

“We know they are safe in children and they can prevent not just hospitalizations and death but every year they prevent a substantial number of illnesses that result in trips to the doctor’s office,” she added. “We want to keep kids healthy and going to school and parents healthy and going to work. Flu vaccines can help us accomplish that.” 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has yet to share influenza vaccine recommendations for the upcoming season. 

The AAP also recommends flu vaccination for pregnant and breastfeeding women because it protects both mother and baby from illness. This aligns with what the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises for pregnant women in its immunization schedule. 

Kids have more symptoms, complications

COID wrote AAP’s policy statement and accompanying technical report on the flu vaccine. Uptake of it in children remains low. As of May 2026, only 49.4% of children ages 6 months to 17 years received the flu vaccine, a rate similar to the previous year. 

The 2025-26 flu season was considered severe, leading to 190 children dying. Most flu deaths, about 85%, occur in unvaccinated children. 

Children also experience more symptoms than adults, with 8% to 10% of children having signs of flu. Children with flu can develop fever with or without upper respiratory symptoms, bronchiolitis, croup, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.