Tag: American Academy of Pediatrics

The Mining Journal: MHA Chief Medical Officer Affirms AAP Immunization Schedule

MHA In The News

The statement was issued following the distribution of guidance to Michigan families departing from established standards.

Dr. Roth emphasizes the efficacy of vaccines and urges families to seek medical guidance from their providers.

“Vaccines remain among medicine’s most effective tools to keep people healthy and out of the hospital with severe illness,” said Roth. “We encourage Michigan families to speak with their medical provider with questions about immunizations.”

Members with any questions regarding media requests should contact Elise Gonzales at the MHA.

MHA Chief Medical Officer Expresses Support for AAP Immunization Schedule

News Releases

The following statement can be attributed to Gary Roth, DO, MBA, FACOS, FCCM, FACS, chief medical officer of the MHA. 

The MHA supports the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) evidence-based 2026 immunization schedule and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ standing guidance for adherence to this schedule. The AAP schedule recommends vaccination against 18 diseases based on decades of rigorous scientific research and clinical consensus.

This position reflects input from hospital chief medical officers and chief nursing officers across the state, whose extensive expertise caring for vaccine-preventable illnesses reinforces our commitment to science-based care that protects Michigan’s children and families.

Vaccines remain among medicine’s most effective tools to keep people healthy and out of the hospital with severe illness. We encourage Michigan families to speak with their medical provider with questions about immunizations.

Pediatric Vaccination Guidance: What Michigan Providers Need to Know

Member News, Top Issues - Healthcare

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published its 2026 immunization schedule for children and adolescents, recommending protection against 18 diseases including polio, measles, respiratory syncytial virus and meningococcal disease. This comprehensive schedule draws on decades of evidence-based research and expert consensus and differs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Jan. 6 update, which covers 11 diseases.

“The AAP will continue to provide recommendations for immunizations that are rooted in science and are in the best interest of the health of infants, children and adolescents of this country,” said AAP President Andrew Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP.

The schedule is supported by 12 major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Medical Association and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Michigan’s Position

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a standing recommendation on Dec. 18, 2025, encouraging providers to follow the AAP’s evidence-based immunization schedules. MDHHS reaffirmed this position Jan. 6, 2026, underscoring its commitment to science-based public health recommendations.

The MHA encourages hospital leaders to connect with their local public health department to discuss shared strategies for promoting evidence-based vaccine information.

Supporting Patient Communication

As families encounter vaccine information from multiple sources, questions may arise. Healthcare providers play a key role in delivering clear, evidence-based guidance grounded in science.

To assist with this effort, MDHHS has partnered with the Michigan Association of Local Public Health to launch the Michigan Health Communications Initiative. The initiative offers a monthly provider newsletter and ready-to-use materials suitable for emails, social media or printed displays to help educate patients about the importance of vaccines.

Vaccines are an important tool for preventing and controlling infectious diseases. The MHA supports the state’s standing recommendation to follow the AAP immunization schedules as evidence-based guidance that protects Michigan’s children. Additional information is available on the MDHHS Immunization Recommendations for Michigan webpage.

Members with questions about vaccines may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.