Should a child wait until later in the winter to receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine?

AAP recommends giving the updated vaccine as soon as it is available and the child is eligible, rather than waiting for a particular point in the season. AAP also supports vaccination later in the year for eligible children who missed fall vaccination because SARS-CoV-2 circulates year-round. COVID-19 and influenza vaccines may be coadministered. It is acceptable to delay vaccination for up to 3 months following a confirmed COVID-19 infection, due to the reduced risk of infection in the weeks following an infection and evidence of a better response to vaccination if spaced longer after an infection. Individual risk and local epidemiology may also affect timing decisions. See https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2026-079045.