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ACOG Releases New Maternal Immunization Schedule That Diverges From CDC Guidance
On June 11, 2026, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) unveiled a new 2026 maternal immunization schedule that explicitly recommends COVID‑19 vaccination for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women—an approach that diverges from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) current guidance. The plan, backed by 13 other medical societies, maps out the timing for influenza, COVID‑19, tetanus‑diphtheria‑pertussis (Tdap), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and a suite of other vaccines.
The announcement follows a tense period between ACOG and the CDC. In early 2025, the Trump administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID‑19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children. The move was met with swift criticism from public‑health experts, prompting ACOG to withdraw from the CDC’s advisory committee on vaccines. Legal action has since been filed against the CDC’s revised recommendations.
ACOG’s schedule details a clear roadmap for expectant mothers. The flu shot is advised at any trimester, ideally in early fall; a COVID‑19 vaccine is recommended at any trimester, preferably as soon as possible; a Tdap dose is timed between 27 and 36 weeks; and an RSV vaccine is slated for first‑time pregnancies between 32 and 36 weeks, with a seasonal window of September through January in most U.S. regions. Women with specific risk factors may also receive pneumococcal, meningococcal, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines. The plan also calls for HPV, measles‑mumps‑rubella, and varicella vaccines before pregnancy or after birth.
The most pronounced difference lies in COVID‑19. While the CDC has removed the vaccine from its pregnancy guidance, ACOG maintains a firm recommendation for maternal vaccination. In a statement, ACOG said, “for the first time, ACOG has made the decision to formally release its own immunization schedule to provide and communicate clear evidence‑based guidance and to address the growing vaccine misinformation that is circulating.” Dr. Christopher Zahn, ACOG’s chief of clinical practice, added that the schedule is designed to counter misinformation.
The new plan has earned endorsements from a broad coalition of professional groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which also issued a 2026 vaccine schedule that differs from the CDC’s. This alignment signals a growing consensus among clinicians that the CDC’s recent changes may not fully reflect the body of evidence on vaccine safety in pregnancy.
Public‑health officials warn that the CDC’s withdrawal could fuel hesitancy. Carol Hayes of the American College of Nurse Midwives noted that many patients “come in doing their own research, and sadly, they’re getting information that is not scientifically based.” ACOG’s schedule aims to provide clear, evidence‑based guidance to both clinicians and patients.
The release arrives amid ongoing legal challenges to the CDC’s guidance. ACOG’s withdrawal from the advisory committee and subsequent lawsuits highlight a broader debate over federal agencies’ role in vaccine policy. The new schedule may influence state‑level public‑health programs and insurance coverage decisions as clinicians seek to align practice with evidence‑based guidelines.
In the short term, obstetric practices will need to integrate the new schedule into prenatal care protocols. The guidance also emphasizes risk‑based vaccination for women with underlying health conditions. For the broader public, the release signals that professional medical societies are willing to diverge from federal guidance when the evidence supports it.
The situation remains fluid. ACOG’s schedule is already in use in many practices, but the CDC’s guidance may still shape federal funding and insurance coverage. Legal proceedings against the CDC continue, and their outcome could reshape vaccine policy for pregnant women nationwide. Clinicians and patients should stay informed about both ACOG and CDC recommendations while awaiting further clarification from federal authorities.
The ACOG schedule represents a significant step in clarifying vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and underscores the ongoing tension between professional societies and federal public‑health agencies. As the legal and political landscape evolves, the medical community will continue to monitor how these recommendations affect vaccination rates, maternal and infant health outcomes, and public trust in vaccines.
The announcement follows a tense period between ACOG and the CDC. In early 2025, the Trump administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID‑19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children. The move was met with swift criticism from public‑health experts, prompting ACOG to withdraw from the CDC’s advisory committee on vaccines. Legal action has since been filed against the CDC’s revised recommendations.
ACOG’s schedule details a clear roadmap for expectant mothers. The flu shot is advised at any trimester, ideally in early fall; a COVID‑19 vaccine is recommended at any trimester, preferably as soon as possible; a Tdap dose is timed between 27 and 36 weeks; and an RSV vaccine is slated for first‑time pregnancies between 32 and 36 weeks, with a seasonal window of September through January in most U.S. regions. Women with specific risk factors may also receive pneumococcal, meningococcal, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines. The plan also calls for HPV, measles‑mumps‑rubella, and varicella vaccines before pregnancy or after birth.
The most pronounced difference lies in COVID‑19. While the CDC has removed the vaccine from its pregnancy guidance, ACOG maintains a firm recommendation for maternal vaccination. In a statement, ACOG said, “for the first time, ACOG has made the decision to formally release its own immunization schedule to provide and communicate clear evidence‑based guidance and to address the growing vaccine misinformation that is circulating.” Dr. Christopher Zahn, ACOG’s chief of clinical practice, added that the schedule is designed to counter misinformation.
The new plan has earned endorsements from a broad coalition of professional groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which also issued a 2026 vaccine schedule that differs from the CDC’s. This alignment signals a growing consensus among clinicians that the CDC’s recent changes may not fully reflect the body of evidence on vaccine safety in pregnancy.
Public‑health officials warn that the CDC’s withdrawal could fuel hesitancy. Carol Hayes of the American College of Nurse Midwives noted that many patients “come in doing their own research, and sadly, they’re getting information that is not scientifically based.” ACOG’s schedule aims to provide clear, evidence‑based guidance to both clinicians and patients.
The release arrives amid ongoing legal challenges to the CDC’s guidance. ACOG’s withdrawal from the advisory committee and subsequent lawsuits highlight a broader debate over federal agencies’ role in vaccine policy. The new schedule may influence state‑level public‑health programs and insurance coverage decisions as clinicians seek to align practice with evidence‑based guidelines.
In the short term, obstetric practices will need to integrate the new schedule into prenatal care protocols. The guidance also emphasizes risk‑based vaccination for women with underlying health conditions. For the broader public, the release signals that professional medical societies are willing to diverge from federal guidance when the evidence supports it.
The situation remains fluid. ACOG’s schedule is already in use in many practices, but the CDC’s guidance may still shape federal funding and insurance coverage. Legal proceedings against the CDC continue, and their outcome could reshape vaccine policy for pregnant women nationwide. Clinicians and patients should stay informed about both ACOG and CDC recommendations while awaiting further clarification from federal authorities.
The ACOG schedule represents a significant step in clarifying vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and underscores the ongoing tension between professional societies and federal public‑health agencies. As the legal and political landscape evolves, the medical community will continue to monitor how these recommendations affect vaccination rates, maternal and infant health outcomes, and public trust in vaccines.
