Vaccines

Federal health agencies have adjusted COVID vaccine guidance, potentially changing eligibility and access for pediatric patients. Experts respond in this article.

"These younger individuals are at much higher risk of getting disease and having complications," said Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP.

RFK Jr. stated he "couldn't be more pleased" to announce that COVID-19 vaccination among healthy children and pregnant women has been removed from CDC's immunization schedule.

The approved indication now includes children down to 6 weeks of age to protect against invasive meningococcal disease via serogroups A, C, W, and Y.

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These findings come as many health care professionals still report limited confidence and inconsistent practices regarding RSV immunization discussions.

Our editor-in-chief Tina Tan, MD, reacts to a new FDA COVID-19 framework that will limit eligibility for seasonal vaccination in pediatrics.

NVX-CoV2705 is indicated for individuals aged 12 to 64 years with an underlying condition that poses high risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.

"These findings support Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendations for maternal vaccination or nirsevimab to protect against severe RSV disease in infants," wrote the MMWR study investigators.

Recommendations from the ACIP are forwarded to the director of the CDC, and if adopted, become official CDC policy.

View our Q1 2025 recap of standout pediatric news from FDA regulatory updates, clinical trial results, and expert commentary.

A look ahead to 5 key regulatory decisions scheduled to take place during the second quarter of 2025, from a monoclonal antibody to topical psoriasis treatments.

Prior to approval on February 14, 2025, the only FDA approved vaccine for chikungunya protection was indicated for 18 years and up.

"The measles outbreak that is currently happening in Texas and New Mexico is occurring in an area of the states that have very high anti-vaccine sentiments," Tan said.

Donna Hallas, PhD, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN, breaks down key highlights of the latest double issue of Contemporary Pediatrics.

Study findings underscore the effectiveness of a dual approach to RSV prevention.

Amin Barakat, MD, FAAP, details meningococcal disease vaccines and highlights the recently FDA-approved MenABCWY vaccine from GSK.

Nurse practitioner Donna Hallas, PhD, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN offers her thoughts on the recent FDA approval of GSK's meningococcal ABCWY vaccine.

The combination vaccine targets 5 groups of the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (A,B,C,W, AND Y) that cause the most invasive meningococcal disease cases (IMD) globally.

Of those with a minimum age or minimum interval vaccine dose, 44.9% ended up receiving extra doses to complete a vaccination series.

The initiation of a phase 2 study of the investigational 31-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is expected by the end of January 2025.

The study outcomes were estimated IMD cases and deaths averted by MenACWY vaccination in adolescents and adults aged 11 to 23 years.

"The novel RSV prevention strategies may reduce ICU morbidity and mortality for children," the study authors concluded.

Donna Hallas, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN, highlights key takeaways from our October Vaccine issue of Contemporary Pediatrics.

Infants, young children, and older adults are at the highest risk for pneumococcal infection, and viral illnesses, such as influenza, may predispose sensitive groups to pneumococcal infection.