Child and adolescent vaccination schedule updated

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently approved the 2014 recommended schedules for childhood and adolescent immunizations.

Each year, the ACIP reviews the immunization recommendations for children and adolescents aged to 18 years. This year’s schedule follows the same format as last year’s, providing a single schedule for the entire age range. The guidelines also indicate the recommended dose number by age, recommended catch-up ages, and ages when a vaccine is not routinely recommended.

Changes from last year’s schedule include a tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis footnote on vaccinating persons aged 7 years and older with a single lifetime dose, unless they are pregnant. Pregnant adolescents should be vaccinated with each pregnancy, preferably during week 27 through week 36 of gestation.

Other changes include a footnote to the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine section clarifying vaccination of children aged 1 to 5 years who are at increased risk; a footnote regarding pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) itemizing recommendations for PCV13 and PPSV23 use in children and adolescents at increased risk; a footnote regarding influenza vaccine describing dosing for children aged 6 months to 8 years and for those aged 9 years and older for the current season; a footnote in the hepatitis A vaccine section outlining persons at increased risk for hepatitis A disease; a footnote for human papillomavirus vaccine clarifying the intervals between vaccine doses; and a footnote for the meningococcal vaccine including guidance for use of Menveo (Novartis, Cambridge, Massachusetts) starting at 2 months of age for certain persons at increased risk. 

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