CDC Posts Updated Immunization Recommendations for People 18 Years of Age and Younger
The 2008 edition of the schedule of recommended immunizations for people 18 years of age and younger has been posted by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) -- a division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The advisory committee releases new recommendations annually to reflect changes in vaccine formulations and current recommendations for the use of licensed vaccines.
This summer, don't wait until the last few busy weeks before fall school registration begins to make your child's vaccination appointment -- schedule an appointment now, and enjoy a safer summer.
Changes from the 2007 immunization schedule are as follows:
- "The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) footnote reflects updated recommendations for incompletely vaccinated children aged 24--59 months, including those with underlying medical conditions.
- Recommendations for use of the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) now include healthy children aged as young as 2 years. LAIV should not be administered to children younger than 5 years with recurrent wheezing. Children younger than 9 years who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time or who were vaccinated for the first time last season, but only received 1 dose, should have 2 doses of vaccine, at least 4 weeks apart. Other updates are included.
- For meningococcal vaccines, changes affect certain children aged 2-10 years. Vaccinating with meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is preferred to meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) for children at increased risk for meningococcal disease, including children who are traveling to or residents of countries in which the disease is hyperendemic or epidemic, children who have terminal complement component deficiencies, and children who have anatomic or functional asplenia. The catch-up schedule for youths aged 13-18 years has been updated. MPSV4 is an acceptable alternative for short-term (i.e., 3-5 years) protection against meningococcal disease for persons aged 2-18 years.
- The tetanus and diphtheria toxoids/tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (Td/Tdap) catch-up schedule for persons aged 7-18 years who received their first dose before age 12 months now indicates that these youths should receive 4 doses, with at least 4 weeks (not 8 weeks) between doses 2 and 3.
- The catch-up bars for hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine have been deleted on the routine schedule for persons aged 0-6 years."
Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
- 2007-2008 Flu season was worst in 3 years: ineffective vaccinations to blame
- Flu vaccine questions and answers
- A shortage of Hib vaccine following a significant recall
For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.