2011 Immunizations

Posted on Feb 15, 2011 in Clinical Updates | 1 comment

2011 Immunization Schedules Available for Children and Adults

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Each year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates and publishes revised immunization schedules for children and adults. The latest revisions, published by the CDC in February 2011, include the following changes. 

For children[1]—

• Guidance has been added for the hepatitis B vaccine schedule for children who did not receive a birth dose.
• Information on use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has been added.
• Guidance has been added for administration of 1 or 2 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine based upon the child’s history of monovalent 2009 H1N1 vaccination.
• Use of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine among children aged 7 through 10 years who are incompletely vaccinated against pertussis is addressed, and reference to a specified interval between tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) and Tdap vaccination has been removed.
• Footnotes for the use of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have been condensed.
• A routine 2-dose schedule of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) for certain people at high risk for meningococcal disease, and recommendations for a booster dose of MCV4 have been added.
• Guidance for use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine in persons aged 5 years and older in the catch-up schedule has been condensed.

Color ‘quick view’ charts of the new requirements for children ages 0-6, ages 7-18, and a catch-up schedule are available in pocket-size and laminated versions at the CDC Web site. The CDC also has an interactive tool that allows parents to enter their child’s birth date; the tool then brings up a complete list of recommended immunizations. It’s the Instant Childhood Immunization Schedule and is for children 6 years and younger.

For adults[2]—

• The influenza footnote is revised and shortened to reflect a recommendation for vaccination of all person 6 months of age or older, including all adults. The high-dose influenza vaccine Fluzone, licensed in 2010 for adults aged 65 years or older, is now mentioned as an option in this age group.
• The Td/Tdap vaccine footnote has language added to indicate that people aged 65 years or older who have close contact with an infant younger than 12 months should get vaccinated with the Tdap vaccine and notes that all people aged 65 years or older may get vaccinated with the Tdap vaccine. There is also a new recommendation to administer Tdap regardless of interval since the last Td-containing vaccine.
• The HPV vaccine footnote has language added to indicate that either quadrivalent (HPV4) vaccine or bivalent (HPV2) vaccine is recommended for females.
• The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine footnote has been revised by consolidating common language that had previously been part of each of the 3 vaccine-component sections into 1 introductory statement.
• The pneumococcal revaccination footnote clarifies that 1-time revaccination after 5 years applies only to people with indicated chronic conditions who are aged 19 through 64 years.
• The MCV4 footnote has new language indicating that a 2-dose series of MCV4 is recommended for adults with anatomical or functional asplenia or persistent complement component deficiencies and adults with HIV infection who are vaccinated. In addition, language has been added that a single dose of meningococcal vaccine is still recommended for those with other indications.
• The language for the selected conditions for the Hib vaccine footnote has been shortened to clarify which high-risk people may receive 1 dose of Hib vaccine.

A color chart of this schedule is available in pocket size and laminated versions at the CDC Web site. The CDC also has an Adult Immunization Scheduler Interactive Tool you can download to your computer to help you determine the vaccines you need according to the schedule.

Published on February 15, 2011 

References

1. Vaccines & Immunizations. Recommendations and guidelines: 2011 child & adolescent immunization schedules. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. Updated February 4, 2011. Accessed February 9, 2011.
2. Vaccines & Immunizations. Recommendations and guidelines: adult immunization schedule. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. Updated February 7, 2011. Accessed February 9, 2011.