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Notice to Readers: Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule ---
United States, 2002
Each year, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
reviews the recommended childhood immunization schedule to ensure that it is
current with changes in manufacturers' vaccine formulations, has revised
recommendations for the use of licensed vaccines, and has recommendations
for newly licensed vaccines. This report presents the recommended childhood
immunization schedule for 2002, which has remained the same in content since
January 2001 (1)
but has a redesigned format (Figure 1).
The format of the 2002 schedule is based on a design developed by the
Minnesota Department of Health immunization program; the recommendations and
format have been approved by ACIP, the American Academy of Family
Physicians, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The new design
highlights the importance of catch-up vaccination, the preadolescent visit,
the preference for administering the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine
series at birth, and three vaccines for selected at-risk groups. The
importance of assessing whether children aged 24 months--18 years require
any catch-up vaccination is emphasized by the use of hatched bars. The
schedule also underscores the visit at age 11--12 years when immunization
status should be reviewed and all necessary vaccines administered.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
The schedule indicates a preference for administering the first dose of
hepatitis B vaccine to all newborns soon after birth and before hospital
discharge. Administering the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine soon after
birth should minimize the risk for infection because of errors in maternal
hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing or reporting, or from exposure
to persons with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the household,
and can increase the likelihood of completing the vaccine series. Only
monovalent hepatitis B vaccine can be used for the birth dose. Either
monovalent or combination vaccine can be used to complete the series. Four
doses of hepatitis B vaccine, including the birth dose, may be administered
if a combination vaccine is used to complete the series. In addition to
receiving hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and the hepatitis B vaccine
series, infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers should be tested for HBsAg
and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) at age 9--15 months to identify those with
chronic HBV infection or those who may require revaccination (2).
Vaccines for Selected Populations
The area below the dashed line (Figure 1) displays
certain vaccines recommended for use in selected populations. High-risk
children aged 24--59 months should receive catch-up pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine (PCV) doses, if indicated (3).
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) is recommended in addition to PCV
for certain high-risk groups (3).
The recommendation to administer annual influenza vaccine to high-risk
children also appears on the schedule (4).
Vaccine Supply
As a result of the vaccine supply shortage, deferral of some doses of
tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td), diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and
acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP), and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
has been recommended (5--7);
health-care providers should record patients for whom vaccination has been
deferred and should contact them once the supply has been restored.
Vaccine Information Statements
The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act requires that all health-care
providers give parents or patients copies of Vaccine Information Statements
before administering each dose of the vaccines listed in the schedule.
Additional information about Vaccine Information Statements is available
from state health departments and at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS. Detailed recommendations for
using vaccines are available from the manufacturers' package inserts, ACIP
statements on specific vaccines, and the 2000 Red Book (2--4,8).
ACIP statements for each recommended childhood vaccine can be viewed,
downloaded, and printed from the CDC National Immunization Program at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/ACIP-list.htm; instructions on the
use of the Vaccine Information Statements are available at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/vis-Instructions.pdf.
References
- CDC.
Recommended childhood immunization schedule---United States, 2001. MMWR
2001;50:7--10.
- CDC.
Hepatitis B virus: a comprehensive strategy for eliminating transmission
in the United States through universal childhood vaccination:
recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
MMWR 1991;40(No. RR-13).
- CDC.
Preventing pneumococcal disease among infants and young children:
recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
MMWR 2000;49(No. RR-9).
- CDC.
Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2001;50(No. RR-4).
- CDC.
Deferral of routine booster doses of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids for
adolescents and adults. MMWR 2001;50:418--27.
- CDC.
Update: supply of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis
vaccine. MMWR 2002;50:1159.
- CDC.
Updated recommendations on the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in a
setting of vaccine shortage---Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices. MMWR 2001;50:1140--2.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Active and passive immunization. In:
Pickering LK, ed. 2000 Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious
Diseases. 25th ed. Elk Grove Village, Illinois: American Academy of
Pediatrics, 2000:1--81.
Figure 1
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