[Vaccination schedule of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics: recommendations 2005]

The Advisory Committee on Vaccines of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics provides information and comments on the new developments in vaccines that have taken place in 2004 and recommends a few modifications to the Immunization Schedule for 2005. Concerning the meningococcal C vaccine, no change is made to the possibility of administering two doses for the first vaccination with one of the available formulations. The existence of immunization failure in children who have received a first vaccination with three vaccine doses before the age of 12 months is discussed, and the health authorities will probably include a booster dose in the second year of life throughout 2005. The recommendations of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) on hexavalent vaccines continue to be valid and consequently the use of these vaccines should not be stopped. This year the need for adolescents to receive a booster dose of the pertussis vaccine, with administration of an acellular, low antigenic load preparation together with the adult diphtheria and tetanus vaccine is stressed.