Immunizations in pediatrics: an update

A Vaccine Evaluation Center has been established in Canada to evaluate vaccines from the developmental stage through to post-marketing surveillance. Special populations need special treatment, particularly day care attendees, children infected with HIV, immunocompromised patients, children who have had a splenectomy, premature infants, the hospitalized child, the traveller, health care workers, and pregnant women. Real and imaginary adverse reactions, their management, and their presentation are discussed. The use of acetaminophen prophylaxis to minimize the most common adverse reactions to diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus-polio immunization is recommended. The most remarkable of the new developments in modern vaccines is the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.