[Immunisation schedule of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics: 2016 recommendations]

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Spanish Association of Paediatrics' Advisory Committee on Vaccines (CAV-AEP) annually updates its recommended immunization schedule for children in Spain.
• Recent optimizations in the national schedule include pneumococcal and varicella vaccines for infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the CAV-AEP's updated, evidence-based immunization schedule for children residing in Spain.
• To provide recommendations on both funded and unfunded vaccinations, including specific age groups and vaccination strategies.

Main Methods:

• Review of current scientific evidence on vaccine efficacy and safety.
• Analysis of the Spanish Ministry of Health's funded vaccination schedule.
• Formulation of recommendations by the CAV-AEP.

Main Results:

• The CAV-AEP recommends a 2+1 strategy for hexavalent (DTPa-IPV-Hib-HB) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines at 2, 4, and 12 months.
• Booster doses for Tdap and poliomyelitis at age 6, and Tdap for adolescents and pregnant women are advised.
• Two-dose schedules for MMR and varicella are recommended, with emphasis on improving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage in girls and providing information to male adolescents.
• Unfunded vaccination recommendations include meningococcal B (BEXSERO) and rotavirus vaccines for all infants, with CAV-AEP advocating for meningococcal B inclusion in the national schedule.
• Annual influenza and hepatitis A vaccinations are recommended for at-risk populations.

Conclusions:

• The CAV-AEP's updated schedule provides optimal vaccination strategies for children in Spain.
• Key recommendations focus on completing primary vaccination series, administering booster doses, and expanding coverage for specific vaccines like HPV and meningococcal B.
• The committee urges the incorporation of meningococcal B vaccine into the national funded schedule.