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Recommended childhood immunization schedule--United States, 1997
Insights
Updated childhood immunization schedules now prefer acellular pertussis vaccines for infants starting at two months. Recommendations for poliovirus vaccination offer expanded inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) use to reduce vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) risks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) periodically update childhood immunization recommendations.
- Previous schedules required revisions due to new vaccine developments and safety considerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the 1997 recommended childhood immunization schedule.
- To detail significant changes in pertussis and poliomyelitis prevention strategies.
- To inform healthcare providers about newly licensed combination vaccines.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent vaccine licensure and advisory committee recommendations.
- Analysis of changes in vaccine usage for pertussis and poliomyelitis.
- Inclusion of new combination vaccines in the updated schedule.
Main Results:
- Acellular pertussis vaccines are now preferred for infants starting at two months of age.
- Expanded use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is recommended, offering three vaccination options to minimize vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP).
- New combination vaccines, including Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)/hepatitis B and diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, acellular pertussis (DTaP)/Hib, are available.
Conclusions:
- The 1997 immunization schedule reflects advancements in vaccine technology and public health strategies.
- Updated recommendations aim to improve vaccine efficacy and safety in children.
- Adoption of the revised schedule is crucial for effective disease prevention.
Abstract:
Since publication of the recommended childhood immunization schedule in July 1996, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) have made important changes in recommendations for preventing pertussis and poliomyelitis. Following the licensure of two acellular pertussis vaccines for infants, the advisory groups now recommend use of acellular pertussis vaccine (Tripedia or ACEL-IMUNE) as the preferred vaccine for pertussis vaccination for infants beginning at age 2 months. To reduce the risk for vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP), recommendations for poliovirus vaccination have expanded the use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) by providing three options for poliovirus vaccination (sequential IPV/oral poliovirus vaccine [OPV], all IPV, or all OPV). In addition, a combination Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B vaccine and a combination diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) and Hib vaccine have been licensed for use in certain situations. This report presents the recommended childhood immunization schedule for 1997 and explains the changes that have occurred since the last publication of the schedule.