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Immunizations - Highlights
- Highlights
- Introduction
- Symptoms of Severe Reactions to Vaccinations
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
- Varicella-Zoster Virus (Chickenpox)
- Varicella-Zoster Virus (Shingles)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Pneumococcal Pneumonia
- Poliomyelitis
- Viral Influenza
- Haemophilus Influenzae Type B
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Rotavirus
- Smallpox
- Other Vaccinations
- Vaccinations for Travelers to Developing Countries
Description
An in-depth report on the purpose of immunizations and recommended schedules.Alternative Names
Measles; Rubella; Tetanus; Vaccinations; Whooping cough
Highlights:
Hib Vaccine Shortage
In December 2007 the Merck company ceased production of its Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) vaccine due to possible contamination. Merck does not expect to continue producing this vaccine until mid-2009. While there are 2 other Hib vaccines on the market, they cannot fill up the entire demand for the full vaccine schedule. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics are recommending that the booster dose of Hib (normally given to children between 12 and 15 months of age) be deferred, except for children at high risk. It is imperative, however, that babies receive the initial Hib series at ages 2, 4, and 6 months.
Vaccines
- Boostrix, a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine, was approved for use in adults in December 2008. The vaccine was previously approved only for children aged 10 - 18 years.
- A second oral rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix, was approved by the FDA in April 2008. The vaccine is given in 2 doses to babies aged 6 - 24 weeks.
- The meningococcal vaccine, which protects against several types of bacterial meningitis, is now recommended for all children aged 11 years and older.
- In April 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first vaccine against the avian flu virus. The avian flu vaccine is designed for people ages 18 - 64 who are at risk for exposure to the virus. The vaccine is given in 2 doses, spaced about 1 month apart. The U.S. government is stockpiling the vaccination in case of an avian influenza outbreak, but the vaccine is not available to the general public.
- Gardasil, a vaccine against 4 strains of the human papillomavirus, received approval in September 2008 the prevention of vaginal and valvular cancers caused by HPV 16 and 18.
Resources
- www.immunize.org -- Immunization Action Coalition
- www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ -- The National Immunization Program
- www.fda.gov/cber/vaers/vaers.htm -- Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
- www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/ -- National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
- www.immunizationinfo.org -- The National Network for Immunization Information
- www.vaccine.chop.edu -- Vaccine Education Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- www.vaccinesafety.edu -- Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
- www.whathealth.com -- National Partnership for Immunization
- www.immunofacts.com -- Information on vaccinations
- www.vaccines.org -- The Vaccine Page
References
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: recommendations for use of meningococcal vaccines in pediatric patients. Pediatrics. 2005 Aug;116(2):496-505.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Immunization Schedule for Ages 0 - 6 Years, United States, 2009.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Immunization Schedule for Ages 7 - 18 Years, United States, 2009.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults, United States, 2009. Available online.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Revised Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to Vaccinate All Persons Aged 11 - 18 Years with Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2007:56(31);794-795.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notice to Readers: Recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for Use of Quadrivalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4) in Children Aged 2 - 10 Years at Increased Risk for Invasive Meningococcal Disease. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2007;56(48);1265-1266.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2008. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2008:57(No. RR-7).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update on Hib Vaccine Shortage. October 22, 2008. Available online.
Chaves SS, Gargiullo P, Zhang JX, Civen R, Guris D, Mascola L. Loss of vaccine-induced immunity to varicella over time. NEJM. March 15, 2007;356:1121-1129.
Garland SM, Hernandez-Avila M, Wheeler CM, Perez G, Harper DM, Leodolter S, et al. Quadrivalent vaccine against human papillomavirus to prevent anogenital diseases. NEJM. May 10, 2007;356:1928-1943.
GlaxoSmithKline. Boostrix Prescribing Information. December, 2008.
Grijalva CG, Nuorti JP, Arbogast PG, Martin SW, Edwards KM, Griffin MR. Decline in pneumonia admissions after routine childhood immunisation with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the USA: a time-series analysis. Lancet. April 7, 2007;369:1179-1186.
Poehling KA, Szilagyi PG, Crijalva CG, Martin SW, LaFleur B, Mitchel E, et al. Reduction of frequent otitis media and pressure-equalizing tube insertions in children after introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Pediatrics. April 4, 2007;119:707-715.
US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves Expanded Uses for Gardasil to Include Preventing Certain Vulvar and Vaginal Cancers. September 12, 2008.
US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves New Vaccine to Prevent Gastroenteritis Caused by Rotavirus. April 3, 2008.
US Food and Drug Administration. Zostavax Questions and Answers. Available online. Last Accessed 3/12/2009.
World Health Organization. Immunization surveillance, assessment and monitoring -- United States of America (the) reported cases. Last Updated: December 18, 2008. Available online.
Zuckerman JN. Protective efficacy, immunotherapeutic potential, and safety of hepatitis B vaccines. J Med Virol. 2006 Feb;78(2):169-77.
- Reviewed last on: 3/23/2009
- Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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