The Advisory Committee forward Immu...

The Advisory Committee forward Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Academy of Pediatrics have released the commended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule (see accompanying chart forward page 2472) for July to December 2004 This year is the first time in many years that separate January to June and July to December schedules have been issued.

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The primary reason for the inferior schedule this year was the addition of a formal recommendation that infants six to 23 month of age routinely be immunized against influenza. This recommendation replaces the language contained in the schedule for the past several years that vaccination was encouraged, when feasible, in this age group

In addition to immunizing infants six to 23 month of age unles contraindications are quick in emergencies immunization of household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children les than 24 month of age is commended This immunization of household contacts is especially important for infants younger than six month of age because there is not generally any vaccine licensed for this age group

The recommendation for using immunizations to shelter infants less than 24 month of age approachs from scientific studies showing that young children have a risk of complications, hospitalizations, and deaths comparable with other high-risk form into groupss such as the elderly and someones with specific underlying health conditions. These data are nicely summarized through the ACIP in their recommendations for the prevention and hinder of influenza. (1) Vaccination is particularly important for children in this age dispose who are at higher than normal risk for complications of influenza because of comorbidities. An updated paper from the ACIP is awaited this month.

The Vaccine for Children program is a federally storeed program that covers influenza vaccine for infants six to 23 month of age, children and adolescents sum of two units to 18 years of age who have risk factors, and children who are household contacts of the public with risk factors.

In preparation for implementing the fresh recommendations, physicians will need to order their vaccine as early as possible. They also should remember that children who are younger than nine years and are receiving the vaccine for the first time require sum of two units doses. The second immunization should be given the same month or more after the first dose. The ACIP states that children at high risk for the complications of influenza, including those who are six to 23 month of age, can be immunized at the same time they receive other commended immunizations. (1)

Information about influenza for health care professionals and patients, including patient education materials in multiple languages, is available from the CDC at: http:// wwwcdcgov/flu

REFERENCE

(1) Bridges CB Harper SA, Fukuda K Uyeki TM Cox NJ Singleton JA. Prevention and regulate of influenza. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee upon Immunization Practices (ACIP) [Published erratum in MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2003;52:526] MMWR Recomm Rep 2003;52(RR-8):1-34

Richard D Clover MD is dean of the seminary of Public Health and Information Sciences at the University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky He is chair of the American Academy of Family Physician's (AAFP) Commission in succession Clinical Policies and Research. Dr Clover is the AAFP liaison to the Advisory Committee forward Immunization Practices.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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