CDC Issues 2008 Childhood Vaccination Schedules

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They're at it again... ~sophia~ CDC Issues 2008 Childhood Vaccination Schedules The 2008 recommended immunization schedules for children 18 years and younger have been published in MMWR. Among the changes from 2007: The live attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist) is now recommended for children as young as age 2. The meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is recommended for high-risk children aged 2 to 10 years and all children 13 to 18 who haven't been previously immunized. (Routine MCV4 vaccination continues to be recommended for normal-risk children aged 11 to 12, as well as children through age 18 at increased risk for meningococcal disease.) A new catch-up schedule advises that children aged 7 to 18 who received their first dose of the tetanus and diphtheria toxoids/tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acelluar pertussis vaccine (Td/Tdap) before age 1 should be given four doses, with 4 or more weeks between the second and third doses. MMWR article (Free) CDC press release (Free) CDC vaccine site (Free)Related Journal Watch link(s): Previous Physician's First Watch coverage of FluMist in children aged 2–5 (Free) Previous Physician's First Watch coverage of meningococcal vaccine in high-risk children

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