For pediatricians, an annual rite is reading the updated immunization schedule.
It’s now time for that annual event. The AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases has published the “Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule: United States, 2024,” which has been approved by the AAP, CDC, and several other national medical organizations (10.1542/peds.2023-065044).
This year, there are more changes than in some years, including:
- Addition of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody (Nirsevimab) for infants, if the RSV vaccine was not administered to the mother during pregnancy. It should be given to children in their second RSV season if they have certain respiratory or cardiac illnesses.
- Change from 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to 15- or 20-valent PCV. Additionally, pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) is no longer routinely recommended for those at increased risk for invasive pneumococcal disease.
- Addition of 1 or more doses of the updated (2023-2024 formulation) COVID-19 vaccine; the number of doses is dependent upon the age of the child.
- Change from Meningococcal (MenACWY) and Meningococcal B vaccines to the pentavalent Meningococcal (MenACWY-TT/MenB-FHbp) vaccine.
- Addition of dengue vaccine for those who are at least 9 years old, are seropositive for prior dengue infection, and living in areas with endemic dengue.
- Addition of Mpox vaccine for those who are at least 18 years old and at risk for Mpox infection.
Also, importantly, all persons with history of egg allergy can receive any influenza vaccine without any precautions or safety considerations.
Be sure that you familiarize yourself with the changes so that you can both be up to date and keep your patients up to date on their vaccines.
