AAP releases 2016 recommendations for childhood and adolescent immunizations

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has published the newest recommendations for immunizations of children and adolescents. These changes include: the grouping of routinely recommended vaccines; updates to H influenza type b vaccine, Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, Meningococcal B vaccine; and some stylistic modifications that make the schedule easier to follow.

Statement Rundown: The AAP published the new 2016 schedule for childhood and adolescent immunizations. This schedule is revised annually to reflect the US Food and Drug Administration’s most current recommendations.

The following changes to the schedule are recommended:

• Routinely recommended vaccines have been grouped from earliest age to older ages of administration (under Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Ages 0 Through 18 Years).
• H influenza type b: this vaccine is now recommended for high-risk children between the ages of 5 years through 18 years.
• HPV has been changed to HPV9, reflecting the new designation. In addition, it is now recommended for children ages 9 to 10 years with a history of sexual abuse, indicating their high risk status.
• Meningococcal B is now added to the schedule for high risk individuals at 10 years of age and non-high risk individuals ages 16 through 18.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide is no longer a routine recommendation for any population.

Footnotes contain recommendations for routine vaccinations, catch-up vaccinations, and vaccination of high-risk children and adolescents.

Click to read the policy statement, published today in Pediatrics

Relevant Readings: American Academy of Pediatrics Immunization Schedules and Parent-friendly vaccine schedule for children and adolescents