Reuters Health Information (2005-10-14): Adult immunization schedule updated Public Health
Adult immunization schedule updated
Last Updated: 2005-10-14 15:40:22 -0400 (Reuters Health)
By Karla Gale
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices has updated its Recommended Adult Immunization
Schedule. The new Schedule is comprised primarily of clarifications
regarding existing recommendations for vaccines, Dr. Raymond Strikas,
with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told Reuters
Health.
In addition, he added, it incorporates "new recommendations this
past year on the use of varicella vaccine and on meningococcal
immunization, for which there are now two licensed vaccines, and
changes in influenza vaccine recommendations."
As noted in the Schedule footnotes, varicella vaccination is now
recommended for all adults without evidence of immunity to varicella.
The Committee advises particular consideration be given to individuals
who have close contact with persons at high risk for severe disease
(such as health-care workers and family contacts of immunocompromised
persons), or who are at high risk for exposure or transmission.
The advice regarding meningococcal vaccination primarily involves
those likely to be exposed to Neisseria meningitides. Medical
indications include adults with asplenia or terminal complement
component deficiencies.
The Committee has revised their recommendation regarding influenza
vaccination to add persons with neuromuscular conditions that
compromise respiratory function.
The revised Schedule also now includes Haemophilus influenzae type b
vaccination for populations at high risk, such as those with asplenia,
leukemia, HIV, or sickle cell disease.
Although some of the information for the remaining vaccines used in
adults has been reworded, it is basically unchanged for tetanus and
diphtheria, measles, mumps, and rubella, pneumococcal polysaccharide
vaccine, and hepatitis A and B vaccination.
The Adult Immunization Schedule is published in the MMWR QuickGuide
for October 14 and can be accessed in English and in Spanish at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/adult-schedule.htm.
MMWR 2005;54.
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