Vaccination Update - Smallpox, Flu and Tetanus Vaccines for Children
July
15, 2002 — Recently, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made several vaccine
decisions of importance to parents.
- Smallpox vaccine is not being recommended for the general public,
including infants, children and teenagers. The AAP agrees with the ACIP
conclusion that exposing the public to the severe side effects from the
vaccine is not warranted when there is no known immediate danger of a
smallpox outbreak. Parents should be aware that smallpox vaccine isn't
currently available to any physicians and hasn't been tested yet for use in
children. Pediatricians will continue to advise parents on the best ways to
keep their children safe and healthy. At this point, smallpox vaccine is not
part of that picture.
- The AAP and ACIP are encouraging that flu vaccine be given this year to
all healthy children aged 6 to 23 months. This age group has a high
likelihood of hospitalization if they get the flu. The vaccine will be
offered in October during the start of the flu season.
- The shortage of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine is now over. This
combination vaccine prevents a neurologic disease known as lockjaw and a
life-threatening respiratory illness. Pediatricians will now return to the
routine immunization schedule for the Td vaccine, which is a booster dose at
11 to 12 years, and subsequent booster doses every 10 years. If your child's
booster doses were deferred because of the shortage, the AAP encourages you
to contact your doctor.
The above decisions were based on input from the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) and other specialists in immunization and public health.
