AAP issues new recommendations for vaccinating children

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated some of its vaccine guidelines to reconcile its recommendations with those of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The harmonization was published in three separate statements from the AAP's infectious diseases committee, and applied to tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (Tdap), polio, and hepatitis A vaccines.

Among the changes, the AAP eliminated the minimum interval between tetanus and diphtheria vaccines and receiving a dose for whooping cough. They also recommended a single dose of whooping cough vaccine for children ages 7 to 10 who were either under-immunized or who had an incomplete vaccination history. 

Adults are recommended to get a vaccination or whooping cough if they have not had the vaccine previously or if they plan to be close to infants. 

They also noted that Tdap is now approved for use in individuals 65 and older. 

The AAP harmonized its hepatitis A recommendations with changes adopted by the ACIP in 2009. 

Prior to the changes, people who were seeking to adopt children from countries with medium-to-high hepatitis A virus infection rates, were recommended for vaccination. Now, the changes say that any previously unvaccinated household family and people with close contact, including babysitters, should be vaccinated within 60 days of contact with the child. 

Ideally, doctors would give the first dose at least two weeks before the child arrives and the second at least six months later. 

The changes also cite the need to protect children from polio, which is still found in Africa, and Asia. Pakistan and China are contending with a notable outbreak at this time. New guidance has also been issued regarding the three vaccines containing inactivated poliovirus licensed since 2000, Pediarix, Pentacel, and Kinrix.

The AAP now advises that the minimum interval between doses should be four weeks between each of the first three doses and six months between the third and fourth dose. The vaccinations can begin at 6 weeks of age. They also recommend that the final dose be given between 4 and 6 years of age even if the four doses have already been given earlier. 

Three things that you need to know:

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its vaccine guidance to match the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

2. There is no longer a minimum interval between receiving a tetanus or diphtheria vaccine and receiving Tdap (whooping cough). 

3. Finally, previously unvaccinated household family members and close contacts, which includes babysitters, of children adopted from countries with high rates of hepatitis A infection, should be vaccinated within 60 days of the arrival of the adopted child.

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