Guideline Watch: Childhood & Adolescent Immunization Schedule

Educational Objectives

Summary

Guideline Watch: Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, 2024 Update

The updated 2024 childhood immunization schedule can be viewed on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules; https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7301a2) and in Pediatrics (https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-065044). Footnotes detail each vaccine and provide details regarding administration. Links to parent-friendly vaccine schedules are available, as well as an addendum outlining vaccine administration by medical indication (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-indications.html#addendum-child) and a catch-up immunization schedule (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/catchup.html).

Key Recommendations

• New inclusions:

  — RSV-mAb (nirsevimab) for infants and young children

  — RSV preF vaccine (trade name: Abrysvo) for pregnant people, with information regarding seasonality and recommended administration

  — Mpox vaccine (trade name: Jynneos) for high-risk adults (age, ≥18)

  — Pentavalent meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY-TT/MenBFHbp [trade name: Penbraya]) with a linked resource to aid in shared clinical decision making regarding MenB vaccine

• Removal of vaccines no longer available:

  — Bivalent COVID‑19 mRNA vaccines

  — 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13); replaced with PCV15 and PCV20 for routine use

  — Diphtheria and tetanus toxoid vaccine (DT)

  — Meningococcal vaccine MenACYW-D (trade name: Menactra)

• Updated recommendations:

  — Influenza: People with egg allergies of any severity can receive any appropriate influenza vaccine without special considerations.

  — Polio: Administer a onetime lifetime inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) booster to adults (age, ≥18) who have completed the primary series and are at excess risk for exposure to poliovirus.

Vaccination rates in kindergarteners have not returned to pre–COVID‑19 levels, and immunization exemptions are on the rise, leaving children susceptible to multiple vaccine-preventable illnesses. Although the immunization schedule is complicated enough to require multiple tables and annual updates, it remains a valuable tool for those who care for children and adolescents. Redoubled efforts are critical to combat vaccine hesitancy and misinformation about risks and benefits, as is the focus on communicating successfully with tentative parents. This updated immunization schedule reflects dramatic progress in protection against infectious diseases — still, vaccines must be given to be effective.

Deborah Lehman, MD

Readings

Disclosures

Acknowledgements

CME/CE INFO

Accreditation:

The Audio- Digest Foundation is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Audio- Digest Foundation designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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Lecture ID:

JW350516

Expiration:

This CME course qualifies for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for 3 years from the date of publication.

Instructions:

To earn CME/CE credit for this course, you must complete all the following components in the order recommended: (1) Review introductory course content, including Educational Objectives and Faculty/Planner Disclosures; (2) Listen to the audio program and review accompanying learning materials; (3) Complete posttest (only after completing Step 2) and earn a passing score of at least 80%. Taking the course Pretest and completing the Evaluation Survey are strongly recommended (but not mandatory) components of completing this CME/CE course.

Estimated time to complete this CME/CE course:

Approximately 2x the length of the recorded lecture to account for time spent studying accompanying learning materials and completing tests.

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