Childhood Vaccines: Current Recommendations

Maternal passive immunity is a type of naturally acquired immunity during pregnancy that is passed through the placenta to the fetus, and through breastfeeding. Immunization is often required shortly after birth to prevent diseases in newborns. Most vaccines require more than one dose because maternal antibodies can block the induction of active vaccine responses during the first year of life, potentially reducing immunity. These vaccines may contain some components of the inactive proteins of a virus which when exposed to a child, can stimulate the immune system to react as if there is a real infection. If the child is ever exposed to the actual disease, the child’s body should recognize it, and fight the exposure.

Each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes their current recommendations for childhood vaccine schedules. Following immunization schedules is important, because immunizations provide the best possible degree of protection to children from preventable illnesses

Nurses play an important role in patient education and promoting healthy lifestyles. Today’s post will provide a quick overview of the current recommendations by the CDC for childhood vaccines.

What Childhood Vaccines are Recommended by the CDC?

The CDC recommends various vaccines, with several of them requiring multiple doses at specific ages. The CDC has created a detailed immunization schedule for Birth-18 Years Immunization Schedule | CDC that highlights the specifics of the age, dose, and frequency of childhood vaccines. Current recommendations by the CDC include the following vaccines:

• Hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccine
• Rotavirus (RV) vaccine
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
• Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) vaccine
• Influenza vaccines (annual shots)
• Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV) vaccine
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccines
• Varicella (VAR) vaccine
• Hepatitis A (Hep A) vaccine
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis (TDaP) vaccine as a booster for adolescents
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
• Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine
• Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine (recommended for specific populations and is best determined by children’s physicians)
• Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (PPSV23) vaccine
• Dengue (DEN4CYD) vaccine

Latest Changes to the 2022 Childhood Vaccine Schedule

The CDC has an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which meets three times each year to study the most recent scientific research regarding various vaccine-preventable diseases. The CDC makes changes to the childhood vaccination schedule based on ACIP recommendations. The same schedule gets approval from other organizations, such as the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The CDC has made some changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, including new recommendations for the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, varicella vaccines, and Haemophilus vaccines.