Immunization Schedule 2013

by Ren Chats
(Denmark)

Revised immunization schedule for all children from birth through teenage is published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in Feb’2013.

Lately, the vaccines to be administered to children have increased, and the immunization schedule had become very confusing for the parents.

Practitioners often fell short of precise explanation that would satisfy a parent’s concern. Consequently, dissatisfaction and non compliance of parents endangers their children's health.

Highlights of 2013 immunization schedule format:

• Plentiful explanatory information in footnotes: Read them carefully.

• Single immunization schedule (click here to download your copy) for newborns, toddlers, preschool and school children, tweens and teenagers.

• Column for 4 to 6 years of age is to emphasis the vaccination recommended at school entry.

• 11 to 12 years of age column is added to highlight the immunizations urged for adolescents.

• The bars are color coded, and the implication of each color is mentioned just below the schedule.

• Age group specific footnotes contains the recommendations for routine vaccination, for catch-up vaccination, and for vaccination of children and adolescents with high risk conditions or in special circumstances.

• The catch-up schedule (click here to download your copy) for children (between 4 mo and 18 years of age) is for them who start immunization late or their vaccination is delayed - more than 1 month behind the recommended schedule.
• During each pregnancy the expectant mother is expected to receive Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends this also for pregnant adolescents due to noticeable rising incidence of whooping cough cases during early infancy.

Use morning after pills or
IUD to prevent teenage pregnancy

Vaccination during pregnancy will protect the baby from this debilitating dangerous disease during neonatal phase and early infancy; till the infant can develop her own optimal immunity in response to the primary vaccinations.

Even though the data available till date on the safety and efficacy of multiple Tdap doses is limited, the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that even though teenagers and youths have been vaccinated adequately prior to their pregnancy should receive another dose of Tdap during the pregnancy until further information is published.

The available information is seriously being reviewed by AAP. We await future policy statement of the academy for repeated pertussis vaccination in the 2014 immunization schedule.

CDC and the American Academy of Family Physicians unanimously approved the revised immunization schedule published in Pediatrics Feb’2013 issue: Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule – United States, 2013, by the Committee on Infectious Diseases;
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-3706

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