News & Views: 2018 Immunization Schedules

In the beginning of February the 2018 versions of the childhood and adult immunization schedules were released. Have you looked over the changes? Most, but not all, changes were to clarify existing text. See if you can correctly answer the questions below:

1. Which two vaccines are no longer available, so references were removed from the schedules? Hint: One was on the childhood schedule and one was on the adult schedule.
2. What information does a new table on the childhood immunization schedule summarize?
3. For which vaccine has the dosing related to outbreaks been added to the adult schedule?
4. Recommendations for what new vaccine were added to the adult schedule?

    

Two vaccines are no longer available

References to MenHibrix® (Hib-MenCy) vaccine and MPSV4 (4-valent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine) have been removed from the childhood and adult immunization schedules, respectively, because these vaccines are no longer available. All doses of MenHibrix have expired.

Childhood vaccines table

A new table was added to the childhood immunization schedule to organize abbreviations and brand names of available childhood vaccines. The table is on the cover of the schedule document.

Outbreak dosing for adults

Adults who have had two doses or fewer of mumps-containing vaccine and are at increased risk of infection because of an outbreak should get an additional dose of MMR vaccine.

New vaccine for adults

The licensing of a new shingles vaccine, Shingrix®, led to a series of updates related to the use of shingles vaccine on the 2018 adult immunization schedule. Updated recommendations include:

• Adults ages 50 years and older — two doses of Shingrix separated by two to six months regardless of previous shingles disease or vaccination with Zostavax®.
• If a person received Zostavax, Shingrix should not be administered until at least 2 months later.
• Adults 60 years and older can get either vaccine, but Shingrix is preferred.

Also, to note, the abbreviation for Zostavax vaccine will now be ZVL instead of HZV, which was used previously to distinguish between the two vaccines. ZVL indicates that Zostavax is the live viral version. Shingrix will be designated as RZV to indicate that it is the recombinant zoster vaccine.

Review all changes, print or bookmark the 2018 versions of the immunization schedule:

• Childhood and adolescent schedule
• Adult schedule

The accompanying Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR) are also available:

• Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger — United States, 2018, February 9, 2018/67(5);156–157
• Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2018, February 9, 2018/67(5);158–160