News & Views: 2019 Immunization Schedules: What Changed and Where Can I Get Them?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released the updated immunization schedules. A series of updates were made to both the birth-to-18 and adult schedules for 2019.

What changed for babies, children and teens?

• Influenza vaccine clarifications were made related to which product to use and when LAIV is contraindicated or should be considered a precaution. Inactivated and live influenza vaccines are now listed on separate lines of the schedule.
• Hepatitis A vaccine clarifications included the addition of homelessness as an indication for the vaccine, travel guidance for infants and unvaccinated children 12 months or older, and information about the use of the combined HepA-HepB vaccine in those 18 years or older.
• Hepatitis B vaccine information was updated to include the new hepatitis B vaccine (Heplisav-B) and use of the HepA-HepB combination vaccine.
• Meningococcal B vaccine during pregnancy was color-coded as a precaution, whereas previously there was not a recommendation.
• A note was added related to polio vaccine dosing when combination vaccines are used.
• Clarifications related to Tdap dosing were added.
• Outbreak notes were combined and moved to the “additional information” section, so they were removed from the individual meningococcal and MMR vaccine notes.

What changed for adults?

• Influenza vaccine clarifications related to which product to use and when LAIV is contraindicated. Inactivated and live influenza vaccines are now listed on separate lines of the schedule.
• Hepatitis A vaccine recommendations were expanded to include homelessness as an indication.
• The new hepatitis B vaccine is included on the schedule.

What changed related to formatting?

• The cover pages of both schedules were simplified and include brief instructions for use and standard abbreviations and names of routinely recommended vaccines.
• Links have been added to both schedules to easily access related materials, including Vaccine Information Statements (VIS), Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), the schedule App and more.
• In addition to precautions and contraindications, a third category, called delay in vaccination, has been added. It is coded pink on the schedules and is specific for pregnancy.
• Instead of numbering footnotes, both schedules now have the notes alphabetized by vaccine.

The comprehensive summaries for the childhood and teen as well as adult schedules were published in the February 8, 2019, MMWR.

Where can the updated schedules be accessed?

• 2019 Child and Adolescent schedule webpage
  • Printable version
• 2019 Adult schedule webpage
  • Printable version