AAP releases 2021 child, adolescent immunization schedule

(HealthDay)—The recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule has been updated for 2021, according to a policy statement published online Feb. 12 in Pediatrics.

Yvonne A Maldonado, M.D., from the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, and colleagues updated the 2021 childhood and adolescent immunization schedule, highlighting changes made to the schedule.

According to the policy statement, changes to individual footnotes have been made for the 2021 schedule. For influenza vaccines, language has been updated for use of vaccines in persons with an egg allergy with symptoms other than hives; vaccines other than Flublok or Flucelvax should be administered in a medical setting under supervision by a provider who can recognize and manage severe allergic reactions. Information about use of antiviral medications and administration of quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) use has been updated. LAIV4 should not be used for children younger than 2 years. Meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y polysaccharide tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine has been added as an option for preventing disease attributed to meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, and Y. Language has been updated for catch-up vaccination for infants who received one dose of meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y oligosaccharide diphtheria CRM₁₉₇ conjugate vaccine at age 3 to 6 months.

"Pediatricians want to see your children, and have made accommodations to keep families safe," Lee Savio Beers, M.D., president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in a statement. "As schools and communities open back up, children will need the protection that vaccinations give them."