3/8/17
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its 2017 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, which now features a NEW specific 16-year-old immunization platform visit. This highlights the importance of health care providers scheduling their 16-year-old patients for immunizations to help protect older adolescents from serious infectious diseases. Refer to links below:
Why the 16-year-old column is important
The new “16-year-old” column brings much needed attention to the fact that several CDC-recommended vaccinations due to be administered at 16 years of age are being overlooked by many providers. These include:
- MenACWY dose #2 — recommended at age 16
- MenB dose #1 — recommended (category B) at age 16
- HPV “catch-up” — needed for those who have not yet completed their series
- Influenza vaccine — recommended seasonally
- Other vaccines — the 16-year-old platform provides a “catch-up” opportunity for patients who have fallen behind on other recommended vaccines (e.g., HepA, HepB, varicella)
There are now three immunization platform visits indicated on the child/teen schedule: 4-6 years, 11-12 years, AND 16 years !!! Feel free to spread the word !!!
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html