Immunizations - Highlights

Highlights	Hepatitis A	Haemophilus Type B
Introduction	Hepatitis B	Smallpox
Diptheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis	Poliomyelitis	Other Vaccinations
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella	Pneumococcal Pneumonia	Resources
Varicella-Zoster Virus (Chickenpox)	Viral Influenza	References

Highlights

Flu Vaccine

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that several additional adult populations receive influenza (flu) vaccinations, including:

All healthcare workers
Patients with any condition that affects breathing
Patients with any condition that producesrespiratory secretions (for example, mucus from a runny nose or cough)
People who live withthose who are at high risk of flu complications

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The CDC recommends that children under age nine receive two doses of theflu vaccine one month apart, because they do not develop a strong immune response from a single dose.

A 2004 review of multiple trials in Ontario, Canada (which providesflu shotsto all healthy adults and children over 6 months of age) found universal immunization to be effective.Researchers also found that,whenreceived within 36-48 hours of the first flu symptoms, the vaccine helps prevent household members and those in close contact to flu patients from getting sick.

Bacterial Meningitis

A new vaccine for bacterial meningitis (MCV4) was licensed in 2005 for people aged 11-55. ACIP recommendations now call for routine vaccination for all young adolescents (aged 11-12) as well as those previously defined as at increased risk.

Pertussis

In April 2005, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first pertussis booster shot forkids aged 10 to 18.The booster shot, called Boostrix, is a lower dose of infant petussis vaccine.(The infant pertussis vaccinecan start to wear off after about 5 years.)
The FDA also approveda boostervaccine calledAdacel for protection against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis from adolescence through adulthood.