The nation’s recommended vaccination schedule has transformed in recent months amid federal agency shakeups — and officials have teased more changes, including breaking up the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three shots.
Four updates to know:
1. A hint of more vaccine recommendation changes
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, an independent CDC panel of advisors who review and provide vaccine guidance to the CDC, plans to review several aspects of the childhood vaccination schedule.
According to a document posted Oct. 9, a work group part of ACIP will investigate — and potentially make new recommendations on — the timing and order of vaccines, the safety of vaccine ingredients, immunization schedules in other countries and the concurrent administration of various vaccines.
In June, the committee underwent an overhaul after all 17 standing members were removed and new members were instated.
In September, the newly formed ACIP voted to recommend the trivalent MMR vaccine and varicella (chickenpox) vaccine be administered separately, rather than the quadrivalent MMRV vaccine, to children younger than 4 years old.
2. CDC adopts ACIP’s recommendations
On Oct. 6, the CDC announced a plan to revise its recommended immunization schedule based on the ACIP’s guidance.
Breaking with past guidance that recommended all individuals 6 months and older receive COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC now recommends shared clinical decision-making between providers and patients.
For MMR and varicella vaccines, the agency said toddlers should receive their second varicella vaccine separately from combined MMR vaccination. About 85% of children already receive separate vaccinations.
3. Where to find a COVID-19 vaccine
Following decisions from the ACIP and CDC, Virginia placed limits on COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, according to The Washington Post.
Officials in Maryland and Washington, D.C., have said anyone ages 3 years and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine. But in Virginia, only those who are 65 and older and those ages 18 to 64 with an underlying medical condition can get vaccinated without a prescription. All other Virginia residents are advised to conduct shared clinical decision-making with a healthcare provider.
4. Florida could ban some school-based immunization rules
In early September, Florida’s surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, said the state’s health department plans to scrap all school-based vaccine mandates. The department later said it was looking into lifting mandates on school vaccines for chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib influenza and pneumococcal diseases within 90 days.
Meanwhile, the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is being flooded with calls from parents and pediatricians, many of whom are concerned and confused about the potential change.
A reduction in the list of school-based vaccine requirements will endanger children and adults alike, as avoidable emergency department visits, severe illnesses and deaths could increase if the state vaccination rate falls, said Rana Alissa, MD, president of the AAP’s Florida chapter, and Jennifer Takagishi, MD, vice president of the chapter.
