CDC, AAP Release 2022-2023 Immunization Schedules for Children, Adolescents
The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics has approved the 2023 recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedules.1 The schedules were also approved by the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Physician Associates, and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.
“The 2023 childhood and adolescent immunization schedule has been updated to ensure consistency between the format of the childhood and adolescent and adult immunization schedules,” the researchers wrote.
The notable changes made to the 2023 schedule include:
- Additional information regarding COVID-19 vaccines has moved to the main text instead of the Notes page.
- Text has been revised to align with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendation for dose 4 of the pneumococcal conjugate.
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) has been added.
- The 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) has been added.
- The section on Hepatitis B has been rearranged to clarify recommendations for infants born to mothers with HBsAg-positive and unknown status.
- 2023 – 2023 influenza recommendations have been added.
The updated schedules come off the heels of a CDC report2, which found that the percentage of kindergartners who were fully vaccinated declined 1% from 94% to 93% during the 2021-2022 school year. The CDC estimated that this decline represented approximately 250,000 children who lack proper vaccination coverage.
Reference:
- O’Leary, ST, Campbell JD, Ardura MI, et al; Committee on Infectious Diseases. Recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule: United States, 2023. Pediatrics. Published online February 9, 2023. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-061029.
- Seither R, Calhoun K, Yusuf OB, et al. Vaccination coverage with selected vaccines and exemption rates among children in kindergarten - United States, 2021-22 school year. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72(2):26-32. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7202a2.