The advent of cold and flu season has many clinicians thinking about vaccinating their older and at-risk patients against influenza, but that's not all the immunization protection adult patients need to stay healthy. Fortunately, family physicians can now turn to a tried-and-true resource -- the Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule -- for help tracking adult vaccinations recommended for 2005 - 06.
The schedule, developed by the AAFP, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, outlines the vaccinations recommended for routine administration to adults, defined as those 19 and older, by age group. As in previous years, the schedule shows immunization recommendations for the general population, as well as additional vaccinations recommended for administration to selected patient groups.
Among changes in the 2005 - 06 schedule:
AAFP Issues Latest Adult Immunization Schedule
By News Staff
10/25/2005
- Addition of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine and recommendations for its administration,
- Revision of the annual influenza vaccination footnote to expand the populations classified as high risk, and
- Addition of footnote information for the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination addressing high-risk populations.
The schedule encourages clinicians to consult the individual vaccine manufacturers' package inserts and complete recommendation statements from the ACIP for more details. It also urges physicians to report clinically significant postvaccination reactions to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Reporting forms and instructions for filing VAERS reports are available online or by telephone at (800) 822-7967.
