The 2023 child/adolescent and adult immunization schedules have been approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are accessible at https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/prevention-wellness/immunizations-vaccines.html. These schedules include links to COVID-19 vaccination information, vaccination information statements, adverse event reporting, and a QR code for online schedules. Notable changes include updates to COVID-19 recommendations and mpox (formerly monkeypox) vaccination.

Changes to Both the Child/Adolescent and Adult Immunization Schedules

COVID-19 VACCINATION

Everyone six months and older should receive a COVID-19 vaccination, which may be administered on the same day as other vaccines.

The four COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and recommended for primary series vaccination by ACIP include the following:

• Two- or three-dose monovalent mRNA BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech, Comirnaty)

• Two- or three-dose monovalent mRNA mRNA-1273 (Moderna, Spikevax)

• Single-dose adenovirus vector-based Ad26.COV.S (Janssen [Johnson & Johnson]) can be given in some situations

• Two-dose adjuvanted, protein subunit–based NVXCoV2373 (Novavax)

The number of doses recommended is based on recipient age and level of immunocompromise (Table 1¹).

For the primary vaccination series, an eight-week gap is recommended between first and second doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax vaccines for anyone between six months and 64 years of age. This longer time frame between the first and second primary doses may increase protection and further reduce the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis.

Bivalent mRNA vaccines contain components of the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and the Omicron strain. All people six months to four years of age who completed the Moderna primary series and all people five years or older should receive a single bivalent vaccine booster dose at least two months after completion of the primary vaccination series with the monovalent vaccine. People 12 years and older who completed the Novavax vaccine series should receive a bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster. The additional bivalent vaccination is recommended because COVID-19 vaccines are less effective when the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) of SARS-CoV-2 predominates. For adults 65 years and older, bivalent vaccines reduce hospitalizations by 73% compared with monovalent vaccines.

INFLUENZA VACCINATION

Annual influenza vaccination continues to be recommended for all people six months or older without contraindications. About 93% of the projected vaccine supply produced for the 2022–2023 flu season will be thimerosal-free or thimerosal-reduced (i.e., preservative-free).

All flu vaccines for the 2022–2023 season are quadrivalent, including hemagglutinin from one influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 virus, one influenza A(H3N2) virus, one influenza B/Victoria lineage virus, and one influenza B/Yamagata lineage virus. Trivalent influenza vaccines are no longer available.

For people younger than 65 years, all vaccines are equally safe and effective. Fluzone high-dose quadrivalent, Flublok quadrivalent recombinant, and Fluad quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccines are preferred for people 65 years or older.

Because of the continuing circulation of SARS-CoV-2 during the 2022–2023 influenza season, influenza vaccination is recommended because it reduces symptoms that might be confused with those of COVID-19, outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and intensive care unit admissions and mitigates stress on the health care system.

Flu vaccines can be administered with other vaccines, including those for COVID-19, if they are administered in separate body sites. Guidance on the influenza vaccine recommendations is available at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/summary/summary-recommendations.htm.

Changes to the Child/Adolescent Immunization Schedule

COVID-19 VACCINATION

For children six months to four years of age, the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can be given after two previous monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to complete their primary series, but not if a third vaccine has been received. The bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine is recommended at least eight weeks after completing the primary Pfizer-BioNTech series or last booster in children five years and older. Children six years and older can get a bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster at least eight weeks after second dose or last booster.