AAP Releases 2019-2020 Flu Vaccine Recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending use of both the live attenuated and the inactivated influenza vaccines for the 2019-2020 flu season.
In previous years, the AAP preferred the inactivated version due to questionable efficacy of the live vaccine against the circulating strains.
Notable changes found in the new recommendations include:
- The A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) components of the vaccine are new for this season, while the B strains remain unchanged.
- All pediatric vaccines will be quadrivalent, and some age indications have been expanded. For children 6 months old and older, there are now 4 egg-based quadrivalent inactivated vaccines, 1 inactive cell-based quadrivalent inactivated vaccine for children 4 years and older, and 1 quadrivalent live attenuated vaccine for children 2 years and older.
- For children aged 6 months through 36 months, new formulations of vaccines with a volume of 0.5 mL per dose have been approved.
- Children 6 months through 8 years of age who receive the vaccine for the first time and have only received 1 dose by July 1, 2019 should receive 2 doses by the end of October 2019.
“The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to recommend routine influenza immunization of all children without medical contraindications, starting at 6 months of age. Any licensed, recommended, age-appropriate vaccine available can be administered, without preference of one product or formulation over another. Antiviral treatment of influenza with any licensed, recommended, age-appropriate influenza antiviral medication continues to be recommended for children with suspected or confirmed influenza, particularly those who are hospitalized, have severe or progressive disease, or have underlying conditions that increase their risk of complications of influenza.”
—Michael Potts
Reference: Recommendations for prevention and control of influenza in children, 2019–2020 [published online September 2, 2019]. Pediatrics. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-2478.