ACIP Updates Adult Immunization Schedule

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has updated its immunization schedule for adults in the United States.
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The changes were made to further protect the population from vaccine-preventable diseases. They include:

  • Immunocompetent adults aged 65 years or older should get the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) at least 1 year apart.
  • Children aged 10 years or older who are at risk for serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) disease should receive the vaccine series.
  • The 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine (9vHPV) was added to the list of recommended routine vaccines.

“Primary care providers and specialty providers…have the responsibility to help ensure that their patients are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases and their sequelae,” ACIP concluded. “The use of proven, existing strategies can lead to improvements in immunization coverage rates and reduced illness and disability from vaccine-preventable diseases among adults in the United States.”

--Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Kim DK, Bridges CB, and Harriman KH. Advisory committee on immunization practices recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older: United States, 2016. Ann Intern Med. 2016;164(3):184-194. doi:10.7326/M15-3005.