August 10, 2007 The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices called attention today to the advisability of vaccinating all persons aged 11-18 years against meningoccal disease. That would include routinely vaccinating children at their 11-12 years health visits, the ACIP said, and vaccinating young people at the time of entry into high school (approximately age 15) if they missed the earlier immunization. It is also important, the ACIP pointed out, that college freshmen be vaccinated at the time of entry into college, where they will be at increased risk for meningococcal disease as the result of living in dormitories. The ACIP expects this year's supply of the vaccine, MCV4 to be sufficient to meet the peak in demand that occurs when children are returning to school after summer vacation. The committee advises that MCV4 and Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) vaccines be administered during the same visit, but if simultaneous vaccination is not possible, MCV4 and Tdap can be administered in any order. "The goal is routine vaccination of all adolescents with MCV4 beginning at age 11," the ACIP said. The revised recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization are available as part of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for August 10, 2007, at www.cdc.gov/mmwr. |
