CDC’s new vaccine recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released updated immunization schedules.

“The biggest change this year is the recognition that all babies should get the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of life,” said Dr. Robert Jacobson, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician. “There’s no logic or science to support waiting a month or two — even for those babies thought to be at low risk for infection.”

The CDC document also says changes include:

• New or revised recommendations for poliovirus; influenza; and measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.

• Clarification of the recommendations for rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines.

“This updated schedule represents a masterpiece of scientific thinking and human engagement,” said Jacobson. “This is not just the CDC’s schedule. This is a schedule shared by, and agreed upon by, the American Academies of Pediatrics and Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

“This schedule represents the best balance of timing the vaccines when they work against when the vaccines are needed.”

Jacobson emphasized that delaying vaccination leaves children at risk for diseases and the complications they cause.

He added, “Alternative schedules haven’t been studied in terms of their ef- fectiveness or safety. What we do know about alterna- tive schedules is that they leave our children at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and confuse parents as to what they should do.”