The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated recommended vaccine schedules for 2020, including changes for recommended practices related to the Hepatitis A, HPV, PCV13, and TDaP vaccines.
In particular, it is now recommended that the Hepatitis A vaccination be routinely administered for all children and adolescents ages two to 18, adults with HIV, and patients one year and older who are experiencing homelessness.
The HPV vaccination is now recommended for both men and women through age 26, and is recommended with shared clinical decision-making for men and women 27 to 45 years of age.
The PCV13 vaccine, which targets a strain of pneumococcal disease, is no longer routinely recommended for all immunocompetent adults older than 65, but it is recommended with shared clinical decision-making. This recommendation is based on evidence showing historically low levels of PCV13-type disease among older adults due to high rates of PCV13 administration in children.
Also, as we reported in November, the TdaP vaccine can now be given in any situation where the Td vaccine is currently recommended. For example, either can be used for the decennial Td booster, when tetanus prophylaxis is needed for wound management, and in catch-up immunization administration for patients age 7 or older.
Pamela G. Rockwell, D.O., FAAFP, associate professor, serves on ACIP as the American Academy of Family Physicians’ liaison. She notes, in particular, “we no longer have to evaluate gender and risk level in deciding whether to recommend the HPV vaccine, and instead recommend it for all through age 26 now, as data continues to show HPV vaccination reduces HPV-related cancers across the board. In addition, the new color coding and formatting of the schedules make them much easier for practitioners to read and use at a glance, making them safer for all.”
A variety of other updates were made to vaccine practices, and ACIP continues to recommend that physicians and other vaccine providers respond to vaccine hesitancy among patients with a strong recommendation to vaccinate, acknowledging patient concerns and citing the growing body of data demonstrating vaccine safety. The CDC continues to recommend that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu vaccine.
More information on these changes can be found at www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20200207vaccskeds.html.
The CDC’s 2020 adult and childhood/adolescent immunization schedules can be found at www.aafp.org/patient-care/immunizations/schedules.html.
