2003 Immunization Schedule
Childhood & Adolescent Immunization Schedule
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The 2003 Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule was recently approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
This schedule indicates the recommended ages for routine administration of currently licensed childhood vaccines, as of December 1, 2002, for children through age 18 years. Any dose not given at the recommended age should be given at any subsequent visit when indicated and feasible.
The new schedule doesn't include any big changes for routine immunizations. Instead, it simply adds a yearly flu shot for selected populations of children, such as those with asthma, cardiac disease, sickle cell disease, HIV, diabetes, and household members at high risk, and anyone else that wants to decrease their chances of getting sick with the flu.
Selected populations of children should also receive a two dose series of the Hepatitis A vaccine, especially if they live in one of the selected states or regions of the United States or if they are in a high risk group. Your Pediatrician and/or your local health department should be able to tell you if your child needs the Hepatitis A vaccine.
Catch-up immunizations is another special focus of the new schedule. This is for children who have fallen behind on their shots or who start late, with special attention to children over age 2 years who have not been given their Hepatitis B shots, MMR booster, chicken pox shot (Varivax) or Prevnar.
A more formal catch-up schedule was also released. It includes information for getting children age 4 months to 6 years and 7 through 18 years current on their shots. Details include the minimum age that each shot can be given and the recommended interval or time between each dose.
See the CDC National Immunization Program for printable versions of this immunization schedule, a version you can download to your Palm Organizer, and a version that is formatted to be read by screen-reader software used by the visually-impaired.
