Health
Fourth pneumococcal vaccine dose suspended temporarily
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 1, 2004
Physicians should hold off on administering the recommended fourth dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to young children because supplies are tight, according to a February statement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The recommendation was also endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians because of production problems that emerged last year at Wyeth Vaccines, the sole supplier.
The fourth dose should be administered only to high-risk children. All other children should get their final jab when supplies return to normal, although it is unclear when that will be.
"We are taking this action to ensure that every child can be protected against pneumococcal disease despite the limited supply," said Steve Cochi, MD, MPH, acting director of the CDC's National Immunization Program.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/03/01/hlbf0301.htm.
