Health
CDC reinstates full pneumococcal vaccine recommendations
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 11, 2004
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month restored its advice to give all children the full series of four doses of Prevnar pneumococcal vaccine.
Earlier this year, the agency had withdrawn recommendations for the third and fourth doses because of production problems with the vaccine's sole manufacturer, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. The third dose was reinstated in July.
The CDC is also recommending prioritizing catch-up vaccinations for children younger than 5 years who have high-risk conditions such as diabetes or sickle cell disease and who had not received the full series. Healthy children should also receive any missed shots, most likely at their next regular doctor visit.
Wyeth promised to aid in efforts to vaccinate children who may have missed out.
"Moving forward, we will focus on alerting doctors and parents about the reinstated four-dose recommendation to help ensure that children who may have missed doses during the shortage receive their remaining age-appropriate doses," said Joe Mahady, president of Wyeth North America and Global Business.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/10/11/hlbf1011.htm.
