The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its immunization schedule for youngsters and adults. Amongst other changes, the one which stood out was the addition of COVID-19 vaccines to the routine list.

The proposed changes were really helpful by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or ACIP and signed by the CDC. The updated vaccine recommendations for youngsters, adolescents, and adults usually are not requirements for schools or workplaces. Vaccination requirements for schools are decided by state or local jurisdictions.

Published within the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, major changes within the vaccine schedule include the incorporation of the COVID-19 primary vaccine series and booster doses; updates on influenza and pneumococcal vaccines usage; and latest vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and for hepatitis B.

“This implies the COVID-19 vaccine is now presented as some other routinely really helpful vaccine and is not any longer presented in a special “call out” box as in previous years. This, in a way, helps ‘normalize’ this vaccine and sends a robust message to each healthcare providers and most of the people that everybody ages 6 months and older should not sleep up to now with really helpful COVID-19 vaccines (including a booster, when eligible), just as they might with some other routinely really helpful vaccine,” Dr. Neil Murthy and Dr. A. Patricia Wodi said, CNN reported.

Against the backdrop of the recent measles outbreak in Ohio that has ended, the schedule also suggested additional doses of MMR vaccine during a mumps outbreak. The administration of inactivated poliovirus vaccine was also really helpful in adults who’re more likely to be exposed to the virus.

“There have been a number of questions on whether a further dose of polio vaccine was appropriate, and this just opens the door for using one other dose of inactivated virus, that’s injectable polio vaccine, in those circumstances where, for instance, a neighborhood health department in concert with the CDC might recommend that,” Schaffner, who’s a member of CDC’s vaccine advisory committee, said, in accordance with the outlet.

Moreover, using PCV15, a recently approved pneumococcal conjugate vaccine used to treat bacterial infection in children has also been added to the list. Now, either PCV13 or PCV15 could also be utilized in accordance with the precise pediatric population.

Special attention is being paid to vaccine coverage in kindergarteners because it fell to 93%  for required vaccines. The figure is 2 percentage points below the 95% goal set by the US Department of Health and Human Services within the Healthy People project.

“Why is that a matter of concern? Since it opens up opportunities for these viruses and other germs to be reintroduced into the US and to cause outbreaks of disease. The recently concluded measles outbreak in Ohio is an example, the introduction of the poliovirus into Latest York is an example, and we want to maintain our guard up,” said Schaffner.

The decline in vaccine coverage is being pinned on the healthcare disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.