Vaccine Boosting Immunity

T
he U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) said in a
joint statement the grants of $10 million from the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation
to develop and produce a powerful new polio vaccine to help bring an end to the
spread of the paralyzing disease by year-end. The grants are separate from a $ 1
billion cash to give much-needed vaccines to immunize millions of children in
poor countries.  The drug maker Sanofi-Aventis has been
working on the polio vaccine and is expected to be available in May. 
Through mass immunization campaigns, the new vaccine is hoped to be more
effective against poliovirus Type 1 than the current trivalent vaccine
against the three poliovirus Types 1, 2 and 3.  It will be used initially
in Egypt where the poliovirus strain Type 1 is endemic and in certain parts of
India.  

Recommended Childhood Immunization
Schedule

1.  Hepatitis B Vaccine (HepB)

• First dose - soon after birth and before hospital
  discharge of infants.  Age 1 and 2 months only if mother is
  HBsAB(-).
  
• Second dose - at least 4 weeks after the first
  dose.
  
• Third dose - at least 16 weeks after the first
  dose.
  
• Last dose (Fourth) - should not be administered before
  age 6 months.

2.  Diphtheria and Tetanus toxoids and acellular
Pertussis Vaccine (DTaP)

Doses to infants at age 2, 4, 6 months.  The
fourth dose may be administered as early as age 12 months, provided 6 months
have elapsed since the third dose and unlikely to return at age 15-18
months.

3.  Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) conjugate
vaccine

Administered to ages 2 and 4 months.  A dose at
age 6 moths is not required.

4.  Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine
(MMR)

First dose beginning at or after age 12 months. 
Second dose on MMR is recommended at age 4-6 year old.

5.  Varicella Vaccine

Administered to susceptible children (those who lack a
reliable history of chickenpox) age 12 months.  Persons age >- 13 years
should receive two doses, given at least 4 weeks apart.

6.  Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV) Heptavalent
pneumococcal conjugate

Administered to children age 2-23 months and 24-59
months.

7.  Hepatitis A Vaccine

Children and adolescents and certain high-risk group in
selected states and region.  Two doses - 6 months apart.

8.  Influenza Vaccine

Administered annually to children age >- 6
months.

NB:  Providers should consult the manufacturer's
package inserts for detailed recommendations.

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