CDC Childhood and Adolescent Vaccination Schedule (2025) – Guidelines Spotlight

Guideline Spotlight - Childhood & Adolescents Vaccination Schedule

In this edition of our Guideline Spotlight, where we take a look into the significant changes and key takeaways from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule: United States, 2025. This schedule serves as a valuable tool for healthcare providers to determine the recommended vaccines for individuals within each age group. The 2025 Immunization Schedules were officially approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and subsequently endorsed by the CDC Director on October 24, 2024, with publication following on November 21, 2024.

Please be aware that this summary does not cover all major points. For a comprehensive list of recommendations, please refer to the summary provided he re or access the full text located here.

Key Changes & Takeaways

Here are the key changes in the CDC’s Children and Adolescent Vaccination Schedule for 2025:

COVID-19 Vaccination:

The vaccine formula has been updated for the 2024-2025 season.

All individuals aged 6 months and older should receive at least one dose of the 2024-2025 vaccine.

Additional COVID-19 vaccine doses are recommended for children and adolescents who are immunocompromised.

Dengue Vaccination:

The schedule clarifies that the dengue vaccine is recommended only for a select group of children aged 9-16 years who reside in dengue-endemic areas and have laboratory confirmation of previous dengue infection.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP):

The special situations section in the notes has been updated to provide guidance on the use of Td in children under the age of 7 who have a contraindication specifically related to the pertussis component of DTaP.

Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib):

Vaxelis and PedvaxHIB are preferred vaccines for American Indian/Alaska Native infants.

In the special situations section, the use of early component complement inhibitors has been identified as a risk factor for vaccination in individuals of appropriate age.

Hepatitis B:

The information regarding the use of hepatitis B vaccines during pregnancy has been updated to include Heplisav-B in the list of vaccine products that are safe for administration during pregnancy.

Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV):

The guidelines for the inactivated poliovirus vaccine have been updated to recommend vaccination based on age.

It has been clarified that catch-up vaccination is recommended for individuals who are 18 years of age or older.

Influenza Vaccination:

Vaccines for the 2024-2025 season are trivalent.

High-dose inactivated and adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccines are acceptable options for 18-year-old solid organ transplant recipients on immunosuppressive medications.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR):

The Special Situations section has been recently updated to provide clearer recommendations for international travel.

The guidance is now categorized by age group and individuals’ vaccination history, making it easier to understand and follow.

Meningococcal B (MenB):

The vaccination guidelines have been updated to include the new Bexsero vaccination schedule.

For individuals aged 16-23 years who are in good health, it is recommended to receive a series of 2 doses, with a 6-month interval between each dose, following a shared clinical decision-making process. Alternatively, a 3-dose series (administered at 0, 1-2, and 6 months) can be considered for those seeking rapid protection.

Children and teenagers aged 10 years and older who are at higher risk of contracting serogroup B meningococcal disease are advised to undergo a 3-dose series at 0, 1-2, and 6 months for optimal protection.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunization:

The RSV immunization has been updated to specify the ideal timing for administering nirsevimab to infants based on their birth month. Infants born between October and March should receive nirsevimab within one week of birth, preferably during their hospital stay. For infants born between April and September, the recommended time for nirsevimab administration is between October and November.

Additionally, it has been emphasized that nirsevimab should be given to infants born to mothers who received RSV vaccination during a previous pregnancy.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination:

It has been updated to clearly state that additional doses are not recommended for subsequent pregnancies.

These updates aim to enhance protection against various infectious diseases and ensure that the vaccination schedule remains current with the latest evidence and recommendations.

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