The annual recommended immunization schedules for children and adolescents in the United States for 2007 were approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. These schedules reflect current recommendations for use of vaccines licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration. In view of the increasing complexity of the immunization schedule, the 2007 recommendations for children and adolescents have been divided into 2 separate schedules: one for children 0 to 6 years of age and one for those 7 to 18 years of age. The 2007 schedules reflect the following major changes:
- The addition of oral live rotavirus vaccine for routine administration to all infants at ages 2, 4, and 6 months of age.
- Routine administration of a second dose of varicella vaccine at 4 to 6 years of age.
- The addition of human papillomavirus vaccine for girls 11 to 12 years of age, with catch-up immunization of girls 13 to 18 years of age. This vaccine, administered intramuscularly in a 3-dose series at 0, 2, and 6 months is expected to prevent most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts.
- The age range for annual administration of influenza vaccine has been expanded to children 6 to 59 months old. Vaccine is also recommended for close contacts of children 0 to 59 months old.
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