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New Vaccinations Benefit Children's Health
HealthPartners physician recommends changes to improve health
February 19, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American Family of Physicians have released new guidelines for persons aged 0-18 years to reduce to chance of viruses from spreading. Changes were made to ensure that the schedule is current with changes in vaccine formulations and recommendations are revised for the use of licensed vaccines.
"The new immunization guidelines divide recommendations into two age groups, 0-6 years and 7-18 years," said Paul Berry, M.D., a HealthPartners Bloomington Clinic physician. "These two age groups allow practitioners to more effectively control viruses and appropriately address the patient's need."
The new immunization schedule also includes changes made specifically to the following viruses: Rotavirus, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Influenza and Varicella. New vaccines released on the market encouraged changes to immunization schedules. Dr. Berry recommends patients make the following changes this year:- Rotavirus Vaccine recommended in a 3-dose schedule at ages 2, 4 and 6 months. First dose should be administered at ages 6 weeks through 12 weeks with subsequent doses administered at 4 to 10 week intervals. Rotavirus vaccination should not be initiated for infants aged more than 12 weeks and should not be administered after age 32 weeks.
- Influenza - Vaccine now recommended for all children aged 6-59 months.
- Varicella - First dose of vaccine recommended to be administered at age 12-15 months, and a newly recommended second dose should be administered at age 4-6 years.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - Vaccine now recommended in a 3-dose schedule. Second and third doses administered 2 and 6 months after the first dose. Routine vaccination recommended for females aged 11-12 years, starting in females as young as age 9 years. Catch-up vaccinations recommended for females aged 13-26 years who have not been vaccinated previously or who have not completed the full vaccine series.
To get a copy of your child's immunization record, contact your child's health care or vaccine provider or your local or state health department's immunization program.
About HealthPartners
Founded in 1957, the HealthPartners (www.healthpartners.com) family of healthcare companies serve more than one million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. It is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providing care, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members, patients and the community. For the third year in a row, HealthPartners is rated one of the best commercial health plans in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, NCQA's "America's Best Health Plans 2007" and is ranked "Highest in Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Minnesota-Wisconsin Region" by J.D. Power and Associates.
Contact: 952-883-5314
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