Adolescents and Children Immunization Schedules Updated for 2022

The U.S. CDC issued a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report today highlighting the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents for 2022.

Found on the CDC’s immunization schedule website, the ACIP recommendations issued on February 18, 2022, include several changes from the 2021 immunization schedule.

Vaccine-specific changes include new or updated ACIP recommendations for influenza, dengue, and COVID-19 vaccines. 

Changes also include clarification of the recommendations for Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine, hepatitis A vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, human papillomavirus vaccine, measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR); meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, Y vaccine (MenACWY); tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine (Tdap); and varicella vaccine (VAR).

• Dengue: This new section was added to provide details for routine dengue vaccination in areas with endemic dengue. In addition, a hyperlink referring health care providers to the latest guidance on areas with endemic dengue and prevaccination laboratory testing is included.
• Hib: The note was updated to include the recommendations for routine and catch-up vaccination when DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB (Vaxelis) is used.
• HepA: The note was revised to clarify that routine vaccination is at 12–23 months.
• HepB: In the “Special situations” section, the text has been revised to clarify and emphasize post-vaccination serology and revaccination recommendations.
• HPV: In the “Special situations” section, the text for immunocompromising conditions has been revised to clarify that three doses should be administered regardless of age at initial vaccination.
• Influenza: The note has been updated to reflect the recommendations for the 2021–22 influenza season. The “Special situations” section was condensed by moving information on contraindications and precautions for influenza vaccines to the newly created appendix.
• MMR: The note on routine vaccination was updated to include recommendations for the use of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine (MMRV).
• MenACWY: Language was added to the notes regarding the recommendation for simultaneous administration with the meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (MenB). The text reads, “MenACWY vaccines may be administered simultaneously with MenB vaccines if indicated, but at a different anatomic site, when feasible.
• VAR: The note has been updated to include recommendations for using MMRV and to clarify that a second dose inadvertently administered after at least a 4-week interval may be counted as a valid dose.

Previously, the CDC published interim clinical considerations for the use of COVID-19 vaccines on February 11, 2022. These considerations include updated contraindication and precaution section for myocarditis or pericarditis cases following an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

And for people, ages 5 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, a 3-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series is recommended, followed by a booster (4th) dose for those ages 12 years and older.

The Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, United States, 2022 is available here. In addition, the ACIP recommendations for each vaccine are also available.

Furthermore, a newly created appendix was added that lists the contraindications and precautions for each vaccine type included in the schedule.

Separately, the CDC published an update to the Adult Vaccination schedule for 2022.

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