The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released an updated vaccine schedule for babies and older kids.
The 2015 recommended childhood and adolescence immunization schedules comes at a time when the AAP is urging parents to vaccinate their kids against measles due to the current outbreak (which has increased to over 70 confirmed cases).
Changes to the vaccination schedule include new columns for:
- giving babies traveling outside the U.S. a first dose of the MMR vaccine (for measles) between 6 and 11 months
- giving kids the flu vaccine starting at age 2, with some kids needing double doses between ages 2 and 8
- indicating double doses are no longer needed for kids ages 9 to 10
Footnotes included on the schedules have also been updated, including one about the meningococcal vaccine (for meningitis), which clarifies proper and safe dosing for high-risk babies.
The MMR vaccine update is important to note, as babies should only get two doses, the first between 12 and 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years. But an exception is now being made for babies between 6 and 11 months who are traveling outside the country; they should be receiving three doses (the first before 12 months, the second between 12 and 15 months, the third about four weeks after the second dose).
For kids older than 12 months traveling outside the country, they should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first one between 12 and 15 months and the second one about four weeks later.
See the complete updates to the AAP vaccine schedules here.
More About Measles
- All About the MMR Vaccine
- Spot That Rash: What Measles Look Like
- Measles: What to Do if Your Child Is Exposed
- What to Do if You or Your Child Gets the Measles
- How to Protect Babies from Measles
Sherry Huang is a Features Editor for Parents.com who covers baby-related content. She loves collecting children’s picture books and has an undeniable love for cookies of all kinds. Her spirit animal would be Beyoncé Pad Thai. Follow her on Twitter @sherendipitea
Image: Calender with “vaccine” notation via Shutterstock