For premature infants, would using the minimum age and interval period to administer a vaccine lessen its effectiveness?
Premature infants are vaccinated on the same schedule as full-term infants, with the exception of the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine. (See ACIP General Recommendations for details: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5102.pdf ,p. 18). The timing of all doses and their effectiveness is considered to be comparable to those applying to a full-term infant. Optimal response to a vaccine depends on multiple factors, including the nature of the vaccine and the age and immune status of the recipient. Recommendations for the age at which vaccines are administered are influenced by age-specific risks for disease, age-specific risks for complications, ability of persons of a certain age to respond to the vaccine, and potential interference with the immune response by passively transferred maternal antibody. Vaccines are recommended for members of the youngest age group at risk for experiencing the disease for whom efficacy and safety have been demonstrated. Vaccination providers are encouraged to adhere
Premature infants are vaccinated on the same schedule as full-term infants, with the exception of the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine. For details see page 18 of the 2002 ACIP General Recommendations [6.28MB – 44 pages]. The timing of all doses and their effectiveness is considered to be comparable to those applying to a full-term infant. Optimal response to a vaccine depends on multiple factors, including the nature of the vaccine and the age and immune status of the recipient. Recommendations for the age at which vaccines are administered are influenced by age-specific risks for disease, age-specific risks for complications, ability of persons of a certain age to respond to the vaccine, and potential interference with the immune response by passively transferred maternal antibody. Vaccines are recommended for members of the youngest age group at risk for experiencing the disease for whom efficacy and safety have been demonstrated. Vaccination providers are encouraged to adhere as c
