Infectious Respiratory Disease Immunization Timeline: Children and Adolescents (Ages 6-17)

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Infectious Respiratory Disease Immunization Timeline: Babies and Young Children (Ages 2 Months-6 Years)

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Infectious Respiratory Disease Immunization Timelines

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This respiratory illness season, families in communities around the country face vaccine-preventable diseases that can cause serious illness in children — from the flu, COVID-19, whooping cough, pneumococcal disease, and RSV, to measles. Meanwhile, recent data show that vaccination rates in children continue to decline, leaving them more vulnerable and susceptible to severe illness.

Given this landscape, many parents and caregivers have questions about pediatric vaccines, including access through the federal Vaccines for Children program. This is a critical moment for vaccine champions to reinforce focus on pediatric vaccine uptake and strategies that help protect against severe respiratory illness.

Experts in pediatric care, public health, and vaccine policy discussed the critical role that respiratory vaccines play in keeping children safe and practical tools for supporting childhood vaccination during respiratory illness season and beyond.

Panelists included:

• Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP, Chief Medical Officer, Association of Immunization Managers (AIM)
• James Campbell, MD, MS, Vice Chair, Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
• Moderator: Stacy Buchanan, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, Chair, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Immunization Special Interest Group

The Benefits of Immunization for High-Risk Populations

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What to Know About Pneumococcal Vaccines for Children and Adolescents

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Vaccines are among the most effective ways to help protect children from many serious and potentially deadly diseases. Unfortunately, the number of children in the U.S. who are up to date on routine vaccinations has declined in recent years, putting them at increased risk for infection. This continued backslide in childhood immunizations and low rates of COVID-19 vaccination is especially alarming as we approach winter months when cases of respiratory illness typically increase. With updated COVID-19 vaccines now available, there is an opportunity to reinforce the importance of pediatric vaccination and answer parents’ questions about recommended vaccines, coadministration, and coverage when administering annual flu vaccines or during well-child visits.

To help address these and other questions, the CVEEP and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) co-hosted an online event to examine how the federally funded Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program covers payment of COVID-19 vaccines for children. During the 60-minute webinar, panelists discussed the importance of VFC, including eligibility and how the program covers updated COVID-19 vaccines, and proven strategies for combatting disparities in childhood immunization rates.

Panelists included:

• Peter Marks, MD, PhD, Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH, Acting Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Michelle Fiscus, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Association of Immunization Managers

The discussion was moderated by Patricia (Patsy) A. Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP, NFID President, past voting member and current liaison to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) representing the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).

In response to recent CDC data showing a decline in routine childhood immunizations in young children, The COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project (CVEEP) partnered with Dr. Katelyn Jetelina of Your Local Epidemiologist on an online event series aimed at parents to build vaccine confidence and overcome hesitancy issues. A Facebook Live addressing misinformation and vaccine questions for parents that are considering sending their children to summer camp took place on June 15th at 12 pm ET.

Featured speakers included:

• Dr. Laura Blaisdell, Principal Consultant at Blaisdell Consulting; President, Maine American Academy of Pediatrics; Medical Director, Camp Winnebago
• Dr. Tracey Gaslin, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Camp Health

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina of Your Local Epidemiologist moderated the discussion.

In response to recent CDC data showing a decline in routine childhood immunizations in young children, The COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project (CVEEP) partnered with Dr. Katelyn Jetelina of Your Local Epidemiologist on an online event series aimed at parents to build vaccine confidence and overcome hesitancy issues. An Instagram Live addressing misinformation and vaccine questions for parents in the Hispanic community was held March 20th at 8pm ET. Featured speakers included:

• Liz Lebron, Research Manager, Voto Latino
• Shanna Salazar, RN, BSN, CSN, Certified School Nurse and  Author

Dr. Jetelina moderated the discussion, which can be viewed here.

In response to recent CDC data showing a decline in routine childhood immunizations in young children, The COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project (CVEEP) is partnering with Dr. Katelyn Jetelina of Your Local Epidemiologist on an online event series aimed at parents to build vaccine confidence and overcome hesitancy issues. An Instagram Live addressing questions and considerations for parents in the Black community was held on March 13. Featured speakers included:

• Dr. Uché Blackstock, emergency physician and Founder & CEO of Advancing Health Equity
• Rashan Ali, Multimedia Personality

Dr. Jetelina moderated the discussion, which can be viewed here.