A
vaccination schedule is a series of
vaccinationVaccination is the administration of antigenic material to produce immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by a pathogen. Vaccination is generally considered to be the most effective and cost-effective method of preventing infectious diseases...
s, including the timing of all doses, which may be either recommended or compulsory, depending on the country of residence.
A
vaccineA vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains a small amount of an agent that resembles a microorganism...
is an
antigenAn antigen is a substance that prompts the generation of antibodies and can cause an immune response. "Self" antigens are usually tolerated by the immune system; whereas "Non-self" antigens are identified as intruders and attacked by the immune system...
ic preparation used to produce active immunity to a
diseaseA disease or medical condition isan abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions, associated with specific symptoms and signs...
, in order to prevent or reduce the effects of
infectionAn infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host's resources to multiply, usually at the expense of the host. The infecting organism, or pathogen, interferes with the normal functioning of the...
by any natural or 'wild'
pathogenA pathogen , infectious agent, or germ, is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host....
. Many vaccines require multiple doses for maximum effectiveness, either to produce sufficient initial immune response or to boost response that fades over time.
A
vaccination schedule is a series of
vaccinationVaccination is the administration of antigenic material to produce immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by a pathogen. Vaccination is generally considered to be the most effective and cost-effective method of preventing infectious diseases...
s, including the timing of all doses, which may be either recommended or compulsory, depending on the country of residence.
A
vaccineA vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains a small amount of an agent that resembles a microorganism...
is an
antigenAn antigen is a substance that prompts the generation of antibodies and can cause an immune response. "Self" antigens are usually tolerated by the immune system; whereas "Non-self" antigens are identified as intruders and attacked by the immune system...
ic preparation used to produce active immunity to a
diseaseA disease or medical condition isan abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions, associated with specific symptoms and signs...
, in order to prevent or reduce the effects of
infectionAn infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host's resources to multiply, usually at the expense of the host. The infecting organism, or pathogen, interferes with the normal functioning of the...
by any natural or 'wild'
pathogenA pathogen , infectious agent, or germ, is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host....
. Many vaccines require multiple doses for maximum effectiveness, either to produce sufficient initial immune response or to boost response that fades over time. Vaccine schedules are developed by governmental agencies or physicians groups to achieve maximum effectiveness using required and recommended vaccines for a locality while minimizing the number of health care system interactions. Over the past two decades, the recommended vaccination schedule has grown rapidly and become more complicated as many new vaccines have been developed.
Some vaccines are recommended only in certain areas (countries, subnational areas or at-risk populations) where a disease is common. For instance,
yellow feverYellow fever is an acute viral disease. The virus, a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus of the family of Flaviviridae is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes...
vaccination is on the routine vaccine schedule of French Guiana, is recommended in certain regions of Brazil but in the United States is only given to travelers heading to countries with a history of the disease. In developing countries, vaccine recommendations also have to consider poor health care access, high vaccine cost and issues with vaccine availability and storage. Sample vaccinations schedules discussed by the
World Health OrganizationThe World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health...
show a developed country using a schedule which extends over the first five years of a child's life and uses vaccines which cost over $700 including administration costs while a developing country uses a schedule providing vaccines in the first 9 months of life and costing only $25. This difference incorporates the facts that health care costs are much lower, many vaccines are provided at lower costs to developing nations and more expensive vaccines, often for less common diseases, are not utilized.
In 1900, the
smallpox vaccineThe smallpox vaccine was the first successful vaccine to be developed. The process of vaccination was discovered by Edward Jenner in 1796, who acted upon his observation that milkmaids who caught the cowpox virus did not catch smallpox...
was the only one administered to children. By the 1960s, children routinely received five vaccines, for protection against (
diphtheriaDiphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity. A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin...
,
pertussisPertussis, also known as the whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It derived its name from the "whoop" sound made from the inspiration of air after a cough. A similar, milder disease is caused by B. parapertussis...
,
tetanusTetanus, also called lockjaw, is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani. Infection generally occurs through...
, polio, and
smallpoxSmallpox is an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning spotted, or varus, meaning "pimple"...
), and as many as eight shots by two years of age. , the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends
vaccinationVaccination is the administration of antigenic material to produce immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by a pathogen. Vaccination is generally considered to be the most effective and cost-effective method of preventing infectious diseases...
against at least sixteen diseases. By two years of age, U.S. children receive as many as 24 vaccine injections, and might receive up to five shots during one visit to the doctor. The use of combination vaccine products means that, , the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
immunisation programme consists of just 11 injections by the age of two years and a further three injections by the time of leaving school.
Diseases and vaccines
Characteristics of diseases vaccinated against in most vaccine schedules
|
Disease |
Worldwide |
U.S. |
U.K. |
| Transmission |
Incubation |
Incidence |
Deaths |
Incidence |
Deaths |
Incidence |
Deaths |
DiphtheriaDiphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity. A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin...
|
Saliva |
1–4 days |
30,000 |
3,000 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Haemophilus
influenzaeHaemophilus influenzae, formerly called Pfeiffer's bacillus or Bacillus influenzae, is a non-motile Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium first described in 1892 by Richard Pfeiffer during an influenza pandemic. A member of the Pasteurellaceae family, it is generally aerobic, but can grow as a...
|
By airborne droplet |
1–4 days |
2-3,000,000 |
450,000
(mostly children) |
1,743 |
7 |
30 |
0 |
| Hepatitis B |
Exchange of bodily fluids |
6 weeks - 6 months |
5,700,000 (acute) |
521,000 |
7,996 |
7 |
600 |
Not reported |
MeaslesMeasles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
|
Airborne |
10–12 days |
30-40,000,000 |
610,000 |
44 |
0 |
77 |
1 |
MumpsMumps or epidemic parotitis is a viral disease of the human species, caused by the mumps virus. Prior to the development of vaccination and the introduction of a vaccine, it was a common childhood disease worldwide, and is still a significant threat to health in the third world.Painful swelling...
|
Airborne droplets |
14-21 days |
477,079 (reported) |
N/A |
270 |
1 |
16,436 |
0 |
| Pertussis Pertussis, also known as the whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It derived its name from the "whoop" sound made from the inspiration of air after a cough. A similar, milder disease is caused by B. parapertussis...
|
Airborne droplets |
5–10 days |
39,000,000 |
297,000 |
9,771 |
18 |
2 |
2 |
| Polio |
Fecal contamination |
Hours |
1,951 |
<1,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rubella Rubella, commonly known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus. The name "rubella" is derived from the Latin, meaning little red. Rubella is also known as German measles because the disease was first described by German physicians in the mid-eighteenth century. This disease is...
|
Airborne droplets |
5-7 days |
Not reported |
631,571
(most CRSCongenital rubella syndrome can occur in a developing fetus of a pregnant woman who has contracted rubella during her first trimester. If infection occurs 0-28 days before conception, there is a 43% chance the infant will be affected. If the infection occurs 0-12 weeks after conception, there is a...
) |
18 |
(1 CRS) |
0 |
0 |
TetanusTetanus, also called lockjaw, is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani. Infection generally occurs through...
|
Penetrating injury,
blood contamination,
|
3-10 days |
18,781 |
200,000 |
25 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
TuberculosisTuberculosis is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria...
|
Airborne |
3 day - 15 weeks |
8,000,000 |
1,600,000 |
15,056 |
784 |
6,572 |
373 |
| Varicella |
Airborne |
2 weeks |
Not reported |
Not reported |
22,841 |
32 |
Not reported |
Not reported |
Recommended schedules
The
World Health OrganizationThe World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health...
monitors vaccination schedules across the world, noting what vaccines are included in each country's programme, the coverage rates achieved and various auditing measures.
A comprehensive list of vaccination schedules including the European Union, Africa, and Asia is available .
Childhood vaccinations
The CDC recommends the following vaccines for children aged 0–6:
- Tetanus
Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani. Infection generally occurs through...
-DiphtheriaDiphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity. A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin...
-PertussisPertussis, also known as the whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It derived its name from the "whoop" sound made from the inspiration of air after a cough. A similar, milder disease is caused by B. parapertussis...
(TDP/DTP/DTwP/DTAP/DTPa/TDaPDPT refers to a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus...
) vaccine
- Hepatitis A vaccine
Hepatitis A Vaccine, , is a vaccine against the Hepatitis A virus. The vaccine protects against the virus in more than 95% of cases and provides protection from the virus for at least ten years...
- Hepatitis B vaccine
Hepatitis B vaccine is a vaccine developed for the prevention of hepatitis B virus infection. The vaccine contains one of the viral envelope proteins, hepatitis B surface antigen . A course of three vaccine injections are given with the second injection at least one month after the first dose and...
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine
Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine is a conjugate vaccine developed for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the use of the Hib vaccine. Due to routine use of the Hib vaccine in...
- Influenza vaccine
- Measles
Measles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
-MumpsMumps or epidemic parotitis is a viral disease of the human species, caused by the mumps virus. Prior to the development of vaccination and the introduction of a vaccine, it was a common childhood disease worldwide, and is still a significant threat to health in the third world.Painful swelling...
-RubellaRubella, commonly known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus. The name "rubella" is derived from the Latin, meaning little red. Rubella is also known as German measles because the disease was first described by German physicians in the mid-eighteenth century. This disease is...
(MMR vaccineThe MMR vaccine is a mixture of three live attenuated viruses, administered via injection for immunization against measles, mumps and rubella . It is generally administered to children around the age of one year, with a second dose before starting school...
)
- Polio vaccine
Two polio vaccines are used throughout the world to combat poliomyelitis . The first was developed by Jonas Salk and first tested in 1952. Announced to the world by Salk on April 12, 1955, it consists of an injected dose of inactivated poliovirus. An oral vaccine was developed by Albert Sabin...
(inactivated)
- Pneumococcal vaccine
A pneumococcal vaccine is a vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae.Types include:* Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine* Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-Vaccination in the USA:...
- Rotavirus vaccine
- Varicella/chicken pox vaccine
The varicella vaccine is a live vaccine that protects against the viral disease commonly known as chickenpox.-Dangers of chickenpox:Chickenpox is most often a mild disease, especially for children...
for children aged 11-12:
- TDP/DTP/DTwP/DTAP/DTPa/TDaP vaccine
DPT refers to a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus...
- Human papillomavirus vaccine
Humanicla papillomavirus vaccine is a vaccine that prevents infection with certain species of human papillomavirus associated with the development of cervical cancer, genital warts, and some less common cancers. Two HPV vaccines are currently on the market: Gardasil and Cervarix...
(for girls)
- Meningococcus vaccine
Adult vaccinations
The 2009 adult immunization schedule recommended by the CDC for adults aged 18 and over adds to the 2009 schedule Human Papilloma Virus vaccination, and is clearer in specifying guidance for at risk groups:
- Tetanus
Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani. Infection generally occurs through...
-DiphtheriaDiphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity. A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin...
PertussisPertussis, also known as the whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It derived its name from the "whoop" sound made from the inspiration of air after a cough. A similar, milder disease is caused by B. parapertussis...
Vaccine (all adults, every 10 years)
- Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (for women)
- Hepatitis B Vaccine (adults at risk)
- Measles
Measles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine (all those under 50, above this age if susceptible)
- Varicella (chickenpox) Vaccine (all those under 50, for 50 - 65 years of age if susceptible, not routinely for those above 65)
- Vaccines for travelers
Vaccines recommended for those age 50 and older:
Vaccines needed for those age 65 and older
Vaccines recommended for healthcare workers:
- Tetanus-Diphtheria Pertussis Vaccine
- Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (for women)
- Hepatitis B Vaccine
- Influenza Vaccine (annually)
- Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
- Varicella (chickenpox) Vaccine
Vaccine Information Statements
In the US, the
National Childhood Vaccine Injury ActThe National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 was enacted in the United States to reduce the potential financial liability of vaccine makers due to vaccine injury claims. The legislation was aimed at ensuring a stable market supply, and to provide cost-effective arbitration for vaccine...
requires all health-care providers to provide parents or patients with copies of Vaccine Information Statements before administering vaccines.
Childhood vaccinations
As of September 2006, the United Kingdom childhood vaccination schedule uses combination immunisations where available:
| Vaccine |
2 months |
3 months |
4 months |
12 months |
13 months |
3–5 years
(Pre-School) |
School Leaving
(13-18yrs) |
DiphtheriaDiphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity. A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin...
, TetanusTetanus, also called lockjaw, is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani. Infection generally occurs through...
, PertussisPertussis, also known as the whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It derived its name from the "whoop" sound made from the inspiration of air after a cough. A similar, milder disease is caused by B. parapertussis...
,
Inactivated Polio VaccineTwo polio vaccines are used throughout the world to combat poliomyelitis . The first was developed by Jonas Salk and first tested in 1952. Announced to the world by Salk on April 12, 1955, it consists of an injected dose of inactivated poliovirus. An oral vaccine was developed by Albert Sabin...
,
Haemophilus influenzaeHaemophilus influenzae, formerly called Pfeiffer's bacillus or Bacillus influenzae, is a non-motile Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium first described in 1892 by Richard Pfeiffer during an influenza pandemic. A member of the Pasteurellaceae family, it is generally aerobic, but can grow as a...
(Hib) |
DTaP/IPV/Hib |
DTaP/IPV/Hib |
DTaP/IPV/Hib |
Hib |
. |
DTaP/IPV |
Td/IPV |
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine , is a vaccine used to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae infections such as pneumonia and septicaemia...
|
PCV |
. |
PCV |
. |
PCV |
. |
. |
Meningitis CNeisseria meningitidis is a heterotrophic gram-negative diplococcal bacterium best known for its role in meningitis and other forms of meningococcal disease such as meningococcemia. N...
|
. |
Men C |
Men C |
MenC |
. |
. |
. |
MeaslesMeasles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
, MumpsMumps or epidemic parotitis is a viral disease of the human species, caused by the mumps virus. Prior to the development of vaccination and the introduction of a vaccine, it was a common childhood disease worldwide, and is still a significant threat to health in the third world.Painful swelling...
, RubellaRubella, commonly known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus. The name "rubella" is derived from the Latin, meaning little red. Rubella is also known as German measles because the disease was first described by German physicians in the mid-eighteenth century. This disease is...
|
. |
. |
. |
. |
MMR |
MMR |
. |
Notes:
This schedule was amended on 4 September 2006 with the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine for babies, adjustment of the spacing of the MenC immunisations and an additional Hib booster at 12 months of age. A limited catch-up programme is now in place for pneumococcal vaccination.
- Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria...
BCGBacillus Calmette-Guérin is a vaccine against tuberculosis that is prepared from a strain of the attenuated live bovine tuberculosis bacillus, Mycobacterium bovis, that has lost its virulence in humans by being specially cultured in an artificial medium for years...
vaccination is no longer part of a universal programme delivered through schools, but is targeted for those who are at greatest risk.
- Hepatitis B vaccination is sometimes offered to high risk cases.
2006 release of childhood vaccination records
According to a 2006 report, there have been "50 to 60 per cent more vaccines recorded as being administered as would be expected." The report acknowledges that entries may have been duplicated, although speculation has raised that some NHS doctors may have deliberately overstated the number of shots given to youngsters in order to claim bonuses.
Reports suggest that errors in the figures are likely to be due to data quality and use of new software
Adult & High-Risk vaccinations
- The five scheduled childhood tetanus vaccinations are thought to generally confer lifelong immunity; thus, no routine booster doses are given in adulthood. Those adults at risk of contaminated cuts (e.g., gardeners) may have booster tetanus vaccination every ten years.
- Pneumococcal and Flu vaccinations are recommended routinely for those over 65 and also for both children and adults in special risk categories:
- Serious breathing problems
- Serious heart conditions
- Severe kidney problems
- Long term liver disease
- Diabetes requiring medication
- Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (e.g., chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, in its most general sense, is the treatment of disease by chemicals especially by killing micro-organisms or cancerous cells. In popular usage, it refers to antineoplastic drugs used to treat cancer or the combination of these drugs into a cytotoxic standardized treatment regimen...
or radiation therapy, long-term steroidA steroid is a terpenoid lipid characterized by its sterane core and additional functional groups. The core is a carbon structure of four fused rings: three cyclohexane rings and one cyclopentane ring. The steroids vary by the functional groups attached to these rings and the oxidation state of the...
use, and problems with the spleen (aspleniaAsplenia refers to the absence of normal spleen function and is associated with some serious infection risks. Hyposplenism is used to describe reduced splenic functioning, but not as severely affected as with asplenism.-Congenital:...
), either because the spleen has been removed or does not work properly, for example, sickle cell anemia)
Australia
All vaccines available under the Australian immunisation schedule are free of charge under the
Pharmaceutical Benefits SchemeThe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS is a program of the Australian Government that provides subsidised prescription drugs to residents of Australia. The PBS ensures that all Australians have affordable and reliable access to a wide range of necessary medicines.-History:The PBS was established...
.
| Age |
Vaccine |
Note |
| Birth |
Hepatitis B |
|
| 2, 4 and 6 months |
Hepatitis B, Diphtheria tetanus and acellular pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), inactivated poliomyelitis, Pneumococcal conjugate, Rotavirus |
|
| 12 months |
Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib),Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Meningococcal C (MenCCV) |
|
| 12–24 months |
Hepatitis A |
Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders in areas of high risk |
| 18 months |
Varicella (VCV) |
|
| 18–24 months |
Pneumococcal polysaccharide (23vPPV), Hepatitis A |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in high risk areas |
| 4 years |
Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTPa), Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Inactivated poliomyelitis (IPV) |
|
| 10–13 years |
Hepatitis B (hepB), Varicella (VZV) |
|
| 12–13 years |
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) |
Girls only |
| 15–17 years |
Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (dTpa) |
|
| 15–49 years |
Influenza, Pneumococcal polysaccharide (23vPPV) |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people medically at-risk |
| 50 years and over |
Influenza, Pneumococcal polysaccharide (23vPPV) |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people medically at-risk |
| 65 years and over |
Influenza, Pneumococcal polysaccharide (23vPPV) |
|
Developing countries
A typical childhood vaccination schedule for infants in developing countries with Yellow Fever
| Vaccine |
Age at immunization |
Notes |
BCGBacillus Calmette-Guérin is a vaccine against tuberculosis that is prepared from a strain of the attenuated live bovine tuberculosis bacillus, Mycobacterium bovis, that has lost its virulence in humans by being specially cultured in an artificial medium for years...
(tuberculosis) |
Birth |
|
PolioTwo polio vaccines are used throughout the world to combat poliomyelitis . The first was developed by Jonas Salk and first tested in 1952. Announced to the world by Salk on April 12, 1955, it consists of an injected dose of inactivated poliovirus. An oral vaccine was developed by Albert Sabin...
|
6, 10 and 14 weeks |
At birth, in endemic In epidemiology, an infection is said to be endemic in a population when that infection is maintained in the population without the need for external inputs. For example, chickenpox is endemic in the UK, but malaria is not...
countries |
DiphtheriaDiphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity. A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin...
, TetanusTetanus, also called lockjaw, is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani. Infection generally occurs through...
, PertussisPertussis, also known as the whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It derived its name from the "whoop" sound made from the inspiration of air after a cough. A similar, milder disease is caused by B. parapertussis...
|
6, 10 and 14 weeks |
|
| Hepatitis B |
6, 10 and 14 weeks |
Vaccine not widely available. |
| Haemophilus influenzae Haemophilus influenzae, formerly called Pfeiffer's bacillus or Bacillus influenzae, is a non-motile Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium first described in 1892 by Richard Pfeiffer during an influenza pandemic. A member of the Pasteurellaceae family, it is generally aerobic, but can grow as a...
|
6, 10 and 14 weeks |
Vaccine not widely available. |
Yellow FeverYellow fever is an acute viral disease. The virus, a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus of the family of Flaviviridae is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes...
|
9 months |
In countries where Yellow
Fever poses a risk. |
MeaslesMeasles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
|
9 months |
A second vaccination should
be provided. |
What lies ahead
Many vaccinations are currently being evaluated for inclusion into the recommended vaccination schedule. Some of these combine up to five vaccinations into a single preparation, thus decreasing the number of individual vaccinations necessary. Others attempt to prevent diseases which currently do not have available vaccines. In addition, attempts to shield pharmaceutical companies which manufacture vaccines from liability are currently ongoing in the US and elsewhere, including numerous legislative initiatives in the
United States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election....
.
According to Dr. Thomas Saari, spokesperson for the
American Academy of PediatricsThe American Academy of Pediatrics was founded in 1930 and now has 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists as members...
, "We project over the next ten years that we'll add one to two new vaccines a year." Dr.
Andrew WakefieldAndrew Wakefield is a Canadian trained surgeon and the lead author of a controversial 1998 research study, published in The Lancet, which reported bowel symptoms in a prospective case series of twelve consecutive vaccinated children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities,...
has said, "The next few years are likely to see the introduction of ever greater numbers of vaccines and the possibility of using combination vaccines containing up to 16 different infectious diseases, is already being discussed in the US."