CDC celebrates 25th year of National Infant Immunization Week

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the CDC’s National Infant Immunization Week, which runs April 27 through May 4.

The week highlights the importance of on-time immunization for infants aged 2 years and younger to reduce the likelihood of 14 types of vaccine-preventable diseases.

According to the CDC, routine immunization of infants born between 1994 and 2018 will prevent an estimated 419 million illnesses and 26.8 million hospitalizations. For infants born during this time, an estimated 936,000 deaths will be prevented, saving $406 billion in direct costs and $1.9 trillion in total societal costs.

To mark National Infant Immunization Week, Infectious Diseases in Children compiled a list of the most recent developments in vaccination of this age group.

GSK’s MMR vaccine safe, effective for US infants

GlaxoSmithKline’s measles, mumps and rubella vaccine was found to be safe and effective in health children in a phase 3 clinical trial. The findings of the study were previously presented at IDWeek and have now been published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Read More

Online, social media intervention improves infant vaccination rates

The use of a web-based, social media platform that includes blogs, discussion forums and a way for pregnant women to question health care experts about infant vaccination positively affected vaccine behaviors of parents, according to a study published in Pediatrics. Read More

WHO launches malaria vaccine program in 3 African countries

WHO has launched a pilot program that aims to immunize around 360,000 children each year in three African countries with the first and only vaccine shown to significantly reduce malaria in children. Read More

Pertussis vaccination, although effective, requires new strategies

The best method to prevent infection with Bordetella pertussis is vaccination, but more information is needed about people’s immune responses to the infection and optimal vaccination strategies. Read More

Rotavirus vaccines reduce hospitalizations in all age groups

The introduction of rotavirus vaccination in the United States significantly reduced the rates of rotavirus-specific gastroenteritis in all age groups, with the most substantial decreases observed in children between the ages of 0 and 4 years. Read More

References:

CDC. National Immunization Week. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/index.html. Accessed April 25, 2019.