Vaccination for the paediatrician.
In most of Australia, general practitioners manage routine childhood vaccination schedules. However, paediatricians have an important role and need to have a thorough understanding of vaccination, particularly as it interfaces with other medical care. This is challenging as the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule has undergone some substantial changes over the past 4 years, with the addition of meningococcal C conjugate, 7 valent pneumococcal conjugate, varicella and inactivated polio vaccines. Paediatricians are frequently the first port of call for advice on vaccination schedules for children with special needs, in relation to either vaccine efficacy or the risk of side effects. Categories include children with a range of chronic diseases, immunosuppression, premature infants and immigrant children. Advice about specific vaccines such as varicella, inactivated polio, influenza or multivalent vaccines and revaccination after adverse events is also often sought. The aim of this article is to update paediatricians on vaccination recommendations and relevant reference sources. The first part of this article discusses groups with special vaccination requirements. The second part discusses the use of individual vaccines in these children.
Wood
Nicholas
N
National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Westmead and the University of Sydney, Department of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, NSW, Australia. nicholw3@chw.edu.au
McIntyre
Peter
P
Wong
Melanie
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004358:Drug Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007114:Immunization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D010372:Pediatrics; D010820:Physicians; D019737:Transplants
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones