New “16-year-old Vaccination Platform” Highlighted in 2017 U.S. Child/Teen Immunization Schedule

The first change highlighted in the MMWR is the addition of a “16-year-old” age column to Figure 1. (Note: Figure 1 is the multicolored child/teen immunization schedule showing vaccine names along the left side and age columns listed across the top.) Previously, a single column designated the broader “16-18 years” age group. The new “16-year-old” column is further emphasized on the schedule with the addition of a gray background color in the column heading, identical to what exists for two other important vaccination age ranges, i.e., “4-6 years” and “11-12 years.” So we now have three immunization platform visits indicated on the child/teen schedule: 4-6 years, 11-12 years, and 16 years.

Why the 16-year-old column is important

The new “16-year-old” column brings much needed attention to the fact that several CDC-recommended vaccinations due to be administered at 16 years of age are being overlooked by many providers. These include:

• MenACWY dose #2 — recommended at age 16
• MenB dose #1 — recommended (category B) at age 16
• HPV “catch-up” — needed for those who have not yet completed their series
• Influenza vaccine — recommended seasonally
• Other vaccines — the 16-year-old platform provides a “catch-up” opportunity for patients who have fallen behind on other recommended vaccines (e.g., HepA, HepB, varicella)

According to CDC’s most recent National Immunization Survey-Teen, a paltry 33 percent of teens (through age 17 years) have completed MenACWY dose # 2, a vaccine recommended at age 16. We have unacceptably low coverage rates for many vaccines recommended for our nation’s adolescents, including HPV vaccine series completion. The addition of a 16-year-old platform provides a distinctive visible reminder to healthcare professionals (and perhaps their patients/parents) that 16-year-olds are due for the important vaccinations shown above.

This new platform has created a perfect opportunity to consider establishing a 16-year-old vaccination visit in your medical practice. It will serve as an impetus to improve vaccination rates for 16-year-olds in your office, a reminder to 16-year-olds (and their parents) who look at the schedule to check their need for vaccinations, and the perfect opportunity to help bring teens in for a visit to receive other essential healthcare services they may be missing.

CDC resources

• Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger
• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) — Feb. 10, 2017

IAC materials for healthcare professionals

• Screening Checklist for Contraindications to HPV, MCV4, MenB and Tdap for Teens
• Suggestions to Improve Your Immunization Services
• Top 10 Ways to Improve Adolescent Immunization Rates
• Standing orders templates you can adapt for vaccinating children, teens and adults

IAC websites for healthcare professionals

• www.Give2MCV4.org website — Contains a wealth of tools and resources to help improve adolescent vaccination rates
• www.immunize.org — IAC’s main website for healthcare professionals

Position statement: The Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine

 
Establishing an Immunization Platform for 16-Year-Olds in the United States