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Ask the Experts: All Questions

Ask the Experts is one of our most popular destinations for healthcare professionals. Our experts provide clear, easy-to-understand answers to commonly asked questions about vaccines and their use.

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Results (44)

Vaccine Safety

Some parents are requesting that we space out their infant’s vaccinations because they are concerned that receiving multiple vaccinations at a single office visit might overwhelm the infant’s immune system. What do you think about using alternative schedules? [Video]

1:55

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Last reviewed: March 31, 2023

Combination Vaccines
General Issues

Can combination vaccines be used with children who have fallen behind with their vaccinations? If so, what schedule should we follow? [Video]

1:22

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Last reviewed: May 9, 2023

Vaccine Safety

Some of my patients are reading The Vaccine Book, in which the author, Dr. Bob Sears, cites studies that he interprets as showing that the amount of aluminum found in certain vaccines might be unsafe. He thinks it is better to separate aluminum-containing vaccines, rather than give them according to the recommended U.S. immunization schedule. I would love any information you have about this.

Paul Offit, MD, and Charlotte Moser, BS, of the Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, published an article, “The Problem with Dr. Bob’s Alternative Vaccine Schedule,” in the January 2009 issue of Pediatrics. It includes a section about aluminum. You can read it in its entirety at pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/123/1/e164.

Here is the link to the VEC information page about aluminum in vaccines, including videos and print materials for families in English and Spanish: www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-safety/vaccine-ingredients/aluminum.

Last reviewed: August 28, 2024

Contraindications & Precautions

What is the difference between a contraindication and a precaution? [Video]

1:36

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Last reviewed: March 28, 2023

Polio

A 4-year-old’s vaccine records show that she had four doses of inactivated polio vaccine, or IPV, given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and age 2 years. Should she have a booster dose? [Video]

0:59

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Last reviewed: May 23, 2023

Polio

How did ACIP alter its recommendations for polio (IPV) vaccination of unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated adults in June 2023? [Video]

2:23

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Last reviewed: December 6, 2023

Meningococcal B
Vaccine Recommendations

Who is recommended to be vaccinated against meningococcal B disease? [Video]

1:48

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Last reviewed: May 9, 2023

Contraindications & Precautions

We frequently see patients who are febrile or have an acute illness and are due for vaccinations. We are uncertain if we should withhold the vaccines or not. What do you advise? [Video]

1:24

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Last reviewed: March 28, 2023

Meningococcal ACWY
Vaccine Recommendations

What is the schedule for Meningococcal ACWY, or MenACWY, vaccine? [Video]

1:38

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Last reviewed: May 23, 2023

Meningococcal ACWY
Vaccine Recommendations

If a child without any high-risk conditions received a dose of MenACWY (Menactra, MenQuadfi or Menveo) vaccine at age 10 years does the child need to be revaccinated at age 11–12 years? [Video]

0:59

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Last reviewed: May 24, 2023

COVID-19
Administering Vaccines

How does CDC define being “up to date” on COVID-19 vaccination? [Video]

1:03

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Last reviewed: May 9, 2023

Meningococcal ACWY
Vaccine Recommendations

Should college students be vaccinated against meningococcal disease with MenACWY vaccine? [Video]

1:07

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Last reviewed: May 23, 2023

Diphtheria
Vaccine Recommendations
Pertussis
Vaccine Recommendations
Tetanus
Vaccine Recommendations

How many doses of pediatric diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, or DTaP, vaccine does an infant need before she or he is protected from pertussis? [Video]

1:53

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Last reviewed: May 9, 2023

Meningococcal ACWY
Vaccine Recommendations

Several healthy adult college students from outside the U.S. (ages 24 years and older) presented to our clinic. They will be living in a residence hall. None have a record of having received vaccination against meningococcal ACWY disease. Should they receive a dose of MenACWY now? [Video]

1:06

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Last reviewed: May 23, 2023

Influenza
Vaccine Recommendations

Are any of the available flu vaccines recommended over others? [Video]

1:33

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Last reviewed: August 11, 2024

Influenza
Vaccine Recommendations

When does CDC recommend starting influenza vaccination? [Video]

1:54

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Last reviewed: August 11, 2024

Influenza
Vaccine Recommendations

How late in the season can I vaccinate my patients with influenza vaccine? [Video]

1:17

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Last reviewed: March 28, 2023

Influenza
Vaccine Recommendations

May influenza vaccines be given at the same time as other vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines? [Video]

2:51

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Last reviewed: August 11, 2024

HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
Vaccine Recommendations

Some parents resist HPV vaccination of their 11- and 12-year-olds because they are not sexually active. How should I counter this position? [Video]

1:27

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Last reviewed: April 6, 2023

Pneumococcal
Recommendations for Adults

My patient just turned 65 and has never had a pneumococcal vaccine. What are my options now? [Video]

1:02

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Last reviewed: May 9, 2023

Hepatitis A
Vaccine Recommendations

A child was given her second dose of hepatitis A vaccine 4 months after the first dose, Does it need to be repeated? [Video]

1:10

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Last reviewed: August 27, 2024

COVID-19
For Children under 12 Years

What do we know about the safety of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in the youngest children? [Video]

3:20

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Last reviewed: June 22, 2023

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
RSV Preventive Antibody Product (Nirsevimab)

How is RSV preventive antibody different from an RSV vaccine? [Video]

2:59

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Last reviewed: August 25, 2024

Contraindications & Precautions

Should vaccines be withheld for patients on steroids? [Video]

2:02

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Last reviewed: May 9, 2023

Meningococcal B
Booster Doses

I know the primary series of meningococcal B vaccine (or MenB) should use the same brand for all doses. Does that also apply to booster doses? [Video]

1:21

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Last reviewed: April 21, 2023

Administering Vaccines
General Issues

Is it okay to draw up vaccines at the beginning of the shift? If it isn’t, how much in advance can this be done? [Video]

1:23

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Last reviewed: May 9, 2023

Contraindications & Precautions

I have a healthy 5 year-old patient whose close household contact (her mother) is immunocompromised due to cancer chemotherapy. Can I administer live vaccines to the healthy child? [Video]

3:18

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Last reviewed: May 23, 2023

COVID-19
For Special Populations

Are COVID-19 vaccines recommended during pregnancy? [Video]

1:46

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Last reviewed: April 6, 2023

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
RSV Preventive Antibody Recommendations for Infants

When is the best time of year to give long-acting RSV preventive antibody? [Video]

1:42

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Last reviewed: August 25, 2024

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
RSV Preventive Antibody Recommendations for Infants

Why are otherwise healthy American Indian/Alaska Native older infants recommended to get nirsevimab (Beyfortus) to protect them during their second RSV season? [Video]

1:38

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Last reviewed: August 25, 2024

Hepatitis A
For Special Populations

Why is hepatitis A vaccination recommended – and immunoglobulin or IG, NOT recommended – for infant travelers age 6 through 11 months at risk of exposure to hepatitis A? [Video]

2:15

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Last reviewed: August 27, 2024

Influenza
For Special Populations

Is influenza vaccine recommended during pregnancy? [Video]

1:15

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Last reviewed: April 6, 2023

Administering Vaccines
Vaccine Administration Errors
Combination Vaccines
MMRV (ProQuad, Merck)

An expired dose of measles-mumps-rubella-and-varicella vaccine, also known as MMRV was given to a patient. We assume that the repeat dose should be given in three months because the spacing between doses of a combination vaccine depends on the longest minimum interval of a component (in this case the varicella vaccine component). Is this correct? [Video]

1:14

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Last reviewed: May 23, 2023

Hepatitis B
For Adults (Including HBV Screening)

Which adults should be vaccinated for hepatitis B? [Video]

1:17

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Last reviewed: December 7, 2023

Hepatitis B
For Adults (Including HBV Screening)

Why should healthcare professionals focus on vaccinating all adults against hepatitis B now? [Video]

1:47

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Last reviewed: December 7, 2023

Influenza
Contraindications & Precautions

What is the latest ACIP guidance on influenza vaccination and egg allergy? [Video]

2:01

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Last reviewed: August 11, 2024

Hepatitis B
For Adults (Including HBV Screening)

If an adult hasn’t been screened for hepatitis B yet, should you screen them before you decide about vaccinating? [Video]

1:31

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Last reviewed: December 7, 2023

Hepatitis B
For Adults (Including HBV Screening)

What do I do for adult patients who don’t have records of HepB vaccination, but are sure they were vaccinated? [Video]

2:18

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Last reviewed: December 7, 2023

Hepatitis B
For Adults (Including HBV Screening)

Do adults who were properly vaccinated need to be revaccinated if they have a negative surface antibody (anti-HBs) result on their triple panel screening test for hepatitis B? [Video]

2:53

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Last reviewed: December 7, 2023

Hepatitis B
For Adults (Including HBV Screening)

Adults go to many different healthcare providers over time. HepB is a vaccine series most only need once. How do we avoid the problem of lost records for adult patients we vaccinate now? [Video]

1:40

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Last reviewed: December 7, 2023

Hepatitis B
For Adults (Including HBV Screening)

A healthy young adult patient who received the HepB vaccine series before college recently had a triple panel screen and discovered that he had chronic hepatitis B. Did the vaccine fail? What do I tell the patient? [Video]

1:42

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Last reviewed: December 7, 2023

Hepatitis B
For Healthcare Personnel

Which people who work in healthcare settings need hepatitis B vaccine? [Video]

1:40

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Last reviewed: December 7, 2023

COVID-19
Vaccine Safety

Can COVID-19 vaccination lead to fertility problems? [Video]

0:38

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Last reviewed: May 26, 2023

Hepatitis B
For Healthcare Personnel

I’m a nurse who received the HepB series more than 10 years ago and had a positive hepatitis B surface antibody (or, anti-HBs) follow-up titer (measured at 10 mIU/mL, or greater). At present, my titer is negative. What should I do now? [Video]

1:36

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Last reviewed: December 7, 2023

This page was updated on August 28, 2024.

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