Issue Number 447            March 2, 2004

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

  1. Health provider alert: CDC recommends immediate suspension of third and fourth doses of PCV7

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March 2, 2004
HEALTH PROVIDER ALERT: CDC RECOMMENDS IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OF THIRD AND FOURTH DOSES OF PCV7

On March 2, CDC issued information about its decision to recommend that health care providers immediately suspend the routine use of the third and fourth doses of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). The information is reprinted below in its entirety.

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UPDATED RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE USE OF PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE IN A SETTING OF VACCINE SHORTAGE

On February 13, 2004, CDC recommended that health-care providers temporarily suspend routine use of the fourth dose of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) when immunizing healthy children. This action was taken to minimize the likelihood of shortages until Wyeth Vaccines is able to restore production capacity. Since that recommendation was issued, PCV7 production has been much less than had been expected and shipments have been delayed, resulting in shortages of vaccine. Widespread shortages may continue beyond this summer. To further conserve vaccine, CDC, in consultation with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), recommends that all health-care providers temporarily suspend routine use of both the third and fourth doses, effective immediately. It is critical that all providers immediately follow this recommendation, regardless of their current vaccine supply. Children at increased risk of severe disease should continue to receive the routine, 4-dose series. On March 5, 2004, CDC will publish an MMWR article describing this revised recommendation. This recommendation reflects CDC's assessment of the existing national PCV7 supply and may be changed if the supply changes. Updated information about the national PCV7 supply is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/shortages/default.htm

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To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of this information, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/news.d/newsalert304.pdf

On March 2, CDC posted on its website an "MMWR Dispatch" titled "Updated Recommendations on the Use of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: Suspension of Recommendation for Third and Fourth Dose."

To access a web-text (HTML) version of this Dispatch, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm53d302a1.htm

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm53d302.pdf

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Editorial Information

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    Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
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    Courtnay Londo, MA
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