| Technically Speaking |
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| Monthly Column by Deborah Wexler, MD |
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| Technically Speaking is a monthly column written by IAC’s Executive Director Deborah Wexler, MD. The column is featured in The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center’s (VEC's) monthly e-newsletter for healthcare professionals. Technically Speaking columns cover practical topics in immunization delivery such as needle length, vaccine administration, cold chain, and immunization schedules. |
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| Check out a recent issue of Vaccine Update for Healthcare Providers. The VEC e-newsletter keeps providers up to date on vaccine-related issues and includes reviews of recently published journal articles, media recaps, announcements about new resources, and a regularly updated calendar of events. |
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| TECHNICALLY SPEAKING |
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| Which Children Need Two Doses of Influenza Vaccine for the 2011-2012 Season? |
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| Published November 2011 |
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| Information presented in this article may have changed since the original publication date. For the most current immunization recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, visit
www.immunize.org/acip/acip_vax.asp. |
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| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has simplified its guidance about which children age 6 months through 8 years need two doses of influenza vaccine during the current (2011–12) influenza vaccination season: |
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Any influenza vaccine received before the 2010–11 season (i.e., last season) should be ignored when trying to determine the number of doses needed in 2011–12. |
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Children who received no influenza vaccine (or for whom there is no record of receiving vaccine) last season should receive TWO doses given at least 4 weeks apart. |
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Children who received at least one dose of influenza vaccine last season should receive ONE dose. This recommendation takes into account the fact that the 3 strains found in this season's vaccine are the same as those included in last season's (i.e., 2010-11) vaccine. |
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| The following information may be helpful: |
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| Guidance on number of doses for children |
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| Influenza information for healthcare professionals |
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ACIP Recommendations
Vaccine Information Statements 
