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Immunizations - childhood vaccination programme - Management
Basis for recommendation
The Childhood Immunization Programme is described in the chapter titled The UK immunisation programme, in Immunisation against infectious disease (the 'Green Book') [DH, 2006b], published by the Department of Health and available at www.dh.gov.uk (pdf). This guidance has been updated to include recommendations in a new chapter of the 'Green Book' regarding the introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine [DH, 2008a].
- The Haemophilus influenzae type b catch-up programme ceased on 3 March 2009, so the pre-school booster has reverted to DTaP/IPV (Infanrix-IPV®) or dTaP/IPV (Repevax®) [CMO, 2007].
- Prevenar® (containing seven pneumococcal strains) will be replaced by Prevenar 13® (containing 13 pneumococcal strains) from April 2010 [Salisbury, 2010].
- From October 2010, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommend that the vaccines currently given at 12 months (Hib/MenC) and 13 months of age (MMR, PCV) should be given at the same visit, between 12 and 13 months of age, to simplify the routine childhood immunisation schedule [CMO, 2010].
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