Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices (ACVIP) Recommended Immunization Schedule (2018-19) and Update on Immunization for Children Aged 0 Through 18 Years

Adolescent Immunization Schedule: Need for a Relook

“…The IAP-ACVIP has recently revised its recommendations for 2018-19 immunization schedule for children aged 0 through 18 Years, but there is no separate section of adolescent immunization [9]. There is a need to revise categories and the prioritization of the adolescent vaccines in the immunization schedule.…”

“…While there is a considerable waning of immunity following mumps vaccination and 'time since vaccination' seems to be a factor that determines the risk of outbreaks in adolescents, a dose of mumps/MMR at 4-6 yrs may not be effective in preventing outbreaks amongst older adolescents aging 15-18 years. Since the first dose of MMR is now offered before 12 months of age in private sector when a robust immune response may not be elicited [9], the need for additional doses becomes all the more important. Whether the third dose of the vaccine be delayed to adolescent period is a debatable issue.…”

Evaluation of immunogenicity, safety and breakthrough following administration of live attenuated varicella vaccine in two doses three months apart regimen in Indian children

“…However, if the second dose was administered at least 4 weeks after the first dose, it can be accepted as valid. 18 Redesigning the immunization schedule for varicella with an early administration of the vaccine, and with a 3 month interval between the two doses, might be a potential option for a country like India where a high prevalence of varicella outbreaks among children of preschool-age (1-4 years of age) and school-age (5-9 years of age) are reported. 2,24 Though the safety and efficacy of the two-dose varicella vaccine schedule with second dose administered 3 months after the first dose is established, there are some concerns regarding the early dosing of the second dose.…”

“…17 As per the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) immunization schedule (2018), the minimum age of administering varicella vaccine is recommended as 12 months with the minimum dosing interval of 3 months for children aged 12 months through 12 years. 18 It is imperative to note that varicella vaccination in early childhood could lower the incidence of institutional outbreaks as children of this age are more prone to varicella infection, and transmission of infection is facilitated through close contact with infected children. 19 Further, administering a second dose of vaccine at an early age could also ensure compliance as most of the vaccines are administered in early childhood.…”

Immunogenicity and safety of the first indigenously developed Indian tetravalent influenza vaccine (split virion) in healthy children (6 months to 17 years of age): a randomized, multicenter, phase III clinical trial

“…4 Based on the epidemiology of influenza in Indian children and the increasing burden of the disease, especially in children less than 5 years of age, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics' has recommended vaccinating all children between 6 months to 5 years of age with inactivated influenza vaccine once annually. 5 Currently, two different formulations of influenza vaccines are approved and routinely used: a traditional Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (TriIV), which is composed of one A/ H1N1 strain, one A/H3N2 strain, and one B strain; and a Tetravalent Influenza Vaccine (TetIV), which is composed of one A/H1N1 strain, one A/H3N2 strain, and influenza B strains from both the Victoria and Yamagata lineages. Various epidemiological reports from the past have shown that it is difficult to predict with acceptable accuracy which B lineage would be dominant in an upcoming season, and there have been frequent mismatches in the choice of B strain for vaccination, leading to an increased burden of disease despite vaccination with a TriIV.…”