ACIP Releases its Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule for 2016

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) released its 2016 Recommended Immunization Schedule for adults with major changes to the human papillomavirus (HPV), pneumococcal, and meningococcal (MenB) vaccines. The schedule is published in Annals of Internal Medicine along with two easy-to-reference charts showing recommended vaccines by age and by medical condition.

For 2016, the nine-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV) was added to the adult immunization schedule. The vaccine can be used for routine vaccination against HPV as one of three HPV vaccines recommended for females and one of two HPV vaccines recommended for males. The vaccine interval for 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) followed by 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) has changed from "6 to 12 months" to "at least 1 year" for immunocompetent adults aged 65 and older. Adults aged 19 years or older with anatomical or functional asplenia, cerebrospinal fluid leak, or cochlear implant or who are immunocompromised should receive PPSV23 at least 8 weeks after PCV13. And finally, the MenB vaccine series should be administered to all persons aged 10 and older who are at increased risk for serogroup B meningococcal disease.

The complete schedule, including footnote changes, is being simultaneously published in Annals of Internal Medicine and on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site. The CDC's ACIP is comprised of the American College of Physicians and 16 other medical societies representing various medical practice areas. Each year, the ACIP reviews the CDC's Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule to ensure the schedule reflects current clinical recommendations for licensed vaccines. The recommendations are intended to guide physicians and other clinicians about the appropriate vaccines for their adult patients.