Health groups reinstate recommendation for third dose of pediatric Prevnar.

2004 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Public health and physician groups have recommended that healthcare providers increase the number of doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7, trade name Prevnar) administered to healthy children from two to three.

Production problems earlier this year caused shortages of the vaccine and prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the recommended four doses to two to most effectively use the limited available doses.

The CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommended that providers continue to administer the full four-dose series of the vaccine to children up to 15 months of age with health conditions such as sickle cell anemia or immune system disorders, who are at increased risk of severe disease. The groups said providers should defer the fourth dose of the vaccine for healthy children until production and supply data convincingly demonstrate supplies of the vaccine are adequate for routine administration of the four-dose series.

"CDC has worked closely with the manufacturer to assess the situation and manage limited supplies of the vaccine. Supplies are now adequate to reinstate the third dose," said Dr. Steve Cochi, acting director of the CDC National Immunization Program. "We will continue to closely monitor supplies and will make additional recommendations if the supply situation changes."

The vaccine can help prevent serious pneumococcal diseases, such as meningitis and blood infections. Pneumococcal infection can cause serious illness and even death. Invasive pneumococcal disease is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the United States. Children under 2 years of age are at highest risk. Before a vaccine was available, each year ...