ACIP issues adult immunization schedule for 2018

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has released its 2018 adult immunization schedule for patients ages 19 years and older, including changes to herpes zoster and measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccinations.

For herpes zoster, the ACIP recommends that two doses of the recently approved recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) be administered two to six months apart in adults ages 50 years and older regardless of past episodes of herpes zoster or receipt of the zoster vaccine live (Zostavax). In addition, for adults who previously received zoster vaccine live, it recommends that two doses of the recently approved recombinant zoster vaccine be administered two to six months apart at least two months after vaccination with the first vaccine. Finally, for adults ages 60 years or older, the ACIP recommends that either vaccine be administered, although the recombinant zoster vaccine is preferred.

For MMR, the ACIP updated its recommendations to include use of a third dose of a mumps-containing vaccine in adult patients who previously received two doses of a mumps-containing vaccine and are identified as being at increased risk during a mumps outbreak by a public health authority.

Vaccine recommendations in the 2018 schedule, based on age, medical conditions, and other indications, are summarized in two figures and detailed footnotes. A table of contraindications and precautions is also included, as is information on considerations for special populations (for example, pregnant women) and instructions for reporting adverse events and suspected reportable vaccine-preventable diseases, among other topics. The schedule was published by Annals of Internal Medicine on Feb. 6.

A series of videos from ACP explaining the ACIP's 2018 adult immunization schedule is available online.

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