This week, researchers and medical professionals from across the country are gathered in Atlanta, Georgia for the 2024 National Immunization Conference. Attendees will be hearing all the latest research, challenges, and information on current immunizations and what developments are on the horizon.

August is also National Immunization Awareness Month, and it’s a timely reminder as kids are heading back to school to make sure both you and your children’s vaccines are up to date. Here is the current CDC schedule for childhood immunizations, taken from the CDC website.

For children birth to 18 years old:

  • Hepatitis B: Given at birth, 1-2 months, and 6-18 months.
  • Rotavirus: Administered at 2 and 4 months, with a third dose at 6 months depending on the vaccine brand.
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP): Given at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months, and 4-6 years.
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): Administered at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months.
  • Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV13): Given at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months.
  • Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV): Administered at 2, 4, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years.
  • Influenza: Annual vaccination starting at 6 months.
  • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Given at 12-15 months and 4-6 years.
  • Varicella (Chickenpox): Administered at 12-15 months and 4-6 years.
  • Hepatitis A: Given in two doses at 12-23 months.
  • Meningococcal ACWY: Administered at 11-12 years and a booster at 16 years.
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Given at 11-12 years in a two-dose series (second dose 6-12 months after the first).

Vaccines aren’t just for kids, and just because you may have completed the recommended childhood vaccine schedule years ago doesn’t mean you aren’t due for some shots:

For adults 19-26:

  • Chickenpox vaccine (varicella)
  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • Flu vaccine (influenza)
  • Hepatitis B vaccine
  • HPV vaccine (human papillomavirus)
  • MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella)
  • Tdap vaccine (Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) or Td (tetanus, diphtheria)

For adults 27-49:

  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • Flu vaccine (influenza)
  • Hepatitis B vaccine
  • MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella)
  • Tdap vaccine (Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) or Td (tetanus, diphtheria)

For adults 50-64:

  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • Flu vaccine (influenza)
  • Shingles vaccine (zoster)
  • Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) or Td (tetanus and diphtheria)

For adults 65+:

  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • Flu vaccine (influenza)
  • Pneumococcal vaccine
  • Shingles vaccine (zoster)
  • Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) or Td (tetanus and diphtheria)

Additionally, the CDC has further recommendations for individuals who are traveling, who are pregnant or may become pregnant, and other situations. You can find more information by going here and clicking on the pulldown menus.

If you’re an Altrua HealthShare Member on certain memberships, you can visit your primary care provider for vaccines and boosters you may need. You can find more information about how vaccine costs are shared in by the Membership in your Membership Guidelines. If you have questions about your membership or would like to learn more about becoming part of the Altrua HealthShare family, where Members share in each other’s eligible medical needs, reach out to a Member Services Representative at 1.877.615.8630.

New Technologies, New Research
While you likely are very familiar with the vaccines in the above lists, there are also exciting advancements in vaccines. Researchers are working on a series of personalized cancer vaccines, immunizations that can attack cancer cells. The advancements in vaccine technology due to COVID-19 have opened up a broader world of uses for mRNA vaccines, which may give more effective vaccine delivery for the flu, Zinka virus, and even cancer. Scientists are also working on vaccine delivery systems with nanotechnology and with DNA-based vaccines. The hope is that these systems will make vaccines more effective and could also open up vaccines for diseases that to this point we have not had immunizations for.

Research is now also showing a connection between the latest form of the shingles vaccine and its connection to lowered rates of dementia. While scientists are still determining what might be at work, it could be that in the coming years we discover that some immunizations have protective effects against secondary diseases.1

With back-to-school dates upon us, it’s a great time to review your vaccine records and what boosters or new vaccines could be on the list for you. Head into this busy part of the year by making sure you’re up to date. Your immune system will thank you!

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10246135/