Recommended childhood immunization schedule--United States, 1998.

Since publication of the recommended childhood immunization schedule in January 1997, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) have changed recommended ages for administration of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) and poliovirus vaccines. In addition, these organizations have clarified recommendations for administration of MMR, varicella vaccine, and hepatitis B vaccine during the routine visit to health-care providers for adolescents aged 11-12 years; the interchangeability of the three licensed Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines for primary and booster vaccination; and the timing for the third dose of hepatitis B vaccine. This report presents the recommended childhood immunization schedule for 1998 and explains the changes that have occurred since publication of the last schedule. Detailed recommendations about the use of vaccines are available from the manufacturers' package inserts, the 1997 Red Book, or ACIP statements on specific vaccines.