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Please see our Vaccine Shortage Update for the most current information on the current vaccine shortages.
Pediatricians in all parts of the United States are having to deal with shortages of many childhood vaccines. In addition to Prevnar, the new pneumococcal vaccine, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports that "many providers also are experiencing shortages of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) and tetanus-diphtheria toxoids (DT). In addition, varicella, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and hepatitis B vaccines are on backorder for some providers."
This is in addition to the current shortages in the tetanus vaccine, which has caused delays in immunization of adolescents and adults. Recommendations continue that people should not get routine Td shots unless they are high risk or need it because of injuries and puncture wounds. Other high risk people who should get a Td shot include People traveling to a country where the risk for diphtheria is high (tetanus and diphtheria vaccines are usually given together), people who have not received at three doses of tetanus vaccine in the past, and pregnant women who have not been gotten tetanus vaccine within the past 10 years.
Contributing to the shortages are the fact that some companies are no longer making vaccines and there "are production issues, decreased yields of the biologic materials used in certain vaccines, the elimination of some vaccines containing thimerosal as a preservative and insufficient vaccine stockpiles," according to the CDC.
To deal with the shortages, doctors with a small supply of DTaP are being advised to try and complete the first three doses in the series at 2, 4, and 6 months. While the fourth dose at 15-18 months may be deferred, if possible, children should continue to get their fifth dose at 4-6 years to protect them before they start school. The fifth dose may also be deferred to a later time if shortages persist.
For shortages of Prenar, which is also in short supply, high risk children should continue to receive the vaccine by the regular schedule. For doctors with a moderate shortage, they can defer the fourth or booster dose. More severe shortages should be dealt with by only giving two doses at a two month interval during the first six months of life. Children over two years, who are not high risk, should not receive the Prevnar vaccine if they are in an area where there is a shortage.
If your child misses a vaccine because of a shortage, keep a list of which vaccines that your child still needs and call your Pediatrician later to see if they are available again.
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