Below is a release on a policy statement appearing in the January issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release: December 29, 2008, 12:01 am (ET)

The new recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule urges an annual influenza vaccine for all children, ages 6 months through age 18, all eligible close contacts of children 0 through age 4, and contacts of children ages 5 through 18 who have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications. The new schedule also includes the dosage schedule for a second oral rotavirus vaccine recently licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. The immunization schedule has been approved by the AAP, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.