General Best Practices for Immunization

Updated July 22, 2024

Best Practices Guidance

Kroger A, Bahta L, Long S, Sanchez P

Printer friendly version [1.23 MB, 198 pages]

Introduction

Purpose and topics covered in this report…

History

History of development of: Timing and Spacing, Contraindications and Precautions, Preventing and Managing Adverse Reactions…

Timing and Spacing of Immunobiologics

Vaccine scheduling, supply and lapsed schedule, spacing of doses, simultaneous and nonsimulaneous administration, licensed combination vaccines, interchangeability of formulations, extra doses, conjugate vaccines…

Contraindications and Precautions

General principles, standards of valid contraindications and precautions, and conditions incorrectly perceived as contraindications…

Preventing and Managing Adverse Reactions

Benefit and risk communication, reporting adverse reactions, National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program…

Vaccine Administration

Infection control and sterile technique, route of administration, multiple and jet injections. alleviating discomfort and pain, clinical implications of nonstandard practices…

Storage and Handling of Immunobiologics

General principles, storage temperature, response to out-of-range temperature reading...

Altered Immunocompetence

General principles, recipients of hematopoietic cell transplants, conditions or drugs that might cause immunodeficiencies...

Special Situations

Concurrent administration of antimicrobial agents and vaccines, administration of live vaccines and Tuberculin Skin Tests (TSTs) and Interferon-gamma Release Assays (IGRAs), vaccination of preterm infants, breastfeeding and vaccination, vaccination during pregnancy, persons vaccinated outside the United States, vaccinating persons with increased bleeding risk...

Vaccination Records

Records of healthcare providers, personal records of patients, Immunization Information Systems (IISs)...

Vaccination Programs

General principles, vaccination of children and adolescents, adult vaccination, evidence-based interventions to increase vaccination coverage, other general programmatic Issues...

Vaccine Information Sources

Information sources from "CDC-INFO Contact Center" to "Vaccine Education Center"...

Appendix 1: Glossary

Definitions from "adverse event" to "vaccine"...

Appendix 2: Membership

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices membership list, October 2014, members of the General Recommendations on Immunization Work Group...

General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization

Suggested citation: Kroger A, Bahta L, Long S, Sanchez P. General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization. Best Practices Guidance of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)