VACCINATION UPDATE - HIB, HEPATITIS, POLIO, VARICELLA, INFLUENZA, PNEUMOCOCCAL AND MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE

Immunization of infants and children is the most effective strategy fo r decreasing the incidence of some infectious diseases. Most invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae type b occurs before age 5 years , and routine vaccination of infants for hepatitis B is currently reco mmended because selective immunization of high-risk persons has not be en feasible, Decades of use of poliovirus vaccine has effectively elim inated cases of wild-virus infection, although some vaccine-related ca ses still occur. The newly approved varicella vaccine appears to be a cost-effective way to decrease infection rates in children. Improved i mmunization rates for influenza and pneumococcal and meningococcal dis eases could help decrease excess mortality in elderly persons and thos e with chronic illness.