MMWR News Synopsis

Articles

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger — United States, 2021

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

The child and adolescent immunization schedule is updated every year, providing a guide for healthcare providers to make sure children and adolescents – from birth through age 18 years – get the vaccines they need for a healthy future. The 2021 immunization schedule remains largely the same as the previous year, with revised recommendations impacting select vaccines, and new COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.  Despite challenges caused by the pandemic, it’s critical to remain vigilant to ensure that children and adolescents get the vaccines they need to protect against serious and sometimes deadly disease. The child and adolescent immunization schedule is published annually to consolidate and summarize updates to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations on vaccination of children and adolescents from birth through age 18 years, and to assist healthcare providers in implementing those recommendations. Most recommendations remain the same in 2021, with the addition of interim recommendations for use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in people aged 16 and older, and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in people aged 18 and older. Routine immunization services are essential in protecting our communities against vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks, and to ensure a bright and heathy future for our children. The COVID-19 pandemic requires healthcare providers to implement specific strategies to maintain routine immunization services. Children, adolescents, and their caregivers may feel anxious about visiting a doctor’s office during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, routinely recommended vaccines can be safely administered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2021

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

The adult immunization schedule is updated every year, providing a guide for healthcare providers to make sure adults get the vaccines they need based on age, medical conditions, and special situations. The 2021 recommendations for individuals aged 19 and older remain largely the same as the previous year, with new or revised recommendations impacting select vaccines. Despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, adults and their healthcare providers should follow the recommended vaccine schedule to protect against serious and sometimes deadly diseases. The adult immunization schedule is published annually to consolidate and summarize updates to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations on vaccination of people aged 19 years or older, and to assist healthcare providers in implementing those recommendations. Most recommendations remain the same in 2021, with the addition of an interim recommendation for use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in people aged 16 and older, as well as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in people aged 18 and older. Other changes include the removal of ZVL (zoster vaccine live or Zostavax) since it is no longer available in the U.S. market, and new or revised recommendations impacting select vaccines. Healthcare professionals are a trusted source of health information – and key influencers in patients’ decisions to get vaccinated. Despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals should continue to encourage adults to follow the recommended immunization schedule to protect against these preventable and sometimes deadly diseases.

Comorbidities Among Young Adults with Congenital Heart Defects: Results from the Congenital Heart Survey To Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and Well-BeinG — Arizona, Arkansas, and Metropolitan Atlanta, 2016–2019

CDC Media Relations
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Adults living with heart defects present since birth may be more likely than the general population to report additional cardiovascular issues such as congestive heart failure and stroke. These results can inform the needs of the growing population of adults living with heart defects. More than 1 million adults in the United States are living with conditions present at birth that affect the structure and function of the heart. Using data from CDC’s Congenital Heart Survey To Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and well-beinG (CH STRONG), scientists found that adults living with heart defects may be more likely than the general population to report additional cardiovascular issues such as congestive heart failure and stroke. People living with severe heart defects were more likely to have cardiovascular health issues than those living with non-severe heart defects. These results can inform providers, policy makers, patients, and families of the needs of adults living with heart defects. More research is needed to better understand the long-term health outcomes for this growing population.

Trends and Geographic Patterns in Drug and Synthetic Opioid Overdose Deaths — United States, 2013–2019

CDC Media Relations
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There is an urgent need for action to address the worsening and expanding drug overdose epidemic in the United States, which is now largely driven by the use of potent synthetic drugs, often in combination with other substances. Synthetic opioids, often in combination with other drugs such as fentanyl, are largely driving recent increases in overdose deaths. Drug overdose deaths involving psychostimulants such as  methamphetamine are increasing with and without synthetic opioid involvement. Drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids and methamphetamine have shifted geographically. From 2018 to 2019, the largest increases in synthetic opioid-involved death rates occurred in the West and the largest increases in psychostimulant-involved death rates occurred in the Northeast. Evidence-based prevention and response strategies, including substance use disorder treatment and overdose prevention efforts focused on polysubstance use, must be adapted to address the changing drug overdose epidemic.

Observed Face Mask Use at Six Universities — United States, September–November 2020 (Early Release February 5, 2021)

CDC Media Relations
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Decline in COVID-19 Hospitalization Growth Rates Associated with Statewide Mask Mandates — 10 States, March–October 2020 (Early Release February 5, 2021)

CDC Media Relations
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COVID-19 Vaccination Intent, Perceptions, and Reasons for Not Vaccinating Among Groups Prioritized for Early Vaccination — United States, September and December 2020 (Early Release February 9, 2021)

CDC Media Relations
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COVID-19 Stats: Percentage of Middle and High School Students Aged 13–21 Years Attending In-Person Classes Who Reported Observing Fellow Students Wearing a Mask All the Time, by School Setting and Activity — United States, October 2020

CDC Media Relations
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In October 2020, United States students aged 13–21 years attending in-person classes were asked about mask use by other students. Responses varied by school setting and activity. Most students reported that other students wore a mask “all the time” in the classroom and in hallways or stairwells, while fewer students reported mask use “all the time” in other indoor settings (such as school buses and restrooms), during sports or activities, or in outdoor settings.

• Trends in Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Nonsmoking Adults, by Race and Hispanic Origin — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2009–2018

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.