Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the 2023 immunization schedules. Have you downloaded your new copies yet? If not, we have the links at the end of this article, but in the meantime, have fun with these trivia questions to see how much you know about this year’s changes.
1. How many new vaccine products were added to the childhood immunization schedule?
- Zero
- One
- Three
- Five
- Seven
The answer is “E. Seven.” Located on page 1 of the schedule, five new COVID-19 vaccines (two monovalent mRNA vaccines, two bivalent mRNA vaccines, and a monovalent protein-based vaccine), one new pneumococcal vaccine (PCV15), and one new MMR vaccine (Priorix®) were added to the list of available vaccine products.
Seven new vaccine products were also added to the adult schedule. These included the five new COVID-19 vaccines and the new MMR vaccine as well as a new hepatitis B vaccine (PreHevbrio®). The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) was already listed on the 2022 adult schedule.
2. What partner organization approved the adult schedule for the first time?
- American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
- American Pharmacists Association (APA)
- American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
The answer is “B. American Pharmacists Association (APA).” The other three groups listed as choices, as well as the CDC, American College of Physicians (ACP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) all previously reviewed and approved the adult schedule.
3. For which vaccine was a “special situations” note added for 18-year-olds on the child schedule and for all adults on the adult schedule?
- Hepatitis B
- Pneumococcus
- Polio
- COVID-19
The answer is “C. Polio.” The notes added to both schedules (only for 18-year-olds on the child schedule) address vaccination for those at increased risk who either did not complete their childhood series (at least three doses) or for those who completed the doses but are at increased risk. In the latter situation, they can receive “one lifetime IPV booster.” See the notes section of either schedule for details and a link to the complete recommendation.
4. Under what program are injury claims for COVID-19 vaccine administered?
- Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP)
- National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)
- Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS)
- COVID-19 Injury Compensation Program (CoICP)
The answer is “A. Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP).” While most vaccines are covered by VICP, COVID-19 vaccines are covered under CICP because they were developed in response to a public health emergency. Vaccines on the childhood schedule that are not covered by either of these programs include dengue and pneumococcal polysaccharide 23 (PPSV23). Neither of which are routinely recommended vaccines. On the adult schedule, PPSV23 and shingles vaccines are not covered by either program. Information about compensation programs is located on the first page of the adult schedule and in the “Additional information” section of the notes on the childhood schedule.
5. True or False. On the childhood schedule, language was added to indicate that PCV13 and PCV15 can be used interchangeably.
- True
- False
The answer is “A. True.” These two vaccines can be used interchangeably in healthy children and those at increased risk for invasive pneumococcal disease. The CDC’s schedule app can be used to determine a patient’s pneumococcal vaccine needs. The childhood and adult schedules include a link to the app.
6. Which vaccine had a note added to both schedules to indicate that it should not be given to close contacts of “severely immunosuppressed people who require a protected environment”?
- Rotavirus
- Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)
- MMR
- Varicella
The answer is “B. Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).” LAIV should not be administered to caregivers or healthcare workers who are around individuals that require a protected environment due to their immune suppression. If given, the vaccinated individual should avoid contact with or care of the patient for seven days.
More information
While the questions in this article described some of the changes to the schedule, it is not exhaustive. Please refer to the following resources to find out more:
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the 2023 immunization schedules. Have you downloaded your new copies yet? If not, we have the links at the end of this article, but in the meantime, have fun with these trivia questions to see how much you know about this year’s changes.
1. How many new vaccine products were added to the childhood immunization schedule?
- Zero
- One
- Three
- Five
- Seven
The answer is “E. Seven.” Located on page 1 of the schedule, five new COVID-19 vaccines (two monovalent mRNA vaccines, two bivalent mRNA vaccines, and a monovalent protein-based vaccine), one new pneumococcal vaccine (PCV15), and one new MMR vaccine (Priorix®) were added to the list of available vaccine products.
Seven new vaccine products were also added to the adult schedule. These included the five new COVID-19 vaccines and the new MMR vaccine as well as a new hepatitis B vaccine (PreHevbrio®). The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) was already listed on the 2022 adult schedule.
2. What partner organization approved the adult schedule for the first time?
- American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
- American Pharmacists Association (APA)
- American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
The answer is “B. American Pharmacists Association (APA).” The other three groups listed as choices, as well as the CDC, American College of Physicians (ACP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) all previously reviewed and approved the adult schedule.
3. For which vaccine was a “special situations” note added for 18-year-olds on the child schedule and for all adults on the adult schedule?
- Hepatitis B
- Pneumococcus
- Polio
- COVID-19
The answer is “C. Polio.” The notes added to both schedules (only for 18-year-olds on the child schedule) address vaccination for those at increased risk who either did not complete their childhood series (at least three doses) or for those who completed the doses but are at increased risk. In the latter situation, they can receive “one lifetime IPV booster.” See the notes section of either schedule for details and a link to the complete recommendation.
4. Under what program are injury claims for COVID-19 vaccine administered?
- Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP)
- National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)
- Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS)
- COVID-19 Injury Compensation Program (CoICP)
The answer is “A. Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP).” While most vaccines are covered by VICP, COVID-19 vaccines are covered under CICP because they were developed in response to a public health emergency. Vaccines on the childhood schedule that are not covered by either of these programs include dengue and pneumococcal polysaccharide 23 (PPSV23). Neither of which are routinely recommended vaccines. On the adult schedule, PPSV23 and shingles vaccines are not covered by either program. Information about compensation programs is located on the first page of the adult schedule and in the “Additional information” section of the notes on the childhood schedule.
5. True or False. On the childhood schedule, language was added to indicate that PCV13 and PCV15 can be used interchangeably.
- True
- False
The answer is “A. True.” These two vaccines can be used interchangeably in healthy children and those at increased risk for invasive pneumococcal disease. The CDC’s schedule app can be used to determine a patient’s pneumococcal vaccine needs. The childhood and adult schedules include a link to the app.
6. Which vaccine had a note added to both schedules to indicate that it should not be given to close contacts of “severely immunosuppressed people who require a protected environment”?
- Rotavirus
- Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)
- MMR
- Varicella
The answer is “B. Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).” LAIV should not be administered to caregivers or healthcare workers who are around individuals that require a protected environment due to their immune suppression. If given, the vaccinated individual should avoid contact with or care of the patient for seven days.
More information
While the questions in this article described some of the changes to the schedule, it is not exhaustive. Please refer to the following resources to find out more: