By Eli Walsh. Bay City News.
Federal health officials have formally updated the recommended vaccine schedule for children and adolescents to include the COVID-19 vaccine in the basic immunization schedule alongside those for diseases such as hepatitis and polio.
While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended the COVID vaccine for children who are at least 6 months old since it became available for that age group, the agency has officially added the vaccine to its recommended schedule that guides schools and health care providers.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices previously approved the 2023 vaccination schedule in October 2022.
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive at least two doses of one of the COVID mRNA vaccines and an additional booster dose.
The vaccine is also part of the CDC's recommended vaccination schedule for all adults along with an annual flu vaccine and vaccines against influenza, measles, and human papillomavirus, among other diseases.
Complete recommended vaccination schedules for children and adults can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules.
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