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Information for Health Professionals

This page provides resources for healthcare personnel who provide immunization services.

For Vaccine Providers

It's Federal Law - You Must Use Vaccine Information Statements (CDC web site) every time you give a vaccine.

Every person who administers vaccines should screen every patient for contraindications and precautions before giving vaccines.  

Effective screening is key to preventing serious adverse events and is not difficult or complicated. Screening can be accomplished with just a few questions (See the screening forms which follow).

The "Contraindications and Precautions" section in the General Recommendations (CDC web site), pages 40 through 43, describes valid and invalid contraindications and precautions.

More specific information on contraindications and precautions is available in vaccine-specific ACIP recommendations.

HPV and Meningococcal Resources

Recommended Immunization Schedules

Free Online Immunization Training

CE Credit for Physicians

CE Credit for Nurses

Important Information

Q: What are the new ACIP recommendations for vaccinating pregnant women with Tdap?
A: The new ACIP recommendations are that pregnant women receive Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy, even if they have received Tdap previously. Women who have never received Tdap and who do not receive it during pregnancy should receive it immediately postpartum.

Q: If a woman did not receive Tdap during pregnancy, and it is uncertain whether she received a dose of Tdap prior to her pregnancy, should she receive a dose of Tdap postpartum?
A: Yes. If there is no written documentation that she received a dose of Tdap prior to or during pregnancy, a dose of Tdap should be administered to her immediately postpartum.

Q: A 7-year-old who needed a tetanus shot for wound management came into our emergency department. My question is, if a child has received the complete 5-dose series of DTaP but has never had Tdap, should the child receive Tdap or Td for wound management?
A: Neither. A child who has completed 5 doses of DTaP has by definition received the fifth dose on or after his/her fourth birthday. In this child's case, it has been less than four years since receipt of the complete series, so the child does not need either Tdap or Td. The child is fully vaccinated against tetanus according to CDC tetanus wound management guidelines.

Q: What are the new ACIP recommendations for use of MenHibrix, the new combination meningococcal Groups C and Y and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine?
A: Licensed in June 2012, MenHibrix (Hib-MenCY; GSK) is a vaccine indicated for active immunization to prevent invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups C and Y and Haemophilus influenzae type b. This vaccine does not protect against meningococcal serogroups A, B, and W135. In October 2012, ACIP voted to recommend that infants at increased risk for meningococcal disease be vaccinated with 4 doses of Hib-MenCY at age 2, 4, 6, and 12 through 15 months. This includes infants with recognized persistent complement pathway deficiencies and infants who have anatomic or functional asplenia, including sickle cell disease. You can find this in footnote #13 of the "Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0 Through 18 Years - United States, 2013". Hib-MenCY can be used in infants age 2 through 18 months who live in communities with serogroup C and Y meningococcal disease outbreaks.

Contact Information

Mailing Address
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Immunization Service
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406

Physical Location
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK

Phone: 405.426.8580
Fax: 405.900.7612
Email: immunize@health.ok.gov

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