Updated recommendation on giving COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has updated its guidance on concurrent administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines. COVID-19 vaccine may now be given concurrently with other vaccines in all age groups authorized to receive the vaccine, including the youngest age group (i.e., children 6 months to 5 years).1 Previously, NACI had recommended that as a precautionary measure it was advisable to wait 14 days between administration of the Modena Spikevax vaccine and other vaccines in children six months to five years of age. This advice was provided when Spikevax was first approved in this young age group and was intended to prevent erroneous attribution of an adverse effect to one vaccine or the other.2,3 In practical terms, this means that COVID-19 vaccines can now be administered on the same day, or at any time before or after other vaccines, including live and non-live vaccines, in any authorized age group.1 Vaccines given during the same visit should be administered at different injection sites using separate injection equipment.2 Expansion of the recommendation, to permit simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines in the youngest approved age group, was based on the lack of any safety signals during postmarket safety surveillance for mRNA COVID-19 vaccine products in children six months to five years of age. In addition, NACI noted that no safety concerns have emerged for concurrent administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines in adults.1 Allowing concurrent administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines in young children is expected to reduce barriers to the provision of routine childhood immunizations and seasonal influenza immunization.1 References 1. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). Updated recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses in children 5 to 11 years of age and concurrent vaccine administration. December 9, 2022. 2. Government of Canada. COVID-19 vaccine: Canadian Immunization Guide. Concurrent administration with other vaccines. (accessed December 19, 2022). 3. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). An Advisory Committee Statement (ACS). Recommendations on the use of Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 months to 5 years of age. July 14, 2022. (accessed December 19, 2022)

Updated recommendation on giving COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines

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