As we learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, federal guidance on who should receive them, and when, is changing quickly. As of late May 2021, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include adolescents as young as 12 years old. The agency’s newest clinical guidance also approves co-administration stating, “COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may now be administered without regard to timing.” The updated guidance forgoes the previous two-week wait period before and after COVID-19 vaccine administration that posed challenges for providers trying to keep their patients on schedule with recommended immunizations, especially adolescents with various multi-dose immunizations.
With new-found freedom of timing, providers have a tremendous opportunity over the next few months to help ensure that teen patients are up-to-date with their vaccinations, including the COVID-19 vaccine, before schools return to in-person learning this fall.
The Pandemic’s Impact on Adolescent Immunization
Adolescence marks a significant turning point for a patient’s journey from childhood to adulthood. Preventative care measures taken during this time can promote healthy habits that carry on into adulthood. The CDC’s vaccine recommendations for adolescents and pre-teens include the HPV vaccine, Tdap, Meningitis B, Meningitis ACWY, and other outstanding childhood vaccines that they may have missed. After the adolescent time period, the recommended immunizations for adulthood become far less frequent. For that reason, it is crucial for children in this age group to stay up to date with the recommended immunizations.
Unfortunately, the pandemic impacted teens’ ability to receive their vaccines. According to data from Merckcharting national wellness visits in 2020-2021, vaccination coverage declined during the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents more than any other age group. The CDC also reports that in mid-March of 2020, there was a significant decline in providers’ vaccine orders for adolescent immunizations. Significant uptake is needed for recovery to pre-pandemic immunization rates, and now is the time for families and providers to play catch up just in time for the back-to-school season.
Planning for the Return to In-Person Learning
Colleges and universities nationwide have announced their plans for in-person classes in the fall, and K-12 leaders expect their schools will do the same, according to EdWeek Research Center. The CDC has even issued operational guidance for the highly anticipated return to in-person learning. But before adolescents return to school safely, whether its middle school or college, they need to get caught up on vaccines that they’ve missed in the past year.
The CDC recommends that providers identify patients who have missed doses and contact them to schedule appointments. Fortunately, the summer months are often peak season for wellness visits, giving providers a perfect chance to schedule and administer vaccines for their teens just before back-to-school season.
When reaching out to these patients to encourage vaccination appointments, providers should consider leading with their COVID-19 vaccine availability.For many patients and families, the COVID-19 vaccine may be the draw they need to see their provider in person, and the new coadministration allowance creates a window of opportunity for providers to educate patients on their other recommended immunizations too. The CDC’s outlines that the COVID-19 vaccines can be given on the same day as other vaccines, meaning patients can even bundle their necessary vaccinations in one visit.
Looking ahead, the focus has shifted to preparing for COVID-19 vaccination of those under 12, and several pharmaceutical companies have begun clinical trials in young children. As COVID-19 vaccine eligibility makes it way down age groups, it is essential that young patients get caught up on routine vaccines alongside their COVID-19 vaccines. Returning to in-person learning will be a challenge enough without added illnesses from vaccine-preventable diseases spreading through schools. And this summer, providers have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to help our youth remain healthy as we approach some return to normalcy.