American Academy of Pediatrics releases new timetable for children to get vaccinated

CLEVELAND - The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a new immunization schedule.

There are a couple of changes to this year's schedule, including a new approach to vaccinating for Pertussis, or Whooping Cough, as it is more commonly known.

Dr. Mike Macknin is a pediatrician at The Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital.

"The one major change in the vaccine schedule is that there is now a recommendation that all women with their pregnancies get a whooping cough vaccine. It's a combination whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus vaccine with every single pregnancy. Ideally around 27 to 36 weeks gestation,” said Dr. Macknin.

Because infants are most at-risk of contracting whooping cough, before they can be immunized themselves, they are better protected if the mother receives the vaccine during each pregnancy.

The recommendation is also in response to the growing number of whooping cough cases nationally.

There are also a couple of minor changes to the schedule for Pneumonia and Meningococcal vaccines.

"The important part about the schedule is that children should go out and get their vaccines. There's nothing we do that's better for children than give them their immunizations. And it's still not too late to get your flu vaccine for this year if you haven't gotten it,” said Dr. Macknin.

You should talk to your pediatrician if you have any questions about the new immunization schedule, which can be found in the journal "Pediatrics."