An 8‐month‐old infant, who is up‐to‐date with his immunizations, is brought to the clinic by his mother. The mother states that she overheard other mothers talking about a varicella vaccination that their children have received. She does not want her son to have the chickenpox virus and therefore, wants him to receive the vaccine today. The physician explains that the infant has not yet reached the recommended age for the vaccine. If this visit is in November, when is the earliest that this patient can return for the varicella vaccine?
- A. February
- B. March
- C. April
- D. May
- E. June
0 voters
The correct answer is B. The varicella vaccine is recommended at any visit on or after
the first birthday (12 months) for susceptible children (those who have not had the virus).
February (choice A) is incorrect because the infant will be 11 months.
April, May, and June (choices C, D, and E) would all be appropriate times to receive the varicella vaccine except that the question asks for the earliest possible date.
A general summary of routine immunizations is as follows:
Hep B vaccine‐ At birth, 1 month, and 6 months
DTaP‐ At 2, 4, and 6 months, 15‐18 months, and 4‐6 years
Td booster‐ 11‐12 years, and then every 10 years
Hib‐ At 2, 4, and 6 months, and 12‐15 months
IPV‐ At 2 and 4 months, 6‐18 months, and 4‐6 years
MMR‐ At 12‐15 months and 4‐6 years
Varicella‐ 12 months