{"id":2608,"date":"2025-10-08T15:38:55","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T15:38:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/clinicians\/?page_id=2608"},"modified":"2026-01-21T00:26:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T00:26:51","slug":"updates-to-cdc-immunization-schedule","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/clinicians\/clinician-letters\/updates-to-cdc-immunization-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"Updates to CDC Immunization Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Letterhead_Shelton.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2681 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Letterhead_Shelton.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"778\" height=\"290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Letterhead_Shelton.png 2344w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Letterhead_Shelton-300x112.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Letterhead_Shelton-1024x381.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Letterhead_Shelton-768x286.png 768w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Letterhead_Shelton-1536x572.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/134\/Letterhead_Shelton-2048x763.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 778px) 100vw, 778px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Updates to CDC Immunization Schedule<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><strong>October 10, 2025\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\">Vaccines<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\">are essential to the health of <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\">communities in Virginia<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\">. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\">On October 6, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made minor updates to <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\">its immunization schedules, including changes to <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/media\/releases\/2025\/cdc-immunization-schedule-adopts-individual-based-decision.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW171304976 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">recommendations<\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\"> for the MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella &amp; Varicella) and COVID-19 vaccines. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\">These<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\"> vaccines have been through rigorous testing and continuous evaluations<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\"> and have been <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\">demonstrated<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\"> as safe and effective. These vaccines<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\"> also protect those who are unable to be vaccinated.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171304976 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW171304976 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;469777462&quot;:[4680],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[3]}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>COVID-19<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>People aged 6 months and older can receive the COVID-19 vaccine based on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/acip\/vaccine-recommendations\/shared-clinical-decision-making.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">individual-based decision-making<\/a> with a healthcare provider, such as physicians, nurses and pharmacists.<\/li>\n<li>Individual-based decision-making allows for immunization coverage through all payment mechanisms, including entitlement programs; however, insurance coverage should be verified before vaccination. This includes programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Children&#8217;s Health Insurance Program, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, and insurance plans regulated by the Affordable Care Act.<\/li>\n<li>Pharmacists can now administer COVID-19 vaccination without a prescription to persons aged 3 years and older, now that the CDC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/hcp\/imz-schedules\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">immunization schedule<\/a> includes the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine. This is pursuant to the <a href=\"https:\/\/public-inspection.federalregister.gov\/2024-29108.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID\u201319, 12th amendment<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Pharmacies may have different policies about the ages of patients they will vaccinate. Encourage parents to verify the acceptable age of their local pharmacy before making appointments or visiting a pharmacy for vaccination.<\/li>\n<li>The Virginia Board of Pharmacy has updated its <a href=\"https:\/\/view.officeapps.live.com\/op\/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dhp.virginia.gov%2Fmedia%2Fdhpweb%2Fdocs%2Fpharmacy%2Fprotocols%2FVaccineProtocol_Adults.docx&amp;wdOrigin=BROWSELINK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statewide protocol<\/a> for adults effective October 1, 2025.<\/li>\n<li>With the CDC recommendations in place, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/clinicians\/standing-orders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Virginia Commissioner\u2019s Standing Order<\/a> is no longer needed and has been revoked effective October 10, 2025.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella &amp; Varicella)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>MMRV vaccine remains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/vaccines-blood-biologics\/vaccines\/proquad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FDA approved<\/a> for children 12 months \u2013 12 years.<\/li>\n<li>Children under the age of 4 years should receive the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and the varicella vaccine separately (MMR+V). The combined MMRV vaccine is no longer recommended for children under the age of 4 years.<\/li>\n<li>Children aged 4 years and older can still receive the combined MMRV vaccine. The recommendation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/measles\/hcp\/vaccine-considerations\/index.html#cdc_generic_section_3-routine-recommendations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">for this age group<\/a> has not changed.<\/li>\n<li>Per the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2016\/04\/VirginiaProviderAgreementProfile.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VFC Provider Agreement,<\/a> providers participating in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program are required to comply with vaccine schedules, dosages, and contraindications established by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). As such, VFC providers can no longer give MMRV to children under the age of four years. Please see the VFC Provider Agreement for exceptions to this policy.<\/li>\n<li>If providing MMRV to a child younger than 4 years of age, insurance coverage should be verified before vaccination, as it may no longer be covered.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Additional Information<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It is <strong>strongly recommended<\/strong> that all <strong>Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers<\/strong> carry a minimal stock of COVID-19 vaccine to ensure access for this population, who may not have options to seek it elsewhere. If you have questions about the VFC program, please contact <a href=\"mailto:vvfc@vdh.virginia.gov\">vvfc@vdh.virginia.gov<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Existing Vaccine Information Statements should be used until new ones are published by the CDC.<\/li>\n<li>All administered vaccines in Virginia must be reported to the VIIS within 7 days of administration.<\/li>\n<li>CDC\u2019s updated recommendations differ from recommendations from professional medical organizations. This includes:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aafp.org\/family-physician\/patient-care\/prevention-wellness\/immunizations-vaccines.html?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Academy of Family Physicians<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/downloads.aap.org\/AAP\/PDF\/AAP-Immunization-Schedule.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acog.org\/clinical\/clinical-guidance\/practice-advisory\/articles\/2020\/12\/covid-19-vaccination-considerations-for-obstetric-gynecologic-care\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Thank you for your partnership in keeping Virginians safe and healthy.<\/p>\n<p>Sincerely,<\/p>\n<p>Karen Shelton, MD<br \/>\nState Health Commissioner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updates to CDC Immunization Schedule\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0October 10, 2025\u00a0 Vaccines are essential to the health of communities in Virginia. On October 6, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made minor updates to its immunization schedules, including changes to recommendations for the MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella &amp; Varicella) and COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":510,"featured_media":0,"parent":25,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2608","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Updates to CDC Immunization Schedule - Clinicians<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/clinicians\/clinician-letters\/updates-to-cdc-immunization-schedule\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Updates to CDC Immunization Schedule - Clinicians\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Updates to CDC Immunization Schedule\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0October 10, 2025\u00a0 Vaccines are essential to the health of communities in Virginia. 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