Pediatric doses?

[emma1325]

Do any vaccines have child doses vs. adult doses? I've always heard that the same dose is given of a vaccine, whether it's for a 10 lbs infant or a 200 lb man.

Any info on this? I haven't been able to find anything through searching.

Thanks!

[Marnica]

This is true...Vaccines are not adlusted for weight however there are usually differences in dosing/formulations. There are a few vaccines that have "pediatric formulations" such as the DT.
There are also different Dtap's

http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_infanrix.pdf (6 weeks - 7 yrs)
https://www.vaccineshoppe.com/image....pe=product_pdf (given to people age 7 - 64 yrs)


but if you look at the ingredients for this vs the adult formulation the differences are fairly minute

http://www.seacoastmedical.com/Forms...fo/Decavac.pdf (Adult)
https://www.vaccineshoppe.com/image....pe=product_pdf (pediatric)

Other vaccines that have adult and pediatric formulations are the Hep B. http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_engerixb.pdf

The adult formulation has twice the amount of aluminum (.50mg vs .25mg.)and twice the amount of antigen (.50mg vs .25mg.) The same is true for Hep A.
I believe the pediatric formulation is used for adolescents as well, so a 17yo 110pound kid) yr old kid will get the same amount of antigen and aluminum as a hrs old 6 pound infant.

For other vaccines given to both children and adults, it is all the same, no "pediatric" formulation or dosing. This is true for the MMR I believe and some flu shots as well.

[amnesiac]

That's true - for Hep A & hep B adults essentially get a double pedi dose. The other thing that varies is injectable flu - kids under 3 get half the volume older kids & adults get. And there will also be a high potency flu vaccine for older adults this year.