• Pneumococcal vaccination for cochlear implant candidates and recipients: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2003 Aug 8;52(31):739-40. [6 references] PubMed

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the following for persons who have or are scheduled to receive a cochlear implant (refer to the Table in the original guideline document).

• Children with cochlear implants aged <24 months should receive 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), as is universally recommended; children with a lapse in vaccination should be vaccinated according to the catch-up schedule issued after the PCV7 shortage resolved (CDC, 2000; CDC, 2003).
• Children aged 24--59 months with cochlear implants who have not received PCV7 should be vaccinated according to the high-risk schedule; children with a lapse in vaccination should be vaccinated according to the catch-up schedule for persons at high risk issued after the PCV7 shortage resolved (U.S. Food and Drug Administration; CDC, 2000). Children who have completed the PCV7 series should receive 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) >2 months after vaccination with PCV7 (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
• Persons aged 5--64 years with cochlear implants should receive PPV23 according to the schedule used for persons with chronic illnesses; a single dose is indicated (CDC, 1997).
• Persons planning to receive a cochlear implant should be up-to-date on age-appropriate pneumococcal vaccination >2 weeks before surgery, if possible.

Health-care providers should review vaccination records of their patients who are cochlear implant recipients or candidates to ensure that they have received pneumococcal vaccinations based on the age-appropriate schedules for persons at high risk. In addition, all cases of meningitis should be reported to state health departments according to state health requirements. Because information about Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes causing pneumococcal meningitis in persons with cochlear implants is limited, providers are encouraged to send isolates to their state health department, which can forward isolates to CDC, where serotyping can be performed to determine whether the type is included in the vaccines.

For reporting information, please refer to the original guideline document.

References open in a new window

• Pneumococcal vaccination for cochlear implant candidates and recipients: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2003 Aug 8;52(31):739-40. [6 references] PubMed

Electronic copies: Available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site.

Print copies: Available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR, Atlanta, GA 30333. Additional copies can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325; (202) 783-3238.

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