Understanding the Category B Recommendation for Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine.

Published recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which carry the approval of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, provide guidance on how licensed vaccines should be used. Professional organizations such as the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also develop immunization recommendations. Since 1995, the recommendations of the ACIP, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the AAP have been harmonized, although minor differences have surfaced from time to time. In the end, some vaccines are recommended for universal use and some are not, despite approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and commercial availability.