Immunization issues in pediatric travelers.

An increasing number of children are traveling internationally. In preparation for their journeys, special attention must be given to immunizations. Providers should understand 'routine' vaccine schedules to ensure that pediatric travelers are up to date. Prematurely born and young children do not respond as well to some vaccines and require adjustment of timing and dosing. Vaccination of immunocompromised children requires consideration of their degree of immunodeficiency and the cause of their altered immunity. Accelerated vaccine schedules can be used when travel is imminent. Based on current scientific evidence, specific vaccine decisions can be customized related to the age, health and itinerary of individual travelers.