| Issue 1065: July 9, 2013 TOP STORIES
VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FEATURED RESOURCES
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
TOP STORIES Final reminder: Don’t miss July 16 webinar on IAC’s major initiative to end hepatitis B infection in newborns As we reported in last week's issue of IAC Express, July 16 is the launch date for the Immunization Action Coalition’s major new project, which urges hospitals and birthing centers to Give birth to the end of Hep B. Healthcare professionals are invited to attend the free one-hour webinar on July 16, 12 noon ET, about strategies and tools for increasing hepatitis B birth dose coverage in birthing settings. The webinar will feature Trudy V. Murphy, MD, medical epidemiologist, Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC. Also speaking will be Lynn Pollock, RN, MSN, perinatal hepatitis B coordinator, New York State Department of Health; Mary Miller, RNC, nurse manager, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY; and Deborah Wexler, MD, executive director, Immunization Action Coalition. Debra Blog, MD, MPH, director, Bureau of Immunization, New York State Department of Health, will moderate. The webinar will include the launch of IAC’s comprehensive e-book Hepatitis B: What Hospitals Need to Do to Protect Newborns and its new Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll. Visit www.immunize.org/protect-newborns for more information as it becomes available. Important Note: Please register early at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/751803942. The webinar will use the services of GoToMeeting and will require a safe and quick installation of some software on your computer. If you have not previously used GoToMeeting, it is a good idea to register ahead of time in order to resolve any additional steps needed to get fully set up for the webinar. Also, a security warning may appear when you go to the registration website. If it does, simply click the "continue to this website” option and proceed. If you are using the web browser Firefox, you may need to click several times to "accept" the "exception." Back to top CDC Health Advisory issued about variant influenza (H3N2v) infections On July 5, CDC issued an official CDC Health Advisory titled Variant Influenza Virus (H3N2v) Infections. The first three paragraphs of the advisory's background section are reprinted below. The first cases of influenza A (H3N2) variant (H3N2v) virus infection this year were reported in June 2013. These cases were associated with exposure to swine at an agricultural fair prior to illness onset. H3N2v viruses with the matrix (M) gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus were first detected in people in 2011 and were responsible for a multi-state outbreak in the summer of 2012 that resulted in 306 cases, including 16 hospitalizations and 1 fatality. Genetic sequencing by CDC has confirmed that H3N2v viruses isolated in June 2013 are nearly identical to those detected during summer 2012. Most cases of H3N2v identified during 2012 were associated with exposure to pigs at agricultural fairs. Agricultural fairs take place across the United States every year, primarily during the summer months and into early fall. Many fairs have swine barns, where pigs from different places come in close contact with each other and with people. These venues may allow spread of influenza viruses both among pigs and between pigs and people. Data indicate that infected pigs may spread influenza viruses even if they are not symptomatic (e.g., coughing and/or sneezing). Although instances of limited person-to-person spread of this virus have been identified in the past, sustained or community-wide transmission of H3N2v has not occurred. Clinical characteristics of the 2012 and 2013 H3N2v cases have been generally consistent with those of seasonal influenza, and have included fever, cough, pharyngitis, myalgia, and headache. Of the 16 H3N2v hospitalized patients, most were at increased risk for complications of influenza because of age or the presence of an underlying medical condition. None of the persons ill with 2013 H3N2v infection have been hospitalized, and no deaths have occurred among them. Related Links
IAC Spotlight! Consider using IAC’s newest educational materials for patients and staff IAC wants to remind you that during the past year we have created several new patient handouts and staff-education materials. Please review them to see if they might be of help to you in your work setting.
VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS IAC posts 14 translations of the VIS for Tdap vaccine IAC recently posted 14 translations of CDC's newly released Tdap VIS in Arabic, Armenian, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese (traditional), Farsi (spoken in Bahrain and United Arab Emirates), French, Hmong, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. IAC thanks the Immunization Branch of the California Department of Public Health for the Armenian, Cambodian, Farsi, Hmong, Korean, and Tagalog translations. Important note: CDC's Note to Providers has additional information about the Tdap vaccine, including guidance on precautions and contraindications and links to appropriate ACIP recommendations. Related Links Back to top OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS CDC publishes "Summary of Notifiable Diseases, United States, 2011" On July 5, CDC published Summary of Notifiable Diseases—United States, 2011 as an MMWR Report (Vol. 60, No. 53). Past issues of the annual summary are available on an online index titled MMWR: Summary of Notifiable Diseases. The index comprises annual issues published from 1993 to 2011. Back to top FEATURED RESOURCES ASTHO document outlines benefits of public health and primary care partnerships in immunization The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) sees a strong partnership between public health and primary care as vital to achieving national immunization coverage targets and low incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases. To facilitate such collaboration, ASTHO has created an integration document titled Public Health and Primary Care Partnerships: Immunization. It outlines ways primary care and public health professionals can work together to ensure quality immunization services, coordinate outbreak response, disseminate vaccine communications, improve access to care, ensure evidence-based practice, and assess vaccine effectiveness and safety. Integration of the population-based practice of public health with the individual provider-patient relationship within primary care practice is an important concept. Previously, however, the concept has been difficult to advance. With this document, ASTHO has (1) identified and advanced some critical areas where the overlap between the two disciplines is evident and (2) provided direction for collaboration. Please share the document widely with your partners in clinical practice and public health. Related Link ASTHO is a national nonprofit organization representing public health agencies in the United States, U.S. Territories, and District of Columbia, in addition to the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. Back to top Order IAC's popular full-size laminated versions of the 2013 U.S. immunization schedules today! IAC's laminated versions of the 2013 U.S. child/teen and adult immunization schedules are covered with a tough, washable coating that lets them stand up to a year's worth of use in every area of your healthcare setting where immunizations are given. Each has six pages (i.e., three double-sided pages) and is folded to measure 8.5" by 11".  
PRICING 1–4 copies: $7.50 each 5–19 copies: $5.50 each 20–99 copies: $4.50 each 100–499 copies: $4.00 each 500–999 copies: $3.50 each For quotes on customizing or placing orders for 1,000 copies or more, call (651) 647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org You can access specific information on both schedules, view images of both, order online, or download an order form at the Shop IAC: Laminated Schedules web page. Back to top EDUCATION AND TRAINING October 28–30 Nevada Health Conference includes CDC's Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases course The 2013 Nevada Health Conference will be held October 28–30 in Henderson, NV. The conference will include presentations by regional and national experts on chronic disease prevention, health promotion, and maternal, child, and adolescent health. CDC's live two-day course Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases is scheduled for October 29–30. The course provides a comprehensive review of immunizations and the diseases they prevent. Continuing education credits are available. Related Links
Clinical Vaccinology course to be held November 15–17 in Cambridge, MA The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, the Emory Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, and the Emory Vaccine Center are sponsoring a Clinical Vaccinology Course, which will be held on November 15–17 in Cambridge, MA. This course focuses on new developments and issues related to the use of vaccines. Expert faculty will provide the latest information on both current and prospective vaccines, updated recommendations for vaccinations across the lifespan, and innovative and practical strategies for ensuring timely and appropriate vaccination. Continuing education credits are available. Related Links Back to top  |
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ISSN 2771-8085
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ISSN 2771-8085
Editorial Information
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Editor-in-ChiefKelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
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Managing EditorJohn D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
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Associate EditorSharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
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Writer/Publication CoordinatorTaryn Chapman, MS
Courtnay Londo, MA -
Style and Copy EditorMarian Deegan, JD
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Web Edition ManagersArkady Shakhnovich
Jermaine Royes -
Contributing WriterLaurel H. Wood, MPA
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Technical ReviewerKayla Ohlde