TOP STORIES
IAC HANDOUTS FEATURED RESOURCES
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS
TOP STORIES CDC releases training video on vaccine storage and handling; continuing education credit available CDC recently released a new web-on-demand video (45 min) titled Keys to Storing and Handling Your Vaccine Supply. This resource is designed to decrease vaccine storage and handling errors and preserve the nation's vaccine supply by demonstrating the recommended best practices for storage and handling of vaccines. The presenters are Donna Weaver, RN, MN, and JoEllen Wolicki, BSN, RN, both nurse educators with CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Continuing education credit is available until April 17, 2016, for those who complete the course. Information about applying for credit is available on the web page. Related Links
Please volunteer for a telephone interview with the American Academy of Pediatrics on vaccine storage and handling The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has been asked by CDC to do telephone interviews with primary care office personnel about their vaccine storage and handling practices in order to identify ways to prevent storage of expired vaccine. Your practice won’t be judged or penalized based on your vaccine storage history or what you say in the interviews and participation will be kept confidential. Your input will help shape future guidance, tools, and resources related to vaccine storage and handling. Of course, this is completely voluntary and you are able to withdraw from participation at any time. AAP wants to interview the person who knows the most about the office systems for storing vaccines. The phone interview will be scheduled at a time convenient for you and will take about 60 minutes. Neither you nor your practice will be named or otherwise identified in any report or summary publication generated from these interviews. Participants will be offered a $75 Amazon gift card as an honorarium for the time spent. Please contact Jill Hernandez with questions or to talk about volunteering by email at jhernandez@aap.org or phone at (800) 433-9016 x4270. Related Links Back to top Institute for Safe Medication Practices publishes article on reported vaccine diluent errors On May 22, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) published an article titled Administering Just the Diluent or One of Two Vaccine Components Leaves Patients Unprotected in its Medication Safety Alert newsletter. The second paragraph is reprinted below. Errors of this type are reported frequently. They account for 6% of all error types reported to the ISMP National Vaccine Errors Reporting Program, which began in late 2012. There are currently 12 vaccines that come with specific diluents and 2 vaccines provided with two-component containers that must be mixed prior to administering the dose. Reported errors with these vaccines frequently involve multiple patients. Typically, a practitioner dispensing or administering the vaccine fails to notice that a single dose requires combining the contents of two vials. Many times, these vials look very similar and may both emphasize the name of the active drug. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices is the nation’s only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted entirely to medication error prevention and safe medication use. In September 2012, ISMP partnered with the California Department of Public Health to develop the National Vaccine Errors Reporting System (VERP) to promote ongoing learning about potentially preventable harm associated with immunizations. The VERP program was created to allow healthcare professionals to confidentially report vaccine administration errors and near misses. By collecting and quantifying information about these errors, ISMP will be better able to advocate for changes in vaccine names, labeling, or other appropriate modifications that could reduce the likelihood of future vaccine errors. Healthcare professionals can easily and confidentially report an error using the online error reporting form. Note: If an adverse event occurs following a vaccine administration error, be sure to send a report to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Related Links
IAC enrolls seven more birthing institutions into its Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) is pleased to announce that seven new institutions have been accepted into its Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll. The birthing institutions are listed below with their reported hepatitis B birth dose coverage rates in parentheses.
The Honor Roll is a key part of IAC’s major initiative urging the nation’s hospitals to Give birth to the end of Hep B. Hospitals and birthing centers are recognized for attaining high coverage rates for administering hepatitis B vaccine at birth and meeting specific additional criteria. The initiative urges qualifying healthcare organizations to apply for the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll online. To be included in the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll, a birthing institution must have: (1) reported a coverage rate of 90% or greater, over a 12-month period, for administering hepatitis B vaccine before hospital discharge to all newborns, including those whose parents refuse vaccination, and (2) implemented specific written policies, procedures, and protocols to protect all newborns from hepatitis B virus infection prior to hospital discharge. Honorees are also awarded an 8.5" x 11" color certificate suitable for framing and their acceptance is announced to IAC Express’s approximately 50,000 readers. Please visit the new Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll web page that lists these institutions and their exceptional efforts to protect infants from perinatal hepatitis B transmission. Related Links
Presentation slides from the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit now available online The 2014 National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) was held in Atlanta on May 13–15, with over 300 people attending. Slides of the presentations made at the summit are now available on the summit website. In addition, the NAIIS 2014 Immunization Excellence Awards were presented during the summit meeting. The 2014 awards recognize individuals and organizations that made extraordinary contributions towards improving vaccination rates within their communities during 2013. The awards focus on individuals and organizations that exemplify the meaning of the “immunization neighborhood." Descriptions of the winning projects are available for review. NAIIS is led by IAC, CDC, and the National Vaccine Program Office, and includes more than 140 organizations and 800 participants. NAIIS recently launched its new website at www.izsummitpartners.org to provide information about the annual summit meeting and NAIIS workgroups, as well as links to many resources related to adult vaccination. Explore the new website by clicking on any of the featured sections. If you are an adult vaccine advocate and would like to become part of NAIIS, please email Dr. Litjen Tan, chief strategy officer at IAC and co-chair of NAIIS, for more information. Back to top U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends HBV screening for populations at high risk of infection In May, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in persons at high risk. The new statement recommends testing adolescents and adults who are at high risk for HBV infection, and rates this recommendation a "B" grade. A "B" grade is defined as follows: "The USPSTF recommends the service. There is high certainty that the net benefit is moderate or there is moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial." This is an importance change, as the former related USPSTF recommendation was a “D” grade, which meant hepatitis B screening was not recommended for anyone except pregnant women. The new statement recommends hepatitis B screening for:
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IAC Spotlight! “Technically Speaking” column from IAC’s executive director covers practical topics about delivering vaccination services IAC is pleased to remind readers of its Technically Speaking web section. It features a monthly column about practical vaccine topics written by IAC Executive Director Deborah L. Wexler, MD. The columns cover subject matter in vaccine delivery such as needle length, vaccine administration, cold chain, and immunization schedules. Dr. Wexler’s column made its debut in 2010 in Vaccine Update for Healthcare Providers, a monthly e-newsletter of the Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and is a regular feature.
Back to top IAC HANDOUTS IAC updates and reformats "Questions Frequently Asked About Hepatitis B" IAC recently reformatted and made other minor changes to Questions Frequently Asked About Hepatitis B, a four-page handout for patients and members of the general public. This resource includes many detailed Q&As about prevention, transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatitis B virus infection. Related Links
Back to top FEATURED RESOURCES Voices for Vaccines offers tools to help parents and others advocate for vaccines Voices for Vaccines (VFV) aims to motivate and inspire parents to speak up on behalf of immunizing children, while making it easy to do so. The VFV website includes a "Tools" section that includes the following resources for parents, healthcare professionals, and others who want to effectively advocate for vaccines:
Voices for Vaccines is a national organization of parents and others who are dedicated to raising the level of the voices of immunization supporters. VFV invites everyone who appreciates vaccines to become a member of their organization. Please spread the word to your friends and colleagues to join VFV! Back to top CDC updates ACIP Abbreviations for Vaccines web page CDC recently updated its ACIP Abbreviations for Vaccines web page. The page includes a table of standardized vaccine acronyms, developed jointly by CDC, ACIP work groups, the editor of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the editor of Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (the "Pink Book"), ACIP members, and liaison organizations to ACIP. These acronyms are intended to provide a uniform approach to vaccine references. Access the table in PDF format. Back to top IAC's sturdy laminated versions of the 2014 U.S. child/teen immunization schedule and the 2014 U.S. adult immunization schedule—order a supply for your healthcare setting today! IAC's laminated versions of the 2014 U.S. child/teen immunization schedule and the 2014 U.S. adult immunization schedule are covered with a tough, washable coating; they will stand up to a year's worth of use in every area of your healthcare setting where immunizations are given. The child and adolescent schedule has eight pages (i.e., four double-sided pages) and is folded to measure 8.5" x 11". The adult immunization schedule has six pages (i.e., three double-sided pages) and is folded to measure 8.5" x 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 emailadmininfo@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. Related Link Back to top JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization publishes summary of April meeting The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization met on April 1–3 in Geneva, Switzerland. On May 23, WHO's Weekly Epidemiological Record published a summary of this meeting. Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, April 2014—Conclusions and Recommendations provides a summary of the meeting's discussions, conclusions, and recommendations. Related Links Back to top CDC publishes update on progress toward polio elimination CDC published Progress Toward Polio Eradication—Worldwide, 2013–2014 in the May 30 issue of MMWR (pages 468–472). A summary made available to the press is reprinted below. By 2012, a >99 percent reduction in polio cases had occurred since 1988. But with wild poliovirus still circulating, the world’s health ministers recently declared completion of polio eradication to be a programmatic emergency. In the three countries where the spread of wild poliovirus has never been stopped—Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan—fewer communities were affected by polio in 2013 than in 2012, particularly in Afghanistan and Nigeria. However, polio spread outside of these countries in 2013 and caused outbreaks in five countries in Africa and the Middle East, spreading to two additional countries in 2014 to date. Because of limitations in access and security, the number of cases in Pakistan has increased from 2012 to 2013. WHO has declared the international spread of wild poliovirus in 2014 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Back to top Ask the Experts
Question of the Week Is pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) contraindicated in pregnancy? Our patient has asthma and is pregnant. Answer: No. According to the 2014 adult immunization schedule, PPSV23 is recommended in pregnancy if some other risk factor is present (e.g., on the basis of medical, occupational, lifestyle, or other indications). See footnote 9 of the 2014 adult immunization schedule at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-combined-schedule.pdf. About IAC's Question of the Week This week's issue of IAC Express includes a new feature called "Question of the Week." Each week, IAC Express will highlight a new, topical, or important-to-reiterate Q&A. This new feature is a cooperative venture between IAC and CDC. William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH, IAC's associate director for immunization education, will select a new Q&A every week based on common or especially intriguing questions that come to CDC. We hope you enjoy this new feature and find it helpful when dealing with difficult real-life scenarios in your vaccination practice. Please encourage your healthcare professional colleagues to sign up to receive IAC Express at www.immunize.org/subscribe. If you have a question for the CDC immunization experts, you can email them directly at nipinfo@cdc.gov. There is no charge for this service. Related Links
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About IZ Express
IZ Express is supported in part by Grant No. 1NH23IP922654 from CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Its contents are solely the responsibility of Immunize.org and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.
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ISSN 2771-8085
IZ Express Disclaimer
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