Issue 1360: April 18, 2018
TOP STORIES
VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS
OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
WORLD NEWS
FEATURED RESOURCES
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
TOP STORIES
National Infant Immunization Week starts April 21; many resources available to help you plan activities. CDC Childhood Immunization Champions will be announced Monday, April 23.
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), observed from April 21–28 this year, starts on Saturday! NIIW is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrate the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities.
As part of this week, on April 23, CDC will announce the winners of its CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award. This is an annual award that recognizes individuals who make a significant contribution toward improving public health through their work in childhood immunization. Look for the announcement of 2018 winners here.
Visit CDC's updated NIIW website to find promotional and educational materials to help you plan your NIIW activities, and tailor them to the needs of your community.
CDC's 2018 NIIW Digital Media Toolkit is now available for planning and implementing your NIIW activities. The media toolkit contains a range of suggested social media activities, including digital graphics and messaging, as well as tools for planning and developing promotional materials for the press and public service announcements.
 
CDC would like to hear from organizations planning a 2018 NIIW activity. Please complete the NIIW Activity Form so others can learn what you're doing to educate and inspire parents and providers to protect infants and toddlers from vaccine-preventable diseases. If you're looking for ideas, you can access guidance on CDC's Planning Your NIIW web page.
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Now available! IAC's sturdy laminated versions of the 2018 U.S. child/teen immunization schedule and the 2018 U.S. adult immunization schedule—order a supply for your healthcare setting today!
IAC's laminated versions of the 2018 U.S. child/teen immunization schedule and the 2018 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. Both schedules are eight pages (i.e., four double-sided pages) and are folded to measure 8.5" x 11".
Laminated schedules are printed in color for easy reading, come complete with essential tables and footnotes, and include contraindications and precautions—a feature that will help you make an on-the-spot determination about the safety of vaccinating patients of any age.
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.
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CDC posts information on hepatitis B vaccine supply
CDC recently posted the following notice about the supply of adult and pediatric hepatitis B vaccine on its Current Vaccine Shortages & Delays web page:
Pediatric hepatitis B vaccine: Merck has not been distributing its pediatric hepatitis B vaccines since mid-2017 and has informed CDC that it will continue to have a limited supply of pediatric hepatitis B vaccine during 2018. GSK has confirmed that it can continue to support full demand in the United States for pediatric hepatitis B vaccine throughout 2018, using a combination of monovalent pediatric hepatitis B vaccine and its DTaP-HepB-IPV pediatric combination vaccine (Pediarix). Between the two manufacturers, CDC anticipates there will be approximately 10% less monovalent pediatric hepatitis B vaccine than normal during the rest of 2018. The expected monovalent supply will provide sufficient vaccine to cover the hepatitis B birth dose for all children as well as additional pediatric hepatitis B vaccine for second and third doses. However, some adjustments will be needed from providers because of the decrease in monovalent vaccine (see attached guidance). To ensure an equitable distribution of monovalent hepatitis B vaccine and direct vaccine doses according to CDC’s clinical guidance, CDC will implement controlled vaccine ordering in the public sector using both Merck’s and GSK’s monovalent pediatric hepatitis B vaccines. In addition, GSK will also provide monovalent doses to the private sector market directly and through their channels using a plan to help control ordering and target monovalent hepatitis B vaccine consistent with CDC’s clinical guidance. GSK’s DTaP-HepB-IPV pediatric combination vaccine (Pediarix) will continue to be available in both the public and private sectors.
Adult hepatitis B vaccine: Merck is not currently distributing its adult hepatitis B vaccine and does not expect to be distributing adult Hepatitis B vaccine throughout the remainder of 2018. GSK has sufficient supplies of adult hepatitis B vaccines to address the anticipated gap in Merck’s supply of adult hepatitis B vaccine during this period.
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IAC Spotlight! IAC enrolls seven new birthing institutions into its Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll; four previously honored institutions qualify for additional years' honors
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.
- Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage, AK (94%)
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Marble Falls, Marble Falls, TX (99%)
- Doctors Hospital of Laredo, Laredo, TX (99%)
- Hendrick Medical Center, Abilene, TX (94%)
- St. David's South Austin Medical Center, Austin, TX (93%)
- Texas Health Huguley–Fort Worth South, Fort Worth, TX (100%)
- Unity Point–Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell, IA (96%)
In addition, the following four institutions are being recognized for a second year:
- Baylor, Scott & White Medical Center–College Station, College Station, TX (90%)
- St. David's South Austin Medical Center, Austin, TX (92%)
- Texas Health Huguley–Fort Worth South, Fort Worth, TX (95%)
- Unity Point–Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell, IA (97%)
Finally, the following two institutions are being recognized for a third year:
- Baylor, Scott & White Medical Center–College Station, College Station, TX (93%)
- Texas Health Huguley–Fort Worth South, Fort Worth, TX (98%)
Note: Four of these institutions qualified for multiple 12-month periods at one time.
The Honor Roll now includes 387 birthing institutions from 40 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and an overseas U.S. military base. Eighty-five institutions have qualified for two years, 46 institutions have qualified three times, 15 institutions have qualified four times, six institutions have qualified five times, one institution has qualified six times, and one institution has qualified seven times.
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 percent 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 Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll web page that lists these institutions and their exceptional efforts to protect infants from perinatal hepatitis B transmission.
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Final reminder: Registration for the National Immunization Conference ends April 20!
Registration for the National Immunization Conference (NIC), held May 15–17 in Atlanta, will close on April 20. NIC brings together more than 1,500 local, state, federal, and private-sector immunization stakeholders and partners to explore science, policy, education, and planning issues related to immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases.
This three-day conference will include the following session tracks:
- Adult Immunization
- Immunization Information Systems
- Programmatic Issues
- Health and Risk Communications
- Epidemiology and Surveillance
- Childhood/Adolescent Immunization
Visit the National Immunization Conference web page for information about conference and hotel registration, fees, and more.
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VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS
IAC posts 19 translations of the MMR, MMRV, varicella, zoster-recombinant, and zoster-live VISs
As part of its cooperative agreement with CDC, IAC recently posted updated or new translations of the MMR, MMRV, varicella, zoster-recombinant (Shingrix), and zoster-live (Zostavax) VISs in Arabic, Burmese, Cambodian (Khmer), Chinese-Simplified, Chinese-Traditional, Farsi, French, Haitian-Creole, Hmong, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
MMR VISs (all updates)
MMRV VIS (all updates, except where indicated)
Varicella VIS (all updates)
Zoster–recombinant (Shingrix) VIS (all new)
Zoster–live (Zostavax) VIS (all updates, except where indicated)
Visit IAC's VIS web section for VISs in up to 50 languages.
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IAC posts updated Japanese-language Rotavirus VIS
IAC recently posted an updated version of the Japanese translation of the Rotavirus VIS. The only thing that changed was a link to a resource within the document.
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OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists releases committee opinion on influenza vaccination in pregnancy
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released an April 2018 committee opinion titled Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy. The abstract is reprinted below.
Influenza vaccination is an essential element of prepregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum care because influenza can result in serious illness, including a higher chance of progressing to pneumonia, when it occurs during the antepartum or postpartum period. In addition to hospitalization, pregnant women with influenza are at increased risk of intensive care unit admission and adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that all adults receive an annual influenza vaccine and that women who are or will be pregnant during influenza season receive an inactivated influenza vaccine as soon as it is available. In the United States, the influenza season typically occurs from October to May. Ideally, an influenza vaccination should be given before the end of October, but vaccination throughout the influenza season is encouraged to ensure protection during the period of circulation. Any of the licensed, recommended, age-appropriate, inactivated influenza vaccines can be given safely during any trimester. Therefore, it is critically important that obstetrician–gynecologists and other obstetric care providers recommend and advocate for the influenza vaccine. Obstetrician–gynecologists are encouraged to stock and administer the influenza vaccine to their pregnant patients in their offices, and should get the influenza vaccine themselves every season. If the influenza vaccine cannot be offered in a practice, obstetrician–gynecologists and obstetric care providers should refer patients to another health care provider, pharmacy, or community vaccination center. This updated Committee Opinion includes more recent data on the safety and efficacy of influenza vaccination during pregnancy and recommendations for treatment and postexposure chemoprophylaxis.
Access the complete document: Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy.
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WORLD NEWS
CDC and WHO report on surveillance systems to track progress of polio eradication in this week's MMWR and Weekly Epidemiological Record, respectively
CDC published Surveillance to Track Progress Toward Polio Eradication—Worldwide, 2016–2017 in the April 13 issue of MMWR (pages 418–23). On the same day, WHO's Weekly Epidemiological Record published a similar article titled Surveillance to track progress towards polio eradication worldwide, 2016–2017. A media summary of the MMWR article is reprinted below.
As the world moves closer to eliminating polio, it is more important than ever to have strong surveillance systems in place. Only 22 wild poliovirus (WPV) cases were reported in 2017, the fewest ever reported globally. Despite this improvement, the number of vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVPDVs) cases increased to 96 in 2017, due to outbreaks in Syria and in Democratic Republic of the Congo. While surveillance performance is improving at the country level, gaps remain within countries largely because of conflict and inaccessibility in some regions. Rapid improvements in surveillance systems are needed. As long as polioviruses continue to circulate in any country, all countries remain at risk.
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FEATURED RESOURCES
AAP develops three new fact sheets to educate dental professionals and pediatricians about head and neck cancer and HPV
Because the same strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause cervical cancer also can cause oropharyngeal (head and neck) cancer, dental professionals, like pediatricians, have a vested interest in recommending HPV vaccination to their patients. Through a cooperative agreement with CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) developed three new fact sheets to educate dental professionals and pediatricians about head and neck cancer and HPV and how to work together to increase HPV vaccination rates.
Check out these new resources from AAP:
AAP has more HPV resources available in its HPV Champion Toolkit.
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IAC's new 142-page book, Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide, describes how to implement adult vaccination services in your healthcare setting and provides a review for staff who already vaccinate adults; IAC Guide available for free download
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) recently announced the publication of its new book, Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide (Guide).
This completely updated guide on adult immunization (originally published in 2004) provides easy-to-use, practical information covering important “how-to” activities to help providers enhance their existing adult immunization services or introduce them into any clinical setting, including:
- setting up for vaccination services,
- storing and handling vaccines,
- deciding which people should receive which vaccines,
- administering vaccines,
- documenting vaccinations (including legal issues), and
- understanding financial considerations and billing information.
In addition, the Guide is filled with hundreds of web addresses and references to help providers stay up to date on the latest immunization information, both now and in the future.
The entire Guide is available to download/print free of charge at www.immunize.org/guide. The downloaded version is suitable for double-sided printing. Options are available online to download the entire book or selected chapters. The development of the Guide was supported by the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Expert staff from both agencies also provided early technical review of the content.
The Guide is a uniquely valuable resource to assist providers in increasing adult immunization rates. Be sure to get a copy today!
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CDC develops new resources about vaccination for people with diabetes
It is important for people who have diabetes to be up to date on their vaccines. Because diabetes can make it harder for a person's immune system to fight some infections, people with diabetes may be at higher risk of getting certain diseases. In addition, people with diabetes are also at higher risk of serious problems from some vaccine-preventable diseases.
CDC has posted a new infographic to help healthcare professionals talk to their patients about vaccines and other tips for staying healthy. Click on the graphic to access "Healthy Living with Diabetes: The Simple Step You May Be Missing."
CDC has also developed a companion print resource for patients: Healthy Living with Diabetes: Getting the Vaccines You Need (PDF).
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Reminder: Check out the HHS Partner Planning Guide for the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2017–2020
In February, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a Partner Planning Guide as a companion to the 2017–2020 National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan.
The Partner Planning Guide is a tool designed for use by individuals, groups, and organizations that are conducting strategic planning efforts for hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C, to help assess existing activities and plan new ones that align with the action plan. It can be used in conjunction with existing strategic plans to identify shared priorities and goals as well as opportunities for alignment and leveraging of capacities and resources to improve the programs that serve individuals and communities in need.
Access the Partner Planning Guide (PDF format; 18 pages).
The National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan is the nation’s battle plan for fighting viral hepatitis in the United States. The updated plan outlines four major goals, strategies to achieve those goals, and indicators to help track progress between now and 2020.
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Hepatitis B Foundation releases new video titled "Bihn's Story" in its storytelling project #justB
The Hepatitis B Foundation continues its storytelling campaign: #justB: Real People Sharing their Stories of Hepatitis B.
Watch the April video, Bihn's Story, about a young man of Vietnamese ancestry who, along with his three older brothers, was infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Despite learning about his HBV status in college, it took him years to seek more information and indicated treatment.
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Flu vaccination still recommended as long as influenza viruses are circulating
CDC has reported in its Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView, that as of the week ending April 7, influenza activity continued to decrease in the United States, although widespread activity was still reported in 7 states. With nine additional pediatric deaths reported, the total number of pediatric deaths since October 1, 2017 is now 151.
Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age and older. If you don't provide influenza vaccination in your clinic, please recommend vaccination to your patients and refer them to a clinic or pharmacy that provides vaccines or to the HealthMap Vaccine Finder to locate sites near their workplaces or homes that offer influenza vaccination services.
Following is a list of resources related to influenza disease and vaccination for healthcare professionals and the public:
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EDUCATION AND TRAINING
On April 25, NACCHO will host a webinar about Every Child By Two’s 2018 State of the ImmUnion report
On April 25, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) will host a webinar about Every Child By Two’s (ECBT) 2018 State of the ImmUnion from 12:00–1:00 p.m. (ET). This special report examines how strong the nation’s defenses are against vaccine-preventable diseases and what can be done to make our ImmUnion stronger and more resilient in the face of emerging health threats. The speaker, ECBT's Erica DeWald, will discuss the State of the ImmUnion report, and highlight:
- The successes of vaccines
- The economic and societal savings incurred from vaccines
- Vaccine-preventable disease challenges facing the public health system
- Key areas of focus to achieve optimal protection against vaccine-preventable diseases
Registration information
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CDC posts Childhood Immunization Update slides for healthcare professionals to use for grand rounds presentations or other educational meetings
CDC has posted a Childhood Immunization Update slide set for healthcare professionals. This one-hour PowerPoint presentation is intended for use by physicians or vaccine coordinators during grand rounds presentations or other educational meetings. You may customize it with your own slide template, logo, and practice-specific information. The slides provide an overview of current childhood immunization successes and challenges. They also describe:
- Findings from CDC audience research
- Tips for communicating with parents
- CDC resources for healthcare professional education and parent education
For more information, please email childhoodvaccines@cdc.gov.
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