Issue 1437: July 24, 2019
TOP STORIES
IAC HANDOUTS
OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
WORLD NEWS
FEATURED RESOURCES
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
TOP STORIES
CDC publishes ACIP recommendations on use of Japanese encephalitis vaccine
CDC published Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in a July 19 issue of MMWR Recommendations and Reports. The first and last paragraphs of the Summary are reprinted below.
This report updates the 2010 recommendations from the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding prevention of Japanese encephalitis (JE) among U.S. travelers and laboratory workers (Fischer M, Lindsey N, Staples JE, Hills S. Japanese encephalitis vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2010;59[No. RR-1]). The report summarizes the epidemiology of JE, describes the JE vaccine that is licensed and available in the United States, and provides recommendations for its use among travelers and laboratory workers…
JE vaccine is recommended for persons moving to a JE-endemic country to take up residence, longer-term (e.g., ≥1 month) travelers to JE-endemic areas, and frequent travelers to JE-endemic areas. JE vaccine also should be considered for shorter-term (e.g., travelers with an increased risk for JE on the basis of planned travel duration, season, location, activities, and accommodations and for travelers to JE-endemic areas who are uncertain about their specific travel duration, destinations, or activities. JE vaccine is not recommended for travelers with very low-risk itineraries, such as shorter-term travel limited to urban areas or outside of a well-defined JE virus transmission season.
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Total number of U.S. measles cases for 2019 climbs to 1,148 with 25 new cases reported since last week
CDC has posted its latest update on 2019 measles cases in the U.S. on its Measles Cases and Outbreaks web page. The web page shows a preliminary estimate of 1,148 cases across 30 states as of July 18. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1992 and since measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000.
The states that have reported cases to CDC are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.
Access additional information about U.S. measles cases in 2019 on CDC's Measles Cases and Outbreaks web page.
Measles outbreaks (defined as 3 or more cases) are currently ongoing in 2019 in the following jurisdictions:
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New! “FLU VACCINE” buttons and stickers now available for purchase from IAC
Start your preparations for the 2019–20 influenza season by ordering IAC's new “FLU VACCINE” buttons and stickers from SHOP IAC. These new resources are modeled after “I Voted” stickers, which are given to voters in many states as they leave the polls on Election Day. The flu vaccine buttons and stickers are bright red to help broadcast your important vaccination message. And the cost is low!
“FLU VACCINE” BUTTONS
Demonstrate your clinic-wide support for protecting everyone from influenza by purchasing buttons for all staff to wear. Measuring 1.25" across, the button is understated in size but carries a bold message! Brightly colored red, round button with white text and a metal pin that clasps on the back.
Pin on your lab coat, uniform, other clothing, tote bags, or backpacks to show support for influenza vaccination. Wear it when flu vaccine is available in your clinic to remind patients and the public to protect themselves from influenza.
Buttons are delivered in bags of 10 buttons per bag. Click here for pricing and ordering.
“FLU VACCINE” STICKERS
These brightly colored red, round stickers measure 1.5" across. Printed on Avery labels, they adhere well to clothing and have an easy-peel-off back.
Wearing these brightly colored stickers, your patients will be letting their communities know that influenza vaccination is important.
Suitable for clinic staff, too! Urge all staff (including receptionists!) to wear them at work during flu vaccination season. This sends a powerful reminder to patients to get vaccinated.
Stickers are delivered to you cut individually (not on rolls)—available in bundles of 100. Click here for pricing and ordering information.
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Mark your calendar! Dr. Sharon G. Humiston, IAC’s associate director for research, will present a webinar on adolescent immunization and the 16-year platform on August 14 at 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Prepping for the back-to-school rush? Join Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH, FAAP, IAC's associate director for research, for a one-hour webinar titled "Adolescent Immunization Update and the 16-Year-Old Platform" on August 14, at 1:00 p.m. (ET). During her presentation, Dr. Humiston will review the “need-to-know” facts of adolescent immunization.
Stay tuned for registration information and more details in an upcoming issue of IAC Express.
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IAC Spotlight! The Vaccine Manufacturers web page on immunize.org provides company contact information and more
The Vaccine Manufacturers web page on IAC's website, immunize.org, provides links to the websites of the vaccine manufacturers in the United States, as well as contact information such as phone numbers and several email addresses. In addition, the vaccine products for each of the companies are listed.
Visit the Vaccine Manufacturers web page on immunize.org.
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IAC HANDOUTS
IAC’s parent handout “Evidence Shows Vaccines Unrelated to Autism” is updated in collaboration with the Autism Science Foundation
IAC and the Autism Science Foundation (ASF) recently updated Evidence Shows Vaccines Unrelated to Autism with results and references from the latest scientific research on autism provided by ASF. The piece explains to parents why experts have concluded that vaccines do not cause autism.
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IAC revises its “Guide to Contraindications and Precautions to Commonly Used Vaccines”
IAC recently revised its Guide to Contraindications and Precautions to Commonly Used Vaccines, which covers both child and adult vaccines. Changes were made in both the MMR and the Varicella sections to clarify that the precaution for MMRV also includes a personal history of seizures. The previous version only mentioned a family history of seizures.
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OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
July 28 is World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day takes place every year on July 28, bringing the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change. From the World Hepatitis Day website:
Worldwide, 300 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware. Without finding the undiagnosed and linking them to care, millions will continue to suffer, and lives will be lost. On World Hepatitis Day, 28 July, we call on people from across the world to take action and raise awareness to find the “missing millions."
Access the World Hepatitis Day website for more information and campaign materials in multiple languages.
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WORLD NEWS
UNICEF reports that 20 million children missed receiving measles, diphtheria, and tetanus vaccines in 2018
On July 15, UNICEF published a press release titled 20 Million Children Missed Out on Lifesaving Measles, Diphtheria, and Tetanus vaccines in 2018. Sections of this press release are reprinted below.
20 million children worldwide—more than 1 in 10—missed out on lifesaving vaccines such as measles, diphtheria, and tetanus in 2018, according to new data from WHO and UNICEF.
Globally, since 2010, vaccination coverage with three doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP3) and one dose of the measles vaccine has stalled at around 86 per cent. While high, this is not sufficient. 95 per cent coverage is needed—globally, across countries, and communities—to protect against outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases....
Most unvaccinated children live in the poorest countries and are disproportionately in fragile or conflict-affected states. Almost half are in just 16 countries—Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Haiti, Iraq, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
If these children do get sick, they are at risk of the severest health consequences, and least likely to access lifesaving treatment and care.
Stark disparities in vaccine access persist across and within countries of all income levels. This has resulted in devastating measles outbreaks in many parts of the world—including countries that have high overall vaccination rates.
In 2018, almost 350,000 measles cases were reported globally, more than doubling from 2017.
“Measles is a real-time indicator of where we have more work to do to fight preventable diseases,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “Because measles is so contagious, an outbreak points to communities that are missing out on vaccines due to access, costs or, in some places, complacency. We have to exhaust every effort to immunize every child,” she added....
Read the complete press release here.
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Critically Speaking podcast features an interview with Dr. Walt Orenstein about vaccine safety and misinformation
A podcast series titled Critically Speaking: Separating Facts from Fallacies recently featured an interview with Walter Orenstein, MD, professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine; director, Emory–UGA Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance. Dr. Orenstein discussed the need to vaccinate and debunked misinformation about vaccine safety. This episode, titled "Should We Vaccinate?", can be accessed through any of the following platforms:
The Critically Speaking: Separating Facts from Fallacies series is a project of Therese Ann Markow, PhD, Amylin chair in Life Sciences Emeritus, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
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New nonprofit patient assistance program offers affordable hepatitis B medications for eligible U.S. patients
The Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) issued a press release commending Rx Outreach, a nonprofit mail order pharmacy and patient assistance program, for expanding patient access to two front-line medications used to treat hepatitis B, at prices significantly lower than retail. Part of a related press release from HBF is reprinted below.
The Hepatitis B Foundation commends Rx Outreach, a nonprofit online pharmacy, for expanding their service to provide medications to help more than 2 million Americans who are chronically infected with hepatitis B. Through Rx Outreach’s online pharmacy, people will now have access to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and entecavir, two front-line medications used to treat hepatitis B, at prices significantly lower than retail. The Hepatitis B Foundation is proud to partner with Rx Outreach’s nonprofit pharmacy to identify the most commonly prescribed hepatitis B medications, and refer patients struggling with medication costs. The two nonprofits have partnered to improve health outcomes for people with hepatitis B, under the shared belief that everyone deserves access to affordable health services....
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), generic Viread ®, retails for $838.85 for a 30-day supply but is available from Rx Outreach for $25 for up to 30 tablets. Entecavir, generic Baraclude ®, has an average monthly retail price of $981.66, but is available from Rx Outreach for $45 for up to 30 tablets. Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements will qualify for Rx Outreach’s affordable pricing regardless of their health insurance status or prescription coverage.
Eligibility is based on income. For more information about ordering medications from Rx Outreach, visit www.rxoutreach.org/hepb.
Read the complete HBF press release here.
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Still available! IAC’s sturdy laminated 2019 U.S. child/adolescent immunization schedules—order some for your exam rooms today! Bulk purchase prices available.
IAC's laminated 2019 U.S. child/adolescent immunization schedule is still available. The adult schedules have sold out. These schedules are covered with a tough coating you can wipe down; they will stand up to a year's worth of use in every area of your healthcare setting where immunizations are given. The child/adolescent schedule is eight pages (i.e., four double-sided pages) and is folded to measure 8.5" x 11".
Laminated schedules are printed in color for easy reading. They come complete with essential tables and notes, and they replicate the newly designed CDC schedule format.
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 the schedule, view an image, order online, or download an order form at the Shop IAC: Laminated Schedules web page.
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IAC's comprehensive Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide is available for free download either by chapter or in its entirety (142 pages)
In late 2017, the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) announced the publication of its new book, Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide (Guide).
This completely updated "how to" guide on adult immunization provides easy-to-use, practical information covering essential adult immunization activities. It helps vaccine providers enhance their existing adult immunization services or introduce them into any clinical setting. Topics include:
- 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 Guide is available to download/print either by chapter or in its entirety free of charge at www.immunize.org/guide. The downloaded version is suitable for double-sided printing. The National Vaccine Program Office and CDC both supported the development of the Guide and provided early technical review.
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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JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS
Columnist pens personal account of when diseases, not vaccines, were feared
On July 13, the Providence Journal published an opinion piece by Betty J. Cotter titled When Diseases, Not Shots, Were Feared. In this column, Ms. Cotter, a monthly contributor, recalls her childhood when few diseases could be prevented by vaccination. She describes how after hospitalization for a kidney infection, she became infected with chickenpox and shortly afterwards, became very ill with measles. From the column:
Had there been a vaccine for either of these diseases, you can bet my mother would have lined me up for a shot. The same was true for the mumps, which I caught at age 14, when complications were a real possibility.
But back then there were no preventatives for these diseases. There are now.
All of which makes me wonder how any parent can be more afraid of a vaccination than a contagious disease. It must be because today we are so removed from the actual consequences of these illnesses. My parents grew up in the shadow of infant death. They knew childhood illnesses were not always benign. The evidence was all around them, in the tiny fieldstones of South County cemeteries.
Read the complete opinion piece, and share with vaccine-hesitant parents: When Diseases, Not Shots, Were Feared.
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EDUCATION AND TRAINING
NACCHO to host August 1 webinar on "Talking About Vaccines: Lessons Learned from CDC Research with Parents and Healthcare Professionals”
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) will host a webinar titled Talking About Vaccines: Lessons Learned from CDC Research with Parents and Healthcare Professionals on August 1 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). The description provided follows:
CDC regularly conducts qualitative and quantitative research activities in order to inform and evaluate immunization campaigns across the lifespan. During this webinar, staff from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases will present key findings from communication research with pregnant women, parents of young children and adolescents, as well as healthcare professionals. Participants will learn how research findings have been translated into key principles for communicating with each of these audiences. They will also learn about free CDC communication resources that health departments can use to promote maternal, childhood and adolescent immunization within their communities.
Registration information
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AAPCHO to sponsor July 30 webinar titled "Hepatitis B and the Opioid Epidemic: Opportunities to Increase Adult Vaccination"
The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) will be sponsoring a webinar about hepatitis B and the opioid epidemic on July 30 at 3:00 p.m. (ET).
Reminder: Weekly CDC webinar series on "The Pink Book" chapter topics runs through September 25; register now
Register for CDC's 15-part, live CE-accredited series of 1-hour webinars designed to provide a chapter-by-chapter overview of the 13th edition of Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (also known as "The Pink Book"). Topics include specific vaccines and the diseases they prevent, general recommendations for vaccines, vaccination principles, and immunization strategies for providers.
All sessions begin at 12:00 p.m. (ET). This series began on June 5 and will run through September 25, 2019. The next two webinars are scheduled as follows:
- July 31: Rotavirus and Hepatitis A
- August 7: Meningococcal Vaccines
NFID Clinical Vaccinology Course scheduled for November 16–17 in Washington, DC
The National Foundation of Infectious Disease's (NFID) Fall 2019 Clinical Vaccinology Course will be held November 16–17 in Washington, DC. This 2-day course focuses on new developments and issues related to the use of vaccines. Expert faculty provide the latest information on vaccines, including updated recommendations for vaccinations across the lifespan, and innovative and practical strategies for ensuring timely and appropriate immunization.
NFID is inviting abstract submissions of original research and clinical practices for poster presentation. The deadline for submissions is October 16.
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