IAC Express 2011 |
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Issue number 920: March 28, 2011 |
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as well as other FREE IAC periodicals. |
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Contents
of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article. |
- FDA
expands Zostavax vaccine age indications to include adults ages 50 through
59 years
- Spotlight
on immunize.org: handy "Quick Links"
- IAC's
Video of the Week reminds nurses and the public to keep their
immunizations up to date
- IAC
updates "Meningococcal: Questions & Answers"
- The
Vaccine Education Center's "Parents PACK" website and newsletter give
parents up-to-the minute information about vaccines
- CDC's
April 21 Net Conference will cover general recommendations for combination
vaccines
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Proportion of deaths from influenza and pneumonia remains higher than
expected, so please keep vaccinating!
- World TB
Day was observed on March 24; U.S. did not meet the national goal of
eliminating TB by 2010
- CDC
reports on U.S. trends in tuberculosis in 2010
-
Award-winning DVD! "Immunization Techniques: Best Practices with Infants,
Children, and Adults"--from the California Department of Public Health,
Immunization Branch
- Iowa
Immunization Conference planned for June 8-9 in Des Moines
- West
Virginia Immunization Summit scheduled for June 9-10 in Charleston, WV
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| Abbreviations |
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AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; AAP,
American Academy of Pediatrics; ACIP, Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices; AMA, American Medical Association; CDC, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; IAC, Immunization
Action Coalition; MMWR, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; NCIRD,
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; NIVS, National
Influenza Vaccine Summit; VIS, Vaccine Information Statement; VPD,
vaccine-preventable disease; WHO, World Health Organization. |
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Issue 920: March 28, 2011 |
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1. |
FDA expands Zostavax vaccine age indications to include adults ages 50
through 59 years
On March 24, FDA approved Zostavax vaccine
(Merck) for use
in adults ages 50 through 59 years. Zostavax, a live
attenuated virus vaccine, is indicated to prevent herpes
zoster (shingles). Zostavax received initial FDA approval in
2006 for use in adults age 60 years and older.
Also on March 24, FDA issued a related press release;
portions of it are reprinted below.
In the United States shingles affects approximately 200,000
healthy people between the ages of 50 and 59, per year. It
is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is
a virus in the herpes family and the same virus that causes
chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox, the virus lies
dormant in certain nerves in the body. For reasons that are
not fully understood, the virus can reappear in the form of
shingles, more commonly in people with weakened immune
systems and with aging.
"The likelihood of shingles increases with age. The
availability of Zostavax to a younger age group provides an
additional opportunity to prevent this often painful and
debilitating disease" said Karen Midthun, MD, director of
FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
Shingles is characterized by a rash of blisters, which
generally develop in a band on one side of the body and can
cause severe pain that may last for weeks, and in some
people, for months or years after the episode. . . .
To access the complete press release, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm248390.htm
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2. |
Spotlight on immunize.org: handy "Quick Links"
Looking for quick access to your favorite
sections on
immunize.org? Look no further. IAC's Quick Links page
provides easy-to-remember links to IAC's most frequently
visited web sections on immunize.org.
To make it easier for you to navigate immunize.org, we've
developed a series of links to IAC's most popular web
sections and resources. To go directly to our most
frequently visited pages, all you need to do is type in a
keyword or abbreviation following this URL:
http://www.immunize.org/
Here are a few examples: Needle Tips: add "nt" [i.e.,
http://www.immunize.org/nt]; IAC Express: add "express"
[i.e., http://www.immunize.org/express]; Handouts for
Patients and Staff: add "handouts" [i.e.,
http://www.immunize.org/handouts]; and Vaccine Information
Statements: add "vis" [i.e., http://www.immunize.org/vis].
MORE QUICK LINKS
Ask the Experts: http://www.immunize.org/askexperts
Image Library: http://www.immunize.org/photos
Influenza: http://www.immunize.org/influenza
Standing Orders for Vaccination:
http://www.immunize.org/standing-orders
For an alphabetical listing of more than 80 quick links,
visit: http://www.immunize.org/quicklinks
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3. |
IAC's Video of the Week reminds nurses and the public to keep their
immunizations up to date
IAC encourages IAC Express readers to watch a
40-second
public service announcement (PSA) developed by the American
Nurses Association (ANA). It reminds nurses and the public
to keep their immunizations up to date, particularly those
that protect against influenza and pertussis. The increase
in pertussis cases and recent pertussis-related infant
deaths in California highlight the importance of teens,
adults, and healthcare workers getting a one-time dose of
Tdap vaccine.
The ANA video will be available on the home page of IAC's
website through April 3. To access it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org and click on the image under the
words Video of the Week. To access it after April 3, go to:
http://anaimmunize.org/Homepage-Category/PSA-Vaccination.aspx
Remember to bookmark IAC's home page to view a new video
every Monday. To view an IAC Video of the Week from the
past, go to the video archive at http://www.immunize.org/votw
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4. |
IAC updates "Meningococcal: Questions & Answers"
IAC recently revised "Meningococcal: Questions
and Answers,"
a handout for patients and parents. The piece was updated to
reflect information from the January 2011 CDC
recommendations for use of meningococcal conjugate vaccine.
Go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4210.pdf
To access a table with links to IAC's Q&A handouts for each
vaccine, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/handouts/vaccine-questions.asp
IAC's Handouts for Patients and Staff web section offers
healthcare professionals and the public approximately 250
FREE English-language handouts (many also available in
translation), which we encourage website users to print out,
copy, and distribute widely. To access all of IAC's free
handouts, go to: http://www.immunize.org/handouts
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5. |
The Vaccine Education Center's "Parents PACK" website and newsletter give
parents up-to-the minute information about vaccines
Many IAC Express readers who are acquainted with
the Vaccine
Education Center's (VEC) "Parents PACK" newsletter may not
know that VEC also has a "Parents PACK" website. It is a
useful resource that you and your patient's parents may want
to access.
"Parents PACK" WEBSITE
VEC created the site to (1) develop a dialog with parents
about vaccines and (2) give parents a place where they can
easily get answers to their questions and access up-to-date
information about vaccines. To that end, the site offers
users a way to submit online questions, provides answers to
frequently asked questions, educates about age-specific
vaccine needs, and much more.
The "Parents PACK" site offers an abundance of resources and
is well worth exploring. To access it, go to:
http://www.vaccine.chop.edu/parents
"Parents PACK" NEWSLETTER
The "Parents PACK" monthly email newsletter is for anyone
who wants more information about immunizations. Each issue
provides timely vaccine information, feature articles,
vaccine questions and answers, information about
immunizations around the world, and a trivia question.
To view the current issue, read feature articles, or
subscribe, go to:
http://www.chop.edu/service/parents-possessing-accessing
-communicating-knowledge-about-vaccines/parents-pack-newsletter
Launched in October 2000, VEC is part of Children's Hospital
of Philadelphia. It provides parents and healthcare
professionals with accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date
information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent.
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6. |
CDC's April 21 Net Conference will cover general recommendations for
combination vaccines
The next "Current Issues in Immunization" Net
Conference
will be held on April 21 from noon to 1PM Eastern Time.
Andrew Kroger, MD, MPH, will speak on the general
recommendations for combination vaccines. A second topic and
speaker will be announced in the future; IAC Express will
notify readers when this happens.
Registration is limited and will close on April 19 or when
the course is full. To register, go to:
http://www2.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/ciinc
IMPORTANT NOTE: The July 14 Net Conference has been
rescheduled for June 2.
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7. |
Proportion of deaths from influenza and pneumonia remains higher than
expected, so please keep vaccinating!
CDC reports that as of the week ending March 12,
the
proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza
was at or above the level expected for the seventh
consecutive week. Influenza vaccination is recommended for
everyone age 6 months and older, so please keep vaccinating
your patients.
If you don't have influenza vaccine, you can direct patients
to the Google Flu Vaccine Finder. It helps the public find
nearby locations where influenza vaccine is available. It's
as simple as entering a zip code. Visit the Google Flu
Vaccine Finder: http://www.google.com/flushot
To purchase supplies of influenza vaccine, visit IVATS, the
Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System. IVATS is
operated by the National Influenza Vaccine Summit and
provides information about vaccine manufacturers and
distributors who have influenza vaccine available for
purchase. To access IVATS, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org/ivats
Following is a list of resources related to influenza
disease and vaccination for healthcare professionals and the
public.
To access IAC's handouts related to influenza, including
screening questionnaires, patient education pieces, and
sample standing orders, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/handouts/influenza-vaccines.asp
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8. |
World TB Day was observed on March 24; U.S. did not meet the national goal of
eliminating TB by 2010
CDC published "World TB Day--March 24, 2011" in
the March 25
issue of MMWR. The announcement is reprinted below in its
entirety, excluding references.
World TB Day is observed each year on March 24 to
commemorate the date in 1882 when Robert Koch announced the
discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that
causes tuberculosis (TB). Worldwide, TB remains one of the
leading causes of death from infectious disease. World TB
Day provides an opportunity for TB programs, nongovernmental
organizations, and others to describe problems and solutions
related to the TB pandemic and to support worldwide TB
control efforts. The U.S. theme for 2011's observance is TB
Elimination: Together We Can!
Despite a continued decline in U.S. TB rates, the national
goal of TB elimination by 2010 was not met. TB case rates
decreased among both foreign-born and U.S.-born persons, but
the incidence of TB in the United States is
disproportionally greater among foreign-born persons and
racial/ethnic minorities.
CDC is committed to eliminating TB in the United States.
Progress in meeting the goal of TB elimination will hinge on
improving TB control and prevention activities among
disproportionately affected populations. This progress also
will require better diagnostic tests and screening
strategies for persons with latent TB infection, shorter
treatment regimens, an effective vaccine, and improvements
in TB control globally. Additional information about World
TB Day and CDC's TB elimination activities is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/tb/events/worldtbday
To access the announcement, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6011a1.htm
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9. |
CDC
reports on U.S. trends in tuberculosis in 2010
CDC published "Trends in Tuberculosis--United
States, 2010"
in the March 25 issue of MMWR. A portion of a press summary
is reprinted below.
PRESS SUMMARY:
Preliminary data from CDC's National TB Surveillance System
show that although TB reached an all-time low in the U.S. in
2010, TB continues to significantly affect many communities,
including racial/ethnic minorities, foreign-born
individuals, and persons living with HIV. . . . The authors note that
additional steps are needed to accelerate progress against TB and guard against
resurgence of the disease.
To access the full article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6011a2.htm
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10. |
Award-winning DVD! "Immunization Techniques: Best Practices with Infants,
Children, and Adults"--from the California Department of Public Health,
Immunization Branch
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH),
Immunization Branch, has updated its award-winning training
video, "Immunization Techniques: Best Practices with
Infants, Children, and Adults." The 25-minute program can be
used to train new employees and to refresh the skills of
experienced staff. The video demonstrates the skills and
techniques needed to administer vaccines to patients of all
ages. It includes instruction on the following:
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Selecting, preparing, and administering injectable, oral,
and nasal vaccines
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Documenting immunizations
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Making patients comfortable and educating them
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Facilitating staff and patient communication
Prices start at $17 each for 1-9 copies and are greatly
reduced for large orders, dropping to $3 each for 1,000-1,499 copies.
To learn more about the DVD, and find out how to order it,
go to: http://www.immunize.org/shop/toolkit_iztechdvd.asp
For quotes on larger quantities, call (651) 647-9009 or
email admininfo@immunize.org
The Immunization Action Coalition is the only nationwide
vendor of this new DVD.
Note for healthcare settings located in California: Contact
your local health department immunization program for a free
copy.
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11. |
Iowa Immunization Conference planned for June 8-9 in Des Moines
The 2011 Iowa Immunization Conference will be
held in Des
Moines on June 8-9. Speakers include William Atkinson, MD,
MPH, CDC; Paul Offit, MD, Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia; and Gregory Poland, MD, Mayo Clinic.
For comprehensive conference details, and access to the
conference brochure, go to: https://www.trainingresources.org and scroll down to the
hyperlink titled "2011 Iowa Immunization Conference
'Immunize for a Better Life'."
For additional information, call (515) 309-3315.
To register online, go to
https://www.trainingresources.org/logon.aspx Log-on is
required.
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12. |
West Virginia Immunization Summit scheduled for June 9-10 in Charleston, WV
Planned for June 9-10 in Charleston, WV, the West
Virginia
Immunization Summit will be an action-oriented event
targeted toward a variety of public and private
organizations interested in addressing and resolving
immunization issues.
For additional information, go to:
http://www.immunizenow.org/education/izsummit/default.aspx
To register, email teresa.tucker@wvruralhealth.org
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