| Issue 1059: June 11, 2013 TOP STORIES
OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
FEATURED RESOURCES
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS TOP STORIES Reminder: May issues of Needle Tips and Vaccinate Adults available online The May 2013 issues of Needle Tips and Vaccinate Adults are available online. Vaccinate Adults is an abbreviated version of Needle Tips with the pediatric content removed. Click on the images below to download the entire May 2013 issues (PDF) of Needle Tips and/or Vaccinate Adults.   Needle Tips: View the table of contents, magazine viewer, and back issues. Vaccinate Adults: View the table of contents, magazine viewer, and back issues. Back to top CDC's Health Alert Network: Health Update on human infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses includes new testing and reporting recommendations On June 7, CDC's Health Alert Network issued a CDC Health Update titled Human Infections with Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Viruses. A portion of the first paragraph of the update is reprinted below. This health advisory provides an update on the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus [H7N9] situation and includes new recommendations on who should be tested for H7N9 in the United States. This document replaces guidance published on April 5, 2013, in CDC Health Advisory 344 “Human Infections with Novel Influenza A(H7N9) Viruses” . . . The updated guidance reflects the most current epidemiology of H7N9 cases, which indicates that almost all H7N9 human infections have resulted in severe respiratory illness; H7N9 has been found rarely among those with milder disease. For that reason, CDC is changing its recommendations for H7N9 testing: The primary changes from previous guidance are (i) a new recommendation to test only patients with an appropriate exposure history and severe respiratory illness requiring hospitalization and (ii) a request that only confirmed and probable cases of human infection with H7N9 be reported to CDC. . . . Related Links
New! IAC's Adult Vaccination Resources Library gives providers and the public convenient access to adult vaccination materials The Immunization Action Coalition, in collaboration with the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit, has developed a new resource, the Adult Vaccination Resources Library (AVRL). The online library gives healthcare providers and the general public one-stop access to reliable, science-based information about adult immunization. A collection of adult immunization resources from a multitude of publishers, the library allows providers and the public to use simple keywords and other selection criteria—such as vaccine, special population, language—to pinpoint pertinent resources that can be used in a clinic setting or for individual education. Resources are available in many media: print, video, online, web-on-demand, interactive, and others. To speed your search, please read tips on how to search the library. We invite you to try out the new library and provide feedback. To offer comments, report broken links, or submit suggestions for resources that should be included, please send an email to Laurel Wood and include “AVRL Suggestion” in the email subject line. Related Links Back to top AAP's new Storage and Handling Tip Sheets can help practitioners keep their vaccine supply safe The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Childhood Immunization Support Program recently developed a new series of print resources intended to help providers practice safe vaccine storage and handling. Titled "Storage and Handling Tip Sheets," the new resource series is located on AAP's Practice Management—Storage & Handling web page, along with other related resources. Following are titles of the individual tip sheets in the series.
CDC announces rabies vaccine is available without restriction On June 6, CDC updated its Rabies: Vaccine and Immune Globulin Availability web page with this information: Rabies Vaccine
Related Links Back to top OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS CDC releases toolkit to assist with patient notification after an infection-control lapse On June 6, CDC issued a Media Advisory announcing that CDC has posted an online Patient Notification Toolkit that can help health departments and healthcare facilities notify patients after an infection control lapse during a medical procedure. Portions of the CDC Media Advisory are reprinted below. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new toolkit to assist health departments and healthcare facilities with notifying patients after an infection control lapse or potential disease transmission during medical care. The toolkit includes the key steps a healthcare facility or public health department should take to initiate a patient notification and provides resources to assist with creating notification documents, planning media and communication strategies, establishing communication resources to support patient notification, and releasing notification letters. . . . Since 2001, more than 150,000 patients have been potentially exposed to hepatitis B and C viruses and HIV due to unsafe medical practices in U.S. healthcare facilities. Last year, CDC and state health departments notified nearly 14,000 patients during a multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis and other infections. Materials in CDC's Patient Notification Toolkit are organized into four sections:
CDC announces that its VIS 2D Barcode Lookup Table is available in XML, as well as in PDF and Excel formats On June 6, CDC added an XML option for accessing barcode information from its Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) Lookup Table. Related Links
FEATURED RESOURCES Dr. Ari Brown's new immunization videos available on the website of Parents magazine Ari Brown, MD, FAAP, recently collaborated with Parents magazine to create these two new parent education videos:
A Harvard-trained pediatrician now in private practice, Dr. Brown is perhaps best known as the coauthor of a parenting book series that includes Expecting 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy; Baby 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Baby's First Year; and Toddler 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Toddler. Back to top New ACOG app features interactive immunization tool The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recently launched an app for the Apple iPhone and iPad. It includes a highly interactive immunization applet that lets physicians and patients learn about different vaccinations and determine the need for vaccines based on age, conditions, and special circumstances. The applet also includes information specific to immunization and pregnancy, frequently asked questions, alerts on immunization updates, regulations, and a list of resources. The ACOG app is available for free download from the iTunes App Store. The app is currently available only for Apple devices; an app for Android operating systems is in development. IAC will notify IAC Express readers when this version becomes available. Related Links
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 JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS CDC publishes report on progress toward eliminating measles in the Western Pacific Region CDC published Progress Toward Measles Elimination— Western Pacific Region, 2009–2012 in the June 7 issue of MMWR (pages 443–447). Two paragraphs from a box that appears on page 445 of the article are reprinted below. What is added by this report? This report updates the previous report that summarized progress during 1990–2008 and describes progress toward measles elimination in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) during 2009–2012. During this period, measles incidence in the region reached a historic low, decreasing by 83%, from 34.0 to 5.9 cases per million population. In China, a nationwide measles vaccination campaign was implemented in 2010, and reported confirmed measles cases decreased 88%, from 52,461 in 2009 to 6,183 in 2012. What are the implications for public health practice? Despite the progress to date, achieving measles elimination in WPR will require additional efforts. These include (1) introducing a routine second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) in the four remaining countries and areas that do not yet have a routine 2-dose MCV schedule; (2) strengthening routine immunization services in countries and areas with <95% coverage with the routine first or second dose of MCV; and (3) closing immunity gaps through supplementary immunization activities in measles-susceptible populations in countries and areas that have ongoing measles virus transmission. Back to top CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS Minutes of the February ACIP meeting now online The CDC website recently posted minutes of ACIP's February meeting. In addition, extensive information on ACIP meetings is available—including details on past and upcoming meetings, meeting dates, registration, draft agendas, minutes, live archives, and presentation slides. Back to top  |
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
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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