| Issue 1090: November 26, 2013 TOP STORIES
IAC HANDOUTS FEATURED RESOURCES
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS TOP STORIES New! November issue of Vaccinate Adults is now available online The November issue of Vaccinate Adults is now online.
 This issue features important information about ways to improve vaccination coverage in adults. In addition, it presents an array of materials that healthcare professionals can use to ensure the vaccination of everyone against influenza. It also features the "Ask the Experts" column from CDC medical officers Andrew T. Kroger, MD, MPH, and Iyabode Akinsanya-Beysolow, MD, MPH, and nurse educator Donna L. Weaver, RN, MN. Back to top Reminder: November issue of Needle Tips is online The November issue of Needle Tips is online.
 Back to top Access information about the Princeton University meningococcal outbreak and the public health response Princeton University has been experiencing an outbreak of serogroup B meningococcal disease since spring 2013, with much attendant media attention. There is no vaccine licensed in the U.S. that protects against serogroup B, so a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine available in Europe and Australia is being considered for use at Princeton University under an Investigational New Drug application to FDA. The following resources can help you answer questions you may be asked about this situation.
IAC Spotlight! Twelve more healthcare organizations join IAC's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll IAC urges qualifying healthcare organizations to apply for its Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll. The honor roll recognizes hospitals, medical practices, professional organizations, health departments, and government entities that have taken a stand for patient safety by implementing mandatory influenza vaccination policies for healthcare personnel. More than 350 organizations are now enrolled. Since November 12, when IAC Express last reported on the Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll, 12 organizations have been enrolled.
Related Links
CDC's December 12 NetConference to focus on influenza vaccination CDC will present a Current Issues in Immunization NetConference on December 12 from noon to 1:00 p.m. ET. The featured topics and speakers:
This is a limited registration event. Registration (required) will close on December 10th or when the course is full. Back to top HHS-sponsored webinar on preventing perinatal hepatitis B infection rescheduled for December 19 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Hep B United will be sponsoring a webinar about reducing perinatal hepatitis B virus infection on December 19, from 2:30–4:00 p.m. ET. This webinar was originally scheduled for October 10, but had to be rescheduled due to the federal government shutdown. Hepatitis B and Reducing Perinatal Transmission: An Overview and Discussion of New Tools will discuss new tools and best practices toward reducing hepatitis B health disparities in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, including potential interventions in prenatal care, information about gaps in reporting, and a new resource from the Immunization Action Coalition titled Give birth to the end of Hep B. Moderator: Chari Cohen, MPH, DrPH(c), director of public health, Hepatitis B Foundation Speakers:
Back to top CDC publishes report on health disparities in the U.S.; one section covers seasonal influenza vaccination rates for 2009–10 and 2010–11 On November 22, CDC published CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report—United States, 2013. This report contains much useful information for those working to reduce health disparities and inequalities in the U.S. One section of the report is titled Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage—United States, 2009–10 and 2010–11 (see pages 65–68). The "Results" section is reprinted below. Overall, influenza vaccination coverage was two percentage points higher for the 2010–11 season versus the 2009–10 season (43.0% versus 41.2%, respectively), primarily because of an increase in vaccine coverage among children aged 6 months–17 years (51.0% versus 43.7%, respectively). Vaccine coverage increased significantly among four groups of children: Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites, blacks, and those of other/multiple races. During the 2010–11 seasons, compared with non-Hispanic white children, coverage among Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and children of other and multiple races was higher. Overall, influenza vaccination coverage among adults aged ≥18 years remained relatively stable, at 40.4% during 2009–10 and 40.5% during the 2010–11 influenza season. Among those aged 18–49 years (regardless of risk status) and 50–64 years, coverage was similar in both seasons. However, among adults aged ≥65 years, coverage decreased from 69.6% to 66.6%.... Back to top Call for Abstracts deadline for the National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions extended to December 13 Organizers for the National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions have extended the call for abstracts to December 13, 2013. Abstracts are welcome from representatives of all disciplines, including coalition staff and members, community-based providers, healthcare providers, social workers, researchers, government agency staff, health communication specialists, and others. Go to the Call for Abstracts page to learn more. The 11th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions, "Partnering for Prevention from Sea to Summit," will take place in Seattle from May 21–23, 2014. Back to top IAC HANDOUTS IAC updates "MMR vaccine does not cause autism: Examine the evidence!" IAC recently updated MMR vaccine does not cause autism: Examine the evidence! by referencing additional journal articles. This handout provides conclusions, citations, and links to abstracts from 23 peer-reviewed articles that refute a connection between MMR vaccine and the development of autism. This resource allows concerned parents and practitioners to compare the balance of evidence about MMR vaccine and autism. Access IAC's Parent Handouts web section for more educational materials for parents and patients. IAC's Handouts for Patients & Staff web section offers healthcare professionals and the public more than 250 FREE English-language handouts (many also available in translation), which we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely. Back to top FEATURED RESOURCES CDC updates information about pertussis outbreak control in the Manual for Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases On November 19, CDC posted updated information about outbreak control in the pertussis chapter of its Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. The Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases provides current guidelines for those directly involved in surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases, especially personnel at the local health departments. For each of the vaccine-preventable diseases, this manual includes a chapter describing the importance of rapid case identification and surveillance, disease reduction goals, case definitions, epidemiologically important data to be collected during case investigation, activities for enhancing surveillance, activities for case investigation, and activities for outbreak control. Back to top CDC updates its Vaccine Price List web page On November 18, CDC updated its Vaccine Price List web page. The CDC vaccine price lists provide current vaccine contract prices and also list the private sector vaccine prices. Contract prices are those for CDC vaccine contracts that are established for the purchase of vaccines by immunization programs that receive CDC immunization grant funds (i.e., state health departments, certain large city immunization projects, and certain current and former U.S. territories). Back to top Influenza is serious; vaccination is recommended for nearly everyone, so please keep vaccinating your patients Vaccination remains the single most effective means of preventing influenza, and is recommended for everyone age 6 months 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:
Bulk quantities of laminated pocket guides for influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are available—free—from the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit and IAC To aid in efforts to vaccinate against two diseases, influenza and pneumococcal, the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) and IAC invite you to place orders for bulk quantities of the following pocket guides:
These laminated, 3.75" x 6.75", two-color cards serve as a convenient reference for front-line healthcare professionals who vaccinate patients. Place a bulk order now, and hand them out to healthcare professionals at your workplace or at conferences. Each staff person who administers influenza and pneumococcal vaccines needs these handy resources. These pocket guides are designed to be used by healthcare professionals only; they are NOT patient handouts. Related Links
Place your order today using IAC's online order form. There is no cost for the pocket guides, shipping, or handling within the U.S. If you have questions, email admininfo@immunize.org. Back to top JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS CDC publishes articles about polio eradication in Afghanistan and Pakistan In the November 22 issue of MMWR (pages 928–938), CDC published two articles about polio eradication: Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication—Afghanistan, January 2012–August 2013, and Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication—Pakistan, January 2012–September 2013. Sections of the summaries made available to the press are reprinted below. Afghanistan Afghanistan, one of three remaining countries endemic for wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission, has reached the lowest number of cases since 2004. The Southern Region, previously the major wild poliovirus reservoir in Afghanistan, has not had a confirmed WPV type 1 (WPV1) case since November 2012 (one full year). Afghanistan has made progress toward polio eradication during 2012–2013 by implementing strategies to improve routine immunization services, increase the effectiveness of immunization campaigns, and gain access to children living in conflict-affected areas of the Southern Region. Pakistan During 2012–2013, Pakistan has made progress toward polio eradication by implementing strategies to improve management and accountability and improve the quality and effectiveness of immunization campaigns. Bans on vaccination in conflict-affected tribal areas and attacks against polio workers in several areas have adversely affected immunization campaigns. Intense transmission of WPV1 and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, especially in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), with transmission within and outside Pakistan, demonstrates the ongoing threat to achievement of polio eradication in Pakistan and globally. Back to top  |
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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