Issue 1112: April 1, 2014

TOP STORIES
IAC HANDOUTS
VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS
FEATURED RESOURCES
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS
NOMINATIONS AND AWARDS
EDUCATION AND TRAINING  
TOP STORIES
New! March issue of Vaccinate Adults is now available online

The March issue of Vaccinate Adults is now online. Download March 2014 issue of Vaccinate Adults
This issue features information about the importance of HPV vaccination and the newly published 2014 U.S. immunization schedule for adults. In addition, it presents an array of patient-friendly schedules for all adults and high-risk adults. 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.

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Reminder: March issue of Needle Tips is available online

The March 2014 issue of Needle Tips is available online. 

Needle Tips: View the table of contentsmagazine viewer, and back issues.
Download the March issue of Needle Tips

If you would like to receive immediate email notification whenever new issues of Needle Tips or Vaccinate Adults are released, visit IAC's subscribe page to sign up.

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CDC publishes travel watch for the Philippines due to measles outbreaks; U.S. clinicians should keep measles in mind when seeing patients who have traveled internationally

On March 18, CDC released a Level 1 Travel Watch ("Practice Usual Precautions") related to measles outbreaks in the Philippines. The first paragraphs of Measles in the Philippines are reprinted below.

According to the Philippines Department of Health, 15,683 suspected cases of measles (3,434 confirmed cases) and 23 measles deaths were reported in the country from January 1 through February 15, 2014. Most cases are in people from Metropolitan Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon. However, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States have reported cases in travelers returning from the Philippines. As of March 13, 13 U.S. travelers who returned from the Philippines have become sick with measles. Most of these cases were among unvaccinated children younger than 2 years old. The World Health Organization and the Philippines Department of Health are working to control the outbreak, including conducting vaccination campaigns.

CDC recommends that travelers to the Philippines protect themselves by making sure they are vaccinated against measles, particularly infants 6–11 months of age (1 dose of measles vaccine) and children 12 months of age or older (2 doses of measles vaccine). Clinicians should keep measles in mind when treating patients with fever and rash, especially if the patient has recently traveled internationally.


Please access the complete Travel Watch for more information for travelers and healthcare providers.

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New York Times publishes editorial on the seriousness of measles by Dr. Paul Offit

On March 27, the New York Times published an editorial by Dr. Paul Offit, MD, director, Vaccine Education Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Remembering How to Fight Measles stresses how serious and contagious measles is, and how parental vaccine refusal and loose exemption laws have contributed to this disease's reemergence in the United States.

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New study shows influenza vaccine reduced children's risk of related intensive care admission by 74%

Getting vaccinated against influenza reduces a child’s risk of flu-related intensive care hospitalization by 74%, according to a study published on March 26 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. The second paragraph of a related CDC press release is reprinted below.

The study is the first to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against flu admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICU). It illustrates the important protection flu vaccine can provide to children against more serious flu outcomes. CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older and especially for children at high risk of serious flu-related complications. Back to top


WHO Southeast Asia region certified polio-free

On March 27, the World Health Organization (WHO) certified its Southeast Asia region, home to a quarter of the world's population, as polio-free. WHO’s Southeast Asia region comprises the following eleven member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. A WHO press release includes this explanation: "Before a region can be certified polio-free, several conditions must be satisfied such as: at least three years of zero confirmed cases due to indigenous wild poliovirus; excellent laboratory-based surveillance for poliovirus; demonstrated capacity to detect, report, and respond to imported cases of poliomyelitis; and assurance of safe containment of polioviruses in laboratories (introduced since 2000)."

Access the complete WHO press release

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IAC Spotlight! "Apps for Immunization" web section on immunize.org

Looking for immunization-related applications (apps) for your mobile device? Look no further. IAC's new Apps for Immunization web section is a listing of apps related to immunization from trusted sources that are available from iTunes and Google. The apps help make it easy for healthcare professionals to check the latest vaccine recommendations and immunization schedules on their mobile devices, and to help parents keep their children up to date on their vaccinations.

Several new and updated apps have been added to the listing in the past year, including ones from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, CDC, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Apps for Immunization is the newest addition to IAC’s online Directory of Immunization Resources.

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Something to Talk About: Voices for Vaccines' benefit event at the Mall of America on April 11; tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available

To celebrate its success and gear up for the future, Voices for Vaccines (VFV) is holding a fundraising event, Something to Talk About: VFV Benefit Party and Silent Auction, on April 11 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. Local band Verge will provide live entertainment and some luminaries in the world of vaccines are expected to join the fun. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. (CT); appetizers will be served and a cash bar will be available. Even if you are unable to attend the event, you can participate by sponsoring the event or buying some tickets!

See www.voicesforvaccines.org/event for more information.

Proceeds will support VFV's groundbreaking work to counter the vaccine misinformation that is putting children at risk of contracting preventable diseases.

If you can't make the event but still want to help the cause, you can donate to Voices for Vaccines.

Voices for Vaccines is a national organization of parents and others who are dedicated to raising the level of the voices of immunization supporters. VFV invites everyone who appreciates vaccines to join their organization. Please spread the word to your friends and colleagues! Back to top


Newly available! IAC's sturdy laminated versions of the 2014 U.S. child/teen immunization schedule and the 2014 U.S. adult immunization schedule—order a supply for your healthcare setting today!

IAC's laminated versions of the 2014 U.S. child/teen immunization schedule and the 2014 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.

The child and adolescent schedule has eight pages (i.e., four double-sided pages) and is folded to measure 8.5" x 11". The adult immunization schedule has six pages (i.e., three double-sided pages) and is folded to measure 8.5" x 11".
IAC's Laminated Child and Teen Immunization SchedulesIAC's Laminated Adult Immunization Schedules
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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IAC HANDOUTS
IAC revises two of its most popular staff education materials, "Summary of Recommendations for Child/Teen Immunization" and "Summary of Recommendations for Adult Immunization"

IAC recently updated two of its most popular educational resources for healthcare professionals. Both the Summary of Recommendations for Child/Teen Immunization and the Summary of Recommendations for Adult Immunization were revised based on updated ACIP recommendations.

IAC's Handouts for Patients & Staff web section offers healthcare professionals and the public more than 300 FREE handouts (many available in translation), which we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely.

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VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS
IAC provides nine new translations of the Hib and Td VISs; Spanish translations are also available in rich text format

On February 4, CDC released updated Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Td vaccines. IAC recently posted the following new translations of the revised Hib and Td VISs on its website.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) VIS Access all Hib VISs, including English

Td VIS Access all Td VISs, including English

To accommodate the need for electronic-record–friendly formats, IAC provides VIS Spanish translations in rich text format (RTF) for 19 routinely recommended vaccines to its online collection of VISs, including the new translations of the Hib and Td VISs. CDC provides English VISs in RTF on their website (click on any VIS to access all available formats).

These VISs were translated as part of IAC's five-year cooperative agreement with CDC to support IAC’s role as the official clearinghouse of VIS translations.

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IAC posts Nepali translation of the inactivated influenza vaccine VIS

IAC recently posted a Nepali translation of the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) VIS. IAC thanks St. Peter's Health Partners, Albany, NY, for this translation.

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FEATURED RESOURCES
Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia posts two new fact sheets

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recently published two new fact sheets in its Special Topics Series; these fact sheets include some information about vaccination.
  1. Questions & Answers: Tuberculosis (TB)
  2. Questions & Answers: Infectious Diseases and Immune-compromised People 
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Influenza season is not over—please keep vaccinating your patients!

Vaccination remains the single most effective means of preventing influenza, and is recommended for everyone age six months and older. Since the onset, duration, and severity of influenza season is unpredictable, and different types and strains of influenza circulate throughout the season, ACIP recommends that providers continue to provide influenza vaccination into the spring months, as long as they have vaccine in the refrigerator and unvaccinated patients in their office.

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: Back to top


JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS
CDC publishes report on invasive cancer incidence that includes information about HPV vaccination

CDC published Invasive Cancer Incidence—United States, 2010 in the March 28 issue of MMWR (pages 253–259). The first sentence and last two sentences of the first paragraph are reprinted below.

Cancer has many causes, some of which can, at least in part, be avoided through interventions known to reduce cancer risk....Many factors, including tobacco use, obesity, insufficient physical activity, and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, contribute to the risk for developing cancer, and differences in cancer incidence indicate differences in the prevalence of these risk factors. These differences can be reduced through policy approaches such as the Affordable Care Act, which could increase access for millions of persons to appropriate and timely cancer preventive services, including help with smoking cessation, cancer screening, and vaccination against HPV.

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NOMINATIONS AND AWARDS
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases award nominations due by May 1

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) presents annual awards to outstanding individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to public health through scientific achievement, philanthropy, or legislation. NFID is currently accepting nominations for the 2015 Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement and the 2015 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award.

Visit www.nfid.org/awards for additional information regarding awards criteria and to submit your nomination. All nominations must be submitted online by May 1, 2014.

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EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Vaccine Education Center posts archive of "Current Issues in Vaccines" March 19 webinar

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recently made the recording of its March 19 Current Issues in Vaccines webinar available. Click on the purple button titled "View Spring 2014 Presentation" and register (at no cost) to listen to the webinar and view the accompanying slide set. The webinar is accredited for one continuing medical education (CME) credit through March 18, 2015.

Paul Offit, MD, director of VEC, covered the following topics during the webinar:
  • Influenza vaccine, 2013–2014: Latest efficacy data
  • Meningococcal vaccine: Will what happened in Princeton stay in Princeton?
  • PCV13: Can we give fewer doses?
  • Tdap vaccine during pregnancy: Is it safe?
  • HPV vaccine: Latest on the 9-valent vaccine
Questions asked during the webinar, even those not read aloud, have been compiled with answers.

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Earn continuing education credit with CDC's broadcasts, webcasts, and self-study courses

CDC offers numerous education and training programs for healthcare personnel. A variety of topics and formats are available. All are based on ACIP vaccine recommendations. Physicians, nurses, health educators, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals are invited to apply for continuing education credits/contact hours, when available.

To learn more about the topics and formats available, visit CDC's Immunization Courses: Broadcasts, Webcasts, and Self Study web section.

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About IZ Express

IZ Express is supported in part by Grant No. NH23IP922654 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

Editorial Information

  • Editor-in-Chief
    Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
  • Managing Editor
    John D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
  • Associate Editor
    Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
  • Writer/Publication Coordinator
    Taryn Chapman, MS
    Courtnay Londo, MA
  • Style and Copy Editor
    Marian Deegan, JD
  • Web Edition Managers
    Arkady Shakhnovich
    Jermaine Royes
  • Contributing Writer
    Laurel H. Wood, MPA
  • Technical Reviewer
    Kayla Ohlde

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