Issue 1168: February 24, 2015
TOP STORIES
IAC HANDOUTS
OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
FEATURED RESOURCES
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
TOP STORIES Reminder: Extensive collection of U.S. immunization facts and policy now available online at www.VaccineFactsandPolicy.org The Vaccine Facts and Policy (VFAP) project is making available, for the first time in one location, an expansive compilation of detailed immunization data from every major jurisdiction in the United States. Launched in November 2014, the project website (www.VaccineFactsAndPolicy.org) includes information within five major topic areas related to immunization law and policy, including demographics and rates, fiscal environment, law and policy, strategies and initiatives, and the structure of immunization programs. Users may customize their experience by searching the data by jurisdiction or topic. By making this interactive and well-referenced database freely available, the project seeks to enhance the ability of immunization stakeholders, healthcare providers, the vaccine industry, policymakers, legislators, advocates, and consumers to access consistent information and work together in pursuit of higher immunization coverage against vaccine-preventable diseases. The project is a partnership of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University (GW), the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM), and the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC). This unique partnership builds upon the strengths of each organization, enhancing the value and functionality of the project. Funding has been provided by an educational grant from Pfizer, Inc. Pfizer provides no input into the content or conduct of the project. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the VFAP project are answered online. IAC partners are urged to spread word of the VFAP project to their stakeholders through newsletters, emails, and social media. The FAQs and a one-page VFAP information sheet may be used in these communications. Please contact Katelyn Wells at AIM with any questions or suggestions, or if you would like a presentation of the site given to your collaborators, committees, or workgroups. Related Links
CDC NetConference scheduled for March 4; focus will be on the 2015 immunization schedules CDC will present a "Current Issues in Immunization NetConference" on March 4 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. (ET). Topics and Speakers:
This is a limited registration event. Registration is required. Information about continuing education credits will be provided during the session. Related Links Back to top Watch live webcast of this week's February 25–26 ACIP meeting; final agenda now available The final agenda for the February 25–26 ACIP meeting has been posted on CDC's website. The meeting is available online via live webcast. Registration is not required to watch the live webcast of the meeting; the call-in information is located on the "Register for a Meeting" web page. The live meeting recording and presenter slides are always made available online after the meeting as well. Related Links
IAC enrolls nine more birthing institutions into its Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll; seven previously honored institutions qualify for a second year The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) is pleased to announce that nine new institutions have been accepted into its Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll. The birthing institutions are listed below with their reported hepatitis B birth dose coverage rates in parentheses.
The Honor Roll is a key part of IAC’s major initiative urging the nation’s hospitals to Give birth to the end of Hep B. Hospitals and birthing centers are recognized for attaining high coverage rates for administering hepatitis B vaccine at birth and meeting specific additional criteria. The initiative urges qualifying healthcare organizations to apply for the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll online. To be included in the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll, a birthing institution must have: (1) reported a coverage rate of 90% or greater, over a 12-month period, for administering hepatitis B vaccine before hospital discharge to all newborns, including those whose parents refuse vaccination, and (2) implemented specific written policies, procedures, and protocols to protect all newborns from hepatitis B virus infection prior to hospital discharge. Honorees are also awarded an 8.5" x 11" color certificate suitable for framing and their acceptance is announced to IAC Express’s approximately 50,000 readers. Please visit the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll web page that lists these institutions and their exceptional efforts to protect infants from perinatal hepatitis B transmission. Related Links
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 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 apps from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, CDC, and Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Apps for Immunization is the latest addition to IAC’s online Directory of Immunization Resources. Related Link
Reminder: Deadline for National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit awards extended to March 1 The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) has extended the deadline to submit nominations for the 2015 NAIIS Immunization Excellence Awards to March 1. The 2015 awards recognize individuals and organizations that made extraordinary contributions towards improving vaccination rates within their communities during 2014. The awards focus on individuals and organizations that exemplify the meaning of the “immunization neighborhood” (collaboration, coordination, and communication among immunization stakeholders dedicated to meeting the immunization needs of the patient and protecting the community from vaccine-preventable diseases). The "Adult Immunization Publication Award" has been added this year, making a total of six categories. Unless specifically indicated in the award description, the immunization activities should be broader than influenza activity. A National Winner and possibly an Honorable Mention recipient will be selected for each award category. Award Categories
Related Links
Back to top IAC HANDOUTS New! "HPV Vaccine: A Guide for Young Adults" provides answers to FAQs IAC recently developed a new resource titled HPV Vaccine: A Guide for Young Adults. This user-friendly handout answers frequently asked questions about the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine, such as "Do I need it if I haven't had sex yet?" and "Should I get HPV vaccine if I've already had sex?" HPV vaccine is underutilized in the United States, despite evidence of its safety and effectiveness. While vaccination rates have continued to improve for the other adolescent vaccines, HPV vaccination rates have not. A strong recommendation from a healthcare provider is the single best predictor of vaccination. Healthcare professionals can use HPV Vaccine: A Guide for Young Adults to help guide their conversations with teens and young adults about the importance of HPV vaccination. 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 IAC updates "Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations for Children and Adults by Age and/or Risk Factor" IAC has updated its resource for healthcare professionals, Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations for Children and Adults by Age and/or Risk Factor, to include the routine recommendations for PCV and PPSV vaccination of both children and adults age 65 and older in a table at the top of the page. Related Links
IAC updates its adult handout titled "Protect yourself from pneumococcal disease...Get vaccinated!" IAC recently updated its handout for adults, Protect yourself from pneumococcal disease...Get vaccinated!, to include the latest ACIP recommendations on routine PCV and PPSV vaccination of adults age 65 years and older. This piece is part of a suite of vaccine summaries for teens and adults; another related suite provides summaries for parents. Please check out all the handouts listed below and consider sharing these short, easy-to-read resources with parents and patients.
Access the entire series of Vaccine Summaries for teens and adults. Easy-to-read Vaccine Summaries for ParentsUse these one-page handouts to teach parents about the dangers of vaccine-preventable diseases and the value of vaccination.
Related Link
IAC updates its "Vaccines Work!" chart of CDC’s statistics on vaccine-preventable diseases IAC has redesigned a resource titled Vaccines Work! This one-page chart uses CDC statistics to demonstrate dramatic declines in vaccine-preventable diseases when compared with the pre-vaccine era. The content has not changed, and the piece thus retains the 12/14 date of its last update. Back to top OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS CDC releases guidance for smallpox vaccine use in a post-event vaccination program CDC published Clinical Guidance for Smallpox Vaccine Use in a Post-event Vaccination Program in a February 20 issue of MMWR Recommendations and Reports. The first paragraph of the "Summary" section is reprinted below. This report outlines recommendations for the clinical use of the three smallpox vaccines stored in the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile for persons who are exposed to smallpox virus or at high risk for smallpox infection during a post-event vaccination program following an intentional or accidental release of the virus. No absolute contraindications exist for smallpox vaccination in a post-event setting. However, several relative contraindications exist among persons with certain medical conditions. CDC recommendations for smallpox vaccine use were developed in consideration of the risk for smallpox infection, risk for an adverse event following vaccination, and benefit from vaccination. Related Links
WHO publishes updated guidance about the use of meningococcal A vaccine in the Weekly Epidemiological Record The February 20 issue of the WHO periodical Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) features a report titled Meningococcal A conjugate vaccine: updated guidance, February 2015. According to the guidance, this update adds to the previous recommendations specifically concerning routine immunization of infants and young children in the African meningitis belt with meningococcal A conjugate vaccine. Note: A position paper on meningococcal vaccines was published in 2011 and its recommendations remain valid. A collection of WHO position papers on vaccines is available in alphabetical order. They are available in chronological order, vaccine listing, and topic listing on the IAC website. Back to top FEATURED RESOURCES CDC posts new resources related to measles From January 1 to February 20, 2015, 154 people from 17 states and Washington, DC, were reported to have contracted measles. Most of these [118 cases] are part of a large, ongoing multi-state outbreak linked to an amusement park in California. In response, CDC has developed some new resources for healthcare professionals and their patients. Recently developed resources for various audiences
IAC has listed many valuable free educational materials about measles for healthcare professionals and patients in previous issues of IAC Express. Please visit the February 17 issue to check out the available resources from a variety of organizations. Back to top Influenza is spreading and serious; please keep vaccinating your patients According to CDC, U.S. influenza activity is high across most of the country with flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths elevated. Flu season will probably continue for several weeks. While the influenza vaccine may not work as well as usual against some H3N2 viruses, vaccination can still offer protection for some people, reduce hospitalizations and deaths, and will protect against other influenza viruses. Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age 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. Influenza antiviral drugs can treat influenza illness. CDC has issued guidance for clinicians on the use of antiviral treatment for the 2014–15 flu season. Early antiviral treatment works best. Following is a list of resources related to influenza disease and vaccination for healthcare professionals and the public:
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS CDC publishes report on hepatitis A outbreak among adults with developmental disabilities in group homes CDC published Hepatitis A Outbreak Among Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Group Homes—Michigan, 2013 in the February 20 issue of MMWR (pages 148–152). The first paragraph is reprinted below. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections among persons with developmental disabilities living in institutions were common in the past, but with improvements in care and fewer persons institutionalized, the number of HAV infections has declined in these institutions. However, residents in institutions are still vulnerable if they have not been vaccinated. On April 24, 2013, a resident of a group home (GH) for adults with disabilities in southeast Michigan (GH-A) was diagnosed with hepatitis A and died 2 days later of fulminant liver failure. Four weeks later, a second GH-A resident was diagnosed with hepatitis A. None of the GH-A residents or staff had been vaccinated against hepatitis A. Over the next 3 months, six more cases of hepatitis A were diagnosed in residents in four other Michigan GHs. Three local health departments were involved in case investigation and management, including administration of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). Serum specimens from seven cases were found to have an identical strain of HAV genotype 1A. This report describes the outbreak investigation, the challenges of timely delivery of PEP for hepatitis A, and the need for preexposure vaccination against hepatitis A for adults living or working in GHs for the disabled. Related Link Back to top CDC publishes article about California measles outbreak; previously published as an MMWR Early Release On February 20, CDC published Measles Outbreak—California, December 2014–February 2015 in the February 20 issue of MMWR (pages 153–154). This report was previously published as an MMWR Early Release on February 13, and covered in IAC Express on February 17. Related Link
CDC publishes article about Ebola as an MMWR Early Release On February 20, CDC published Rapid Response to Ebola Outbreaks in Remote Areas—Liberia, July–November 2014 as an MMWR Early Release. Related Link
EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACOG to sponsor March 4 webinar on HPV vaccination The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is sponsoring a one-hour webinar at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on March 4 titled "The Power to Prevent Cancer: Important Updates on the HPV Vaccine." The course is free, offers one CME credit, and is open to all (not just ACOG fellows). The session will detail ACOG and ACIP’s HPV immunization recommendations; describe the safety, efficacy, and common side effects of HPV vaccination; and explain the importance of and optimal timing for HPV immunization. Related Links Back to top CDC to offer February 26 webinar on influenza in children CDC will offer a one-hour webinar on February 26, at 2:00 p.m. (ET) titled Protecting Children: Influenza Updates for Clinicians. This educational opportunity is presented in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, and is part of CDC's Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA). During this COCA session, healthcare professionals will learn about the current state of influenza activity related to children, the importance of continued vaccination, and strategies for using antiviral therapy. During COCA calls and webinars, subject matter experts present key emergency preparedness and response topics, followed by meaningful Q&A with participants. Related Link Back to top Watch archived webinar sponsored by the LA County Department of Public Health titled "Measles Update: A Primer for Health Care Providers" On February 17, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health sponsored a webinar titled "Measles Update: A Primer for Health Care Providers." The session was designed for all healthcare providers who may evaluate a patient with measles, including primary care, emergency medicine, urgent care, and other front-line healthcare providers. Interested healthcare professionals can now watch the archived webinar. The slides from the webinar are also available from the same link. Back to top Reminder: VICNetwork to offer March 4 webinar on protecting infants from pertussis The VICNetwork has scheduled a webinar on March 4 titled A New Campaign to Protect Babies from Whooping Cough: Resources for National Infant Immunization Week and Beyond. This webinar will provide an overview of National Infant Immunization Week and available planning resources, and will introduce a new campaign, Born With Protection, aimed at protecting babies from pertussis. Speakers for this webinar are Jenny Mullen, lead for the Childhood Immunizations Communication Team in CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) Health Communication Science Office and Allison Kennedy Fisher, a health communications specialist with NCIRD. The one-hour webinar begins at 2:00 p.m. (ET). The Virtual Immunization Communication (VIC) Network is a project of the National Public Health Information Coalition and the California Immunization Coalition. Registrations are being accepted. Back to top ASK THE EXPERTS Question of the Week We received a call from a healthcare provider who inadvertently administered MMR vaccine to a woman who was 2 months pregnant. Please advise as to appropriate action steps. Answer: No specific action needs to be taken other than to reassure the woman that no adverse outcomes are expected as a result of this vaccination. MMR vaccination during pregnancy alone is not a reason to terminate the pregnancy. You should consult with the provider to determine if there is a way to avoid such vaccination errors in the future. Detailed information about MMR vaccination in pregnancy is included in the most recent MMR ACIP statement, available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6204.pdf. About IAC's Question of the Week Each week, IAC Express highlights a new, topical, or important-to-reiterate Q&A. This feature is a cooperative venture between IAC and CDC. William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH, IAC's associate director for immunization education, chooses a new Q&A to feature every week from a set of Q&As prepared by experts at CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. We hope you enjoy this new feature and find it helpful when dealing with difficult real-life scenarios in your vaccination practice. Please encourage your healthcare professional colleagues to sign up to receive IAC Express at www.immunize.org/subscribe. If you have a question for the CDC immunization experts, you can email them directly at nipinfo@cdc.gov. There is no charge for this service. Related Links
 |
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.
IZ Express Disclaimer
ISSN 2771-8085
IZ Express Disclaimer
ISSN 2771-8085
Editorial Information
-
Editor-in-ChiefKelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
-
Managing EditorJohn D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
-
Associate EditorSharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
-
Writer/Publication CoordinatorTaryn Chapman, MS
Courtnay Londo, MA -
Style and Copy EditorMarian Deegan, JD
-
Web Edition ManagersArkady Shakhnovich
Jermaine Royes -
Contributing WriterLaurel H. Wood, MPA
-
Technical ReviewerKayla Ohlde