• Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel—United States, 2015–16 Influenza Season (also available as a PDF)
• CDC's Influenza web page
• IAC's Influenza Handouts web section
• IAC's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll web page
• CDC's Influenza Vaccination Information for Health Care Workers web section

Back to top

Final 2015–16 influenza vaccination coverage estimates reported in MMWR

CDC published Announcement: Final 2015–16 Influenza Vaccination Coverage Estimates for Selected Local Areas, States, and the United States Available Online in the September 30 issue of MMWR (page 1041). An excerpt is reprinted below.

Final 2015–16 influenza season vaccination coverage estimates are available online at FluVaxView (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/). The online information includes estimates of the cumulative percentage of persons vaccinated through the end of each month during July 2015–May 2016, for selected local areas, states, and regions as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the United States overall.

Back to top

CDC reports on measles outbreak in Shelby County, Tennessee

CDC published Notes from the Field: Measles Outbreak of Unknown Source—Shelby County, Tennessee, April–May 2016 in the September 30 issue of MMWR (pages 1039–1040). Some excerpts from the article are reprinted below.

On April 15, 2016, local public health officials in Shelby County, Tennessee, were notified of a positive measles immunoglobulin M (IgM) test for a male aged 18 months (patient A). On April 18, 2016, a second positive measles IgM test was reported for a man aged 50 years (patient B). Both patients had rash onset on April 9, 2016. The Shelby County Health Department initiated an investigation, and confirmatory testing for measles virus on oropharyngeal swabs by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at CDC was positive for both patients. On April 21, 2016, public health officials were notified of a third suspected measles case in a female aged 7 months (patient C) who had developed a rash on April 14; PCR testing was positive. Genotyping conducted at CDC identified genotype B3 measles virus in all three cases. Genotype B3 is known to be circulating globally and has previously been associated with imported cases in the United States...

This outbreak, with three epidemiologically distinct chains of transmission and no identified common source, highlights the importance of high 2-dose MMR vaccination coverage among vaccine-eligible persons and the need for ongoing, vigilant surveillance for measles virus in the United States. Clinical providers and public health officials should maintain a high index of suspicion for measles because delayed recognition and delayed reporting to public health officials can lead to a rapid propagation of cases and difficulty in tracking epidemiologic links during investigations. One patient in this outbreak was admitted to a tertiary care hospital for 72 hours, and although measles IgM testing was ordered, the patient was not placed in airborne isolation. The provider thought a measles diagnosis was unlikely because no documented measles cases had been reported in Shelby County for >10 years and vaccination rates in the area are generally high (approximately 90%).

As demonstrated in this outbreak, a lack of international travel and absence of recent measles cases in the community can provide false reassurance, and it is important that patients with clinically compatible illness and an uncertain vaccination history be evaluated for measles. This outbreak serves as a reminder that certain communities are susceptible to measles outbreaks; however, risks for these outbreaks can be mitigated through prompt identification of potential cases with early notification of public health officials to suspected cases, rapid public health response, and maintenance of high 2-dose MMR vaccination coverage in the community. In addition, all health care workers born during or after 1957 should receive 2 doses of MMR vaccine and ensure that their immunization records are easily accessible for confirmation.

Back to top

PAHO/WHO announces measles elimination in the Americas

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, announced the elimination of measles in the Americas. An excerpt from their press release, Region of the Americas is declared free of measles, is reprinted below.

The Region of the Americas is the first in the world to have eliminated measles, a viral disease that can cause severe health problems, including pneumonia, brain swelling and even death. This achievement culminates a 22-year effort involving mass vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella throughout the Americas.

The declaration of measles’ elimination was made by the International Expert Committee for Documenting and Verifying Measles, Rubella, and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Elimination in the Americas. The announcement came during the 55th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), which is currently underway and is being attended by ministers of Health from throughout the Americas.

Related Links

• NPR: The Americas Are Now Officially 'Measles-Free'
• Forbes: Important Difference: Measles Elimination In Americas Does Not Mean Eradication Or Extinction

Back to top

NFID releases summary of September 29 news conference about influenza and pneumococcal disease

On September 29, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) hosted the 2016 Influenza/ Pneumococcal News Conference in collaboration with CDC and other leading medical and public health groups who rallied together to show their strong support for influenza immunization. The event served to communicate critical messages, including a call to action for everyone to get vaccinated. Two paragraphs from a related September 29 press release are reprinted below.

With influenza (flu) vaccine readily available and sufficient doses expected throughout the season, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), along with public health and medical organizations urge the public and healthcare professionals to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation for everyone age six months and older to be vaccinated against influenza each year.

Influenza vaccination coverage across the entire U.S. population was 45.6 percent, down by 1.5 percentage points from the previous season. The largest coverage decreases were seen among older people with a drop of 3.4 percentage points to 43.6 percent among people 50 to 64 years old and a drop of 3.3 percentage points to 63.4 percent among people 65 years and older. The highest influenza vaccination coverage among the public during the 2015–2016 season was among children age 6 months through 23 months. At 75 percent, this is the only group of people that exceeds the national public health goals of 70 percent vaccination coverage. Coverage of 46 percent among the public means about 144 million people received a flu vaccine last season in the U.S.

Related Links

• 2016 NFID Influenza/ Pneumococcal News Conference web section
• NFID press release: Flu Season Approaches: Health Officials Urge Everyone to Get Vaccinated

Back to top

CDC’s “Parents Guide to Childhood Immunizations” wins a 2016 National Health Information Award

CDC's Parents' Guide to Childhood Immunizations won a 2016 National Health Information Award. The Parents' Guide helps parents and caregivers learn about the role vaccines play in helping keep children healthy. The color booklet includes a glossary and list of resources and is illustrated with children’s artwork.

The book is available to download in full or by chapter on the Parents' Guide to Childhood Immunizations web section. Information on ordering print editions is available on the site as well.

Related Link

• CDC's Parents' Guide to Childhood Immunizations web section
• IAC's Parent Handouts web section

Back to top

Join the Hepatitis B Foundation as part of their Hepatitis B Storytelling Project

The Hepatitis B Storytelling Project is a project to make the real voices of everyday people living with or affected by Hepatitis B a key ingredient of the Hepatitis B Foundation's prevention and advocacy efforts. The Hepatitis B Foundation and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) are partnering with StoryCenter to launch the project.

The Hepatitis B Foundation is committed to representing a diversity of people and perspectives with this project. They're looking for women and men age 18 or older who are willing to attend a four-day digital storytelling workshop, share a unique, personal story as a short video, and become a champion in their local communities to publicly share the collection of stories. To learn more about the project, or if interested in participating in the digital storytelling workshop, please visit the project website and complete the storyteller information packet.

Email Kate Moraras at the Hepatitis B Foundation with any questions.

Back to top

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services adds reimbursement for hepatitis B screening

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently issued its final decision regarding coverage of hepatitis B screening, titled Decision Memo for Screening for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection. An excerpt from the decision is printed below.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has determined that the evidence is sufficient to conclude that screening for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, consistent with the grade A and B recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), is reasonable and necessary for the prevention or early detection of an illness or disability and is appropriate for individuals entitled to benefits under Part A or enrolled under Part B.

Back to top