Issue 1481: March 4, 2020
TOP STORIES
IAC HANDOUTS
FEATURED RESOURCES
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
TOP STORIES
IAC summarizes the February 2020 ACIP meeting
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met in Atlanta on February 26–27, 2020.
In the single vote at the meeting, ACIP considered who should be vaccinated with Ervebo (Merck), the newly FDA-approved vaccine against Ebola Zaire virus. After extensive discussions about vaccine safety and persons at highest risk, the Committee unanimously recommended pre-exposure vaccination for adults age 18 years of age or older in the U.S. population who are at potential risk of exposure to Ebola virus (species Zaire ebolavirus) and:
- Are responding to an outbreak of Ebola virus disease; or
- Work as healthcare personnel at federally-designated Ebola Treatment Centers in the United States; or
- Work as laboratorians or other staff at biosafety level 4 facilities in the United States.
Specific guidance on use of the vaccine will be included when the recommendation is published. In the future, ACIP also will consider whether the list of occupational groups for whom the vaccine is recommended should be expanded.
In addition to the Ebola vaccine vote, information on multiple important topics was shared during the meeting.
The Committee received several updates on influenza, including reports on current influenza surveillance and preliminary vaccine effectiveness rates for the 2019–20 season. Additional influenza-related presentations covered data from the phase III trial of adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine (aIIV4, Fluad Quadrivalent, Seqirus), which received FDA approval on February 21. The final influenza vaccine presentation covered results of a study comparing the safety of adjuvanted vs. high-dose inactivated influenza vaccines for older adults. In general, the study determined that, from a safety standpoint, either vaccine is an acceptable option for the prevention of influenza in older adults.
Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, provided a situation summary on the worldwide emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). She noted that currently over 800 people at CDC are working on this response, and she highlighted the importance of state and local public health departments in this effort. Dr. Messonnier emphasized that this is a rapidly evolving situation; the latest information is frequently updated on the CDC coronavirus website.
ACIP members discussed the possibility of changes to recommendations for rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis at some point in the future. In addition, the Committee reviewed the challenges of implementing the Sanofi Pasteur's dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, in the Philippines and the difficulties of communicating the vaccine’s complex recommendation.
The history of the U.S. transition from use of oral polio vaccine (OPV) to inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was presented. As part of this discussion, a plaque was unveiled honoring David Salamone, who contracted polio from OPV and helped spur changes in U.S. immunization policy. John Salamone, David’s father and the first ACIP consumer representative, assisted with the unveiling. The polio informational session concluded with a report on the progress and prospects of global polio eradication.
Finally, ACIP received an update on recent postings to the General Best Practices Guidelines for Immunization. These Guidelines are available only online and are periodically updated. CDC provides a separate web page listing of errata/updates to show the changes to date.
All recommendations approved by ACIP are provisional until they are approved by the CDC director and published in MMWR. Presentation slides from the February meeting should be posted on the ACIP website in the next 4–6 weeks.
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CDC reports influenza activity is still high with elevated rates of hospitalization among children and young adults; please continue vaccinating this season to prevent flu from spreading further
Seasonal influenza activity in the United States remains high but has decreased over the past two weeks, according to CDC's Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView.
Forty-eight states and Puerto Rico reported widespread activity, one state reported regional activity, the District of Columbia and Hawaii reported local activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported sporadic activity for the week ending February 22.
Twenty influenza-associated pediatric deaths that occurred during the 2019–20 flu season were reported between weeks 52 and 8 (the weeks ending December 28, 2019 and February 22, 2020). A total of 125 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported for the 2019–20 season.
Visit the CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView, for details.
Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age and older, so please continue to vaccinate all your patients in this age range. 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 influenza vaccination services near them.
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Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus information from CDC and WHO
CDC and WHO are closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19), first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Be sure to check the resources below for updates.
Links
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Seqirus's Fluad adjuvanted vaccine for people 65 years of age and older will be available as quadrivalent for the 2020–21 flu season
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted influenza vaccine (Seqirus) for adults 65 years of age for the 2020–21 flu season. Currently, Fluad adjuvanted vaccine is a trivalent product.
A portion of Seqirus's press release is reprinted below.
“Adults 65 years and older are at high risk for influenza-related complications each season and it is important to have influenza vaccines to help protect this vulnerable population,” said Anjana Narain, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Seqirus.
Access the Seqirus press release: Seqirus Receives FDA Approval for Fluad Quadrivalent (Influenza Vaccine, Adjuvanted) for Adults 65 Years and Older
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IAC Spotlight! In case you missed them, these IAC materials and web pages on immunize.org were updated during January and February
In almost every issue of IAC Express, we provide readers with information about new and updated educational materials for healthcare professionals and handouts for patients that have been made available during the past week on IAC’s website immunize.org. All these materials are available free for you to download, print, copy, and distribute in your healthcare settings. We also announce major updates to the web pages and sections on immunize.org.
Below you’ll find a listing of items we’ve announced in IAC Express during the past two months.
Educational Materials for Healthcare Professionals
Staff Education Materials
Handouts for Your Patients
Web Pages
Updated VIS Web Pages
Related Links
- Visit IAC’s View All Materials web page to obtain a list of more than 300 staff educational materials and patient handouts on immunize.org
- Visit IAC’s Handouts main page to see educational materials sorted by category
- Visit IAC's Ask the Experts section on immunize.org to access more than 1,000 questions answered by IAC experts
- Visit IAC's Clinic Tools main pages and its seven subtopics
- Visit the What's New at IAC: Handouts web page to view all new and updated educational materials and the dates they were posted on immunize.org
- Visit the What's New at IAC: Web Pages to view all new and updated web pages and dates they were posted on immunize.org
- Visit the What’s New at IAC: Vaccine Information Statements web page to view all new and updated Vaccine Information Statements and the dates they were posted on immunize.org
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Voices for Vaccines releases new podcast titled “Coronavirus and the Cerveza for Disease Control”
Voices for Vaccines (VFV) has posted a new entry in its Vax Talk podcast series titled Coronavirus and the Cerveza for Disease Control. This podcast features Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University, discussing the coronavirus epidemic and how it can teach us about public health strategies that include vaccines.
If you or your organization would like information about how to become a sponsor of a VFV "Vax Talk" podcast, please contact VFV's executive director Karen Ernst at info@voicesforvaccines.org.
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 values vaccines to become a member. Please spread the word to your friends and colleagues to join VFV!
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Not-to-miss immunization articles in the news
Seven articles that appeared in the media recently are particularly compelling in conveying the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
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IAC HANDOUTS
IAC updates “Hepatitis B and Healthcare Personnel”
IAC recently updated its 5-page piece titled Hepatitis B and Healthcare Personnel. Several minor edits were made.
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IAC updates “Pneumococcal Vaccines: IAC Answers Your Questions” and “Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations for Children and Adults by Age and/or Risk Factor”
IAC has updated two pneumococcal staff education materials: Pneumococcal Vaccines: IAC Answers Your Questions and Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations for Children and Adults by Age and/or Risk Factor.
Changes were made to Pneumococcal Vaccines: IAC Answers Your Questions to incorporate information about the latest ACIP recommendations, in particular, that routine PCV13 vaccination of all adults age 65 years and older is no longer routinely recommended. Instead, shared clinical decision making should be conducted for PCV13. PPSV23 is needed by all in recommended cohorts.
Similar changes were incorporated in the document titled Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations for Children and Adults by Age and/or Risk Factor.
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IAC updates its PowerPoint slide set “A Photo Collection of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases” to use “as is” or modify to fit your needs
IAC recently posted a revised edition of its PowerPoint slide presentation for healthcare professionals titled A Photo Collection of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. This slide set provides images and descriptions of 23 diseases. The content on several slides has been updated.
You can download the 6-slide-per-page handout of 44 slides (PDF format) or request the slide set for your own use with audiences. To request the PowerPoint file from IAC, go to IAC's PowerPoint Slide Sets web page. Just below the presentation's title and description, click on "Request the PowerPoint slide set" and IAC will email the request form for the PowerPoint presentation. Once you have submitted your request, we will send you the presentation. You can edit and use it as you see fit.
IAC's PowerPoint Slide Sets web page on immunize.org contains presentations on a variety of immunization topics. Use the slide sets "as is" or modify them to suit your organization's needs. Currently there are 13 sets available. The titles and links to the handout-formatted slides are listed below.
Visit the IAC's PowerPoint Slide Sets web page on immunize.org to access and begin utilizing these valuable slide sets today!
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FEATURED RESOURCES
IAC's elegantly designed "Vaccines Save Lives" black enamel pins are a great way to show you value immunization!
IAC’s elegantly designed
“Vaccines Save Lives” pin on hard black enamel with gold lettering and edges makes a meaningful gift for people who care about immunization.
The pin is a stick-through-post variety with the back end covered by a round rubber cap that holds the pin securely. A gold metal spring-lock clasp is also provided. The pin makes a refined statement, measuring 1.125" x 0.75".
Wear these pins on clothing, uniforms, lab coats, tote bags, and backpacks to show that you value vaccines!
Click here for "Vaccines Save Lives" pins pricing and ordering information.
Visit Shop IAC for additional items, including "FLU VACCINE" buttons and stickers, patient record cards, and a vaccine administration training video.
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IAC's comprehensive Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide is available for free download either by chapter or in its entirety (142 pages)
In late 2017, the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) announced the publication of its book, Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide (Guide).
This completely updated "how to" guide on adult immunization provides easy-to-use, practical information covering essential adult immunization activities. It helps vaccine providers enhance their existing adult immunization services or introduce them into any clinical setting. Topics include:
- setting up for vaccination services,
- storing and handling vaccines,
- deciding which people should receive which vaccines,
- administering vaccines,
- documenting vaccinations (including legal issues), and
- understanding financial considerations and billing information.
In addition, the Guide is filled with hundreds of web addresses and references to help providers stay up to date on the latest immunization information, both now and in the future.
The Guide is available to download/print either by chapter or in its entirety free of charge at www.immunize.org/guide. The downloaded version is suitable for double-sided printing. The National Vaccine Program Office and CDC both supported the development of the Guide and provided early technical review.
The Guide is a uniquely valuable resource to assist providers in increasing adult immunization rates. Be sure to get a copy today!
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JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS
February issue of CDC’s Immunization Works newsletter now available; subscribe for monthly immunization resources and information
CDC recently released the February issue of its monthly newsletter Immunization Works. The newsletter offers the immunization community information about current topics. The information is in the public domain and can be reproduced and circulated widely.
Subscribe to CDC's Immunization Works newsletter for monthly resources and information on vaccination sent straight to your inbox.
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Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia publishes February issue of its newsletter Vaccine Update
The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia publishes a monthly immunization-focused newsletter titled Vaccine Update. The February issue includes several articles, including the following:
Access the sign-up form to subscribe to Vaccine Update.
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“Improving Childhood Vaccination Coverage Rates: The Case of Fourth Dose of DTaP” published by Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics published Improving Childhood Vaccination Coverage Rates: The Case of Fourth Dose of DTaP in its February 4 issue. The abstract is reprinted below.
Based on the most recently available national data, vaccination coverage for the combined seven-vaccine series recommended by age 24 months remains substantially below the Healthy People 2020 target of 80%. One focus for improvement is the lack of timely administration of the fourth dose of DTaP vaccine. Based on the perspective of state and local immunization program managers, key strategies include tracking immunization patterns through immunization information systems and other data sources, working with health-care providers to address challenges to timely vaccination, and developing partnerships with daycares, payers, and health systems.
Access the full article in PDF format.
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EDUCATION AND TRAINING
CDC’s "Current Issues in Immunization Webinar" on the 2020 immunization schedules for children/adolescents and adults to be held March 18
Mark your calendar! CDC's Current Issues in Immunization Webinar on the topic of 2020 child/adolescent and adult immunization schedules will be held on March 18 from 12:00–1:00 p.m. (ET).
Attendance for the live webinar is limited to 1,500 registrants, so be sure to log in early to secure a virtual "seat."
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CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
Reminder: CDC's 49th National Immunization Conference will be held in Atlanta, May 19–21
CDC's 49th National Immunization Conference (NIC) will be held May 19–21 at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta. NIC brings together more than 1,500 local, state, federal, and private-sector immunization stakeholders and partners to explore science, policy, education, and planning issues related to immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases.
Registration for the conference is now open.
Visit the 49th National Immunization Conference web page for information about conference and hotel registration, fees, and more.
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