Issue
Number 350
November 25, 2002
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- CDC's National Immunization Program releases
Influenza Vaccine Bulletin #6
- Wyeth ceases production of its injectable
influenza vaccine and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
- Second edition of NPI's "Reference Guide on
Vaccines and Vaccine Safety" now available
- National Vaccine Healthcare Center launches a
website for service members and Department of Defense beneficiaries
- New translation! Influenza VIS now in Korean
- Recommended reading: "My Little Drummer Boy: A
Mother's True Story"
- Nominations being accepted through December 31
for the 2003 Gary Schatz Award
- GAVI announces its newly redesigned website
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November 25, 2002
CDC'S NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM RELEASES INFLUENZA VACCINE BULLETIN #6
On November 18, the National Immunization Program (NIP) of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the sixth in a series of
influenza vaccine bulletins designed to update health professionals on
the production, distribution, and administration of influenza vaccine for
the 2002-2003 influenza season. To view or download the HTML version of the
bulletin, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/flu/Bulletins_2002-03/bulletin_6.htm The
bulletin is printed below in its entirety.
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INFLUENZA VACCINE BULLETIN #6
Flu Season 2002-2003
November 18, 2002
The National Immunization Program of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention is publishing and distributing periodic bulletins to update
partners about recent developments related to the production, distribution,
and administration of influenza vaccine for the 2002-2003 influenza season.
All recipients of this bulletin are encouraged to distribute each issue
widely to colleagues, members, and constituents.
INFLUENZA VACCINE SUPPLY AND PRODUCTION
Current projections suggest about 93 million doses of influenza vaccine are
available in the U.S. market this season and several million doses remain
available for purchase.
- Health care providers who wish to purchase
influenza vaccine should contact their regular sources of pharmaceuticals.
- After November, many persons who should or
want to receive influenza vaccine remain unvaccinated. The Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that vaccination
efforts for all groups, especially persons at high risk, their household
contacts, and health care workers, should continue into December or later,
for as long as vaccine is available.
INFLUENZA VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
An adult immunization schedule is now available to help family physicians,
gynecologists, internists, and other health care providers to assess the
vaccine needs of patients during office visits and to administer the
appropriate vaccines (including influenza vaccine).
- The Recommended Adult Immunization
Schedule was approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
in February 2002 and has been accepted by the American Academy of Family
Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Providers can use the schedule to promote the use of standing orders,
patient-reminder/recall systems, provider-reminder systems, and other
strategies that reduce missed opportunities to vaccinate patients. A
printable, annotated, color version of the schedule is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/adult-schedule.htm
INFLUENZA VACCINE COMMUNICATIONS
Flu patient-education "catch-up" material is now available from CDC.
- The CDC National Immunization Program has
developed new patient-education print material to encourage people who
have delayed getting a flu shot to obtain this valuable protection. These
"catch-up" posters and flyers supplement the materials that were made
available in September. All of the patient-education materials for flu
season can be viewed and reproduced directly from the NIP website at
www.cdc.gov/nip/flu/gallery.htm Black and white master copies of
the flyers can be downloaded from this site and reproduced on an office
copy machine. Commercial printers can access the .pdf PRESS files to
reproduce higher quality materials, large quantities of materials, items
in multiple colors, posters, or buttons. Commercial printers may also
request a CD-ROM with traditional QuarkXPress 5.0 files by calling (404)
639-8375 or e-mailing nipinfo@cdc.gov
Influenza surveillance through November 9
indicates some sporadic activity in the U.S.
- During the week of November 3–November 9,
one state and territorial health department reported regional influenza
activity, 17 reported sporadic activity, and 32 reported no influenza
activity. More information on influenza surveillance in the United
States can be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/weekly.htm
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For a camera-ready (PDF format) copy of the new bulletin, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/news.d/flubull6.pdf
For more influenza information from the NIP
website, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/flu/
For more influenza information from the Immunization Action Coalition
website, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/influenza/
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November 25, 2002
WYETH CEASES PRODUCTION OF ITS INJECTABLE INFLUENZA VACCINE AND PNEUMOCOCCAL
POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINE
On November 19, Wyeth issued a press release announcing that it will no
longer manufacture injectable influenza vaccine and pneumococcal
polysaccharide vaccine. The first paragraph of the press release follows.
"Wyeth announced today that it is ceasing production of two of its vaccine
products--FluShield, an injectable influenza virus vaccine, and Pnu-Imune,
an injectable polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine for adults. Adequate
supplies of injectable flu vaccine are now available in the U.S. as a result
of recent capacity increases provided by other manufacturers."
To access the entire press release, go to:
http://www.wyeth.com/news/Pressed_and_Released/pr11_19_2002_09_52_07.asp
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November 25, 2002
SECOND EDITION OF NPI'S "REFERENCE GUIDE ON VACCINES AND VACCINE
SAFETY" NOW AVAILABLE
The National Partnership for Immunization (NPI) recently announced the
availability of the second edition of its "Reference Guide on Vaccines and
Vaccine Safety." NPI's website describes the new edition as follows:
"The second edition offers even more pertinent information than the first
edition, with expanded sections on vaccines and how they work and vaccine
safety issues. It also addresses subjects such as multiple immunizations,
vaccines for special risk groups and travelers' diseases such as anthrax and
smallpox. The Guide provides a comprehensive summary of why vaccines have
become an integral part of public health programs in the United States.
Media outlets, public health officials, and others interested in the
specifics of vaccine safety can turn to the Guide for answers to their
questions about the value and safety of vaccines."
The new edition is available for $15 before December 1; the price rises to
$20 after that date.
To download an order form, go to:
http://www.partnersforimmunization.org/pdf/newguideform.pdf
For additional information, email NPI at
mgarel@hmhb.org
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November 25, 2002
NATIONAL VACCINE HEALTHCARE CENTER LAUNCHES A WEBSITE FOR SERVICE MEMBERS
AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BENEFICIARIES
A collaboration between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Vaccine Healthcare Center
(VHC) is committed to continuously improving the quality of immunization
health care delivery, education, research, and case management of complex
adverse events for DoD beneficiaries.
The goal of VHC's recently launched website is to be a resource for people
in the military health care system/Tricare who have health concerns
regarding immunizations. VHC administrators encourage providers, service
members (active duty, reserve, and guard), and DoD beneficiaries to contact
VHC about vaccines, vaccine safety, and vaccine adverse events.
To access the site or submit a question, go to:
http://www.vhcinfo.org/
NOTE: Accessing the VHC website requires Netscape 6.0 or Internet Explorer.
For clinical consultation, email
askVHC@amedd.army.mil or call (202) 782-0411.
Currently, the only operational center is Walter Reed Regional Vaccine
Healthcare Center in Washington, D.C. Three additional centers are due to
open by mid-2003. They are in Portsmouth, VA (Navy); Fayetteville, NC
(Army); and San Antonio, TX (Air Force). Up to 12 more centers are planned.
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November 25, 2002
NEW TRANSLATION! INFLUENZA VIS NOW IN KOREAN
The 2002-2003 Influenza Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) in Korean is now
available on the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) website. IAC gratefully
acknowledges the County of Los Angeles, Department of Health Services
Immunization Program for providing the Korean translation.
To obtain a camera-ready (PDF) copy of the influenza VIS in Korean, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ko_flu02.pdf
To obtain a camera-ready (PDF) copy of the influenza VIS in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/2flu.pdf
For more information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in a total of 28
languages, visit IAC's VIS web page at
http://www.immunize.org/vis/
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November 25, 2002
RECOMMENDED READING: "MY LITTLE DRUMMER BOY: A MOTHER'S TRUE STORY"
In "My Little Drummer Boy," author Rebecca Ellison Cole chronicles the short
life and horrific death of her oldest child, Aaron, from necrotizing
fasciitis as a complication of chickenpox.
Aaron suffered his only severe asthma attack on June 16, 1988, was
hospitalized, given a corticosteroid, and released a few days later. He
developed chickenpox on June 23. The corticosteroid medication suppressed
his immune system, weakening his defenses against varicella virus and
virulent streptococcal bacteria. The virus and bacteria traveled through his
body, devouring his organs. On June 27, he began having seizures, became
blind, and collapsed from a brain hemorrhage. He was air lifted to a
regional medical center, where he died three days later at age 12.
What sets Cole's book apart from other stories of people felled by
catastrophe is that "My Little Drummer Boy" is an account of anguish
followed by redemption. She writes of her son's death: "It is darkness,
agony, and shock. It leaves our hearts broken, bleeding, and bursting with
pain, and it changes us forever." In being changed forever, Cole took
action, forever changing the future for many of America's children.
With no political experience, personal wealth, or medical credentials, and
with four remaining children to raise, Cole began a successful
publicity campaign to have the official packaging labels of corticosteroid
medication carry a warning about the danger the drugs pose to people who
have not had chickenpox or measles and who might become exposed to or
infected with these diseases while on corticosteroid medications. Warning
labels were added to corticosteroid packaging in 1991. As surely as death
released Aaron from the devastation of varicella disease and necrotizing
fasciitis, his mother's dedication helped liberate U.S. children from his
fate.
Buttercup Press publishes the book, which has a cover price of $18.95.
Mention that you heard about it through the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC),
and buy it directly from the publisher for $9.50, plus $4 for postage and
handling ($2 postage and handling for each book after the first going to the
same address). The address is Buttercup Press, 321 Rutland Avenue, Teaneck,
NJ 07666.
For further information, email the publisher at
ButtercupPress@cs.com or call
(201) 837-9511.
To read the testimony Cole gave about her son's death in 1999 before a
committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, go to IAC's website:
http://www.immunize.org/stories/story21.htm
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November 25, 2002
NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED THROUGH DECEMBER 31 FOR THE 2003 GARY SCHATZ
AWARD
The 2003 Gary Schatz Award will be presented at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Hepatitis Coordinators' Conference
in San Antonio, TX, January 2003.
Gary Schatz, PhD, was a recognized expert in the development and
implementation of hepatitis B vaccination programs nationally and
internationally. For more than two decades, he worked at CDC, retiring from
the Hepatitis Branch in 1995. At the time of his death in Zanzibar in 1999,
he was working on hepatitis B vaccination program activities at the World
Health Organization.
Nominations for the award are being accepted through December 31. Following
are the criteria:
- Long-term service and commitment to
excellence in viral hepatitis prevention (20 points)
- History of accomplishments in viral
hepatitis prevention (20 points)
- Demonstrated impact in bringing prevention
science into action at the community level (50 points)
- Quality of nomination (10 points)
Please email nominations (a maximum of two
pages, typed in a 12-pt. font) by December 31 to Richard Conlon at
rconlon@plantationcable.net
For conference information, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/
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November 25, 2002
GAVI ANNOUNCES ITS NEWLY REDESIGNED WEBSITE
On November 15, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI)
announced its redesigned website to coincide with the publication of the
latest issue (November 2002) of "Immunization Focus," GAVI's quarterly
electronic newsletter.
The site gives readers access to articles from the current issue, as well as
to back issues and to links for more information on topics covered. Visitors
can also check the site for information about the Second GAVI Partners'
Meeting, which took place in Dakar, Senegal, in mid-November.
To access the site, go to:
http://www.vaccinealliance.org/
For additional information, email
gavi@unicef.org
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