Issue
Number 461
May 24, 2004
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- IOM report says MMR and thimerosal-containing vaccines not
associated with autism
- CDC announces new goals and organizational design
- May 2004 issue of "VACCINATE ADULTS" is in the mail and on the
Web
- CDC notifies readers about new definitions for travel notices
- CVP at PATH launches e-Learning modules
- New VIS translation: Rabies vaccine VIS now available in
Spanish
- Immunization documentary to be aired on BBC World
- CDC notifies readers about availability of diphtheria
antitoxin through an investigational new drug protocol
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
---------------------------------------------------------------
ABBREVIATIONS: AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; AAP, American
Academy of Pediatrics; ACIP, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices;
CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FDA, Food and Drug
Administration; IAC, Immunization Action Coalition; MMWR, Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report; NIP, National Immunization Program; VIS, Vaccine
Information Statement; VPD, vaccine-preventable disease; WHO, World
Health Organization.
---------------------------------------------------------------
(1 of 8)
May 24, 2004
IOM REPORT SAYS MMR AND THIMEROSAL-CONTAINING VACCINES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH
AUTISM
On May 18, 2004, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies
released "Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism," the third IOM
report about vaccines and autism. The report states that based on a thorough
review of clinical and epidemiological studies, neither the mercury-based
vaccine preservative thimerosal nor the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine
is associated with autism.
"The overwhelming evidence from several well-designed studies indicates that
childhood vaccines are not associated with autism," said committee chair
Marie McCormick, Sumner and Esther Feldberg Professor of Maternal and Child
Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston. "We strongly support
ongoing research to discover the cause or causes of this devastating
disorder. Resources would be used most effectively if they were directed
toward those avenues of inquiry that offer the greatest promise for answers.
Without supporting evidence, the vaccine hypothesis does not hold such
promise."
A pre-publication version of "Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and
Autism" is available online at
http://books.nap.edu/catalog/10997.html?onpi_newsdoc05182004 You can
also obtain a copy from the National Academies Press by calling (202)
334-3313 or (800) 624-6242.
To read the IOM press release, go to:
http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/030909237X?OpenDocument
To read a press release from the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Scientific
Panel Rejects Vaccines as Cause of Autism," go to:
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/mayvaccineautism.htm
To read a press release from the American Medical Association, "AMA welcomes
new IOM Report rejecting link between Vaccines and Autism," go to:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/article/1617-8580.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(2 of 8)
May 24, 2004
CDC ANNOUNCES NEW GOALS AND ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN
On May 13, 2004, CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding announced new goals and
integrated operations that will allow the federal public health agency to
have greater impact on the health of people around the world. The
announcement evolved from an ongoing strategic development process called
the Futures Initiative which began a year ago at CDC and has included
hundreds of employees, other agencies, organizations, and the public.
Dr. Gerberding announced that CDC will align its priorities and investments
under two overarching health protection goals: 1) Preparedness: All people
in all communities will be protected from infectious, environmental, and
terrorist threats. 2) Health Promotion and Prevention of Disease, Injury and
Disability: All people will achieve their optimal lifespan with the best
possible quality of health in every stage of life. In addition, the agency
is developing more targeted goals to assure an improved impact on health at
every stage of life including infants and toddlers, children, adolescents,
adults, and older adults.
The integrated organization coordinates the agency's existing operational
units into four coordinating centers to help the agency leverage its
resources to be more nimble in responding to public health threats and
emerging issues as well as chronic health conditions.
To read the related press release, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r040513.htm
More information can be accessed on CDC's Futures Initiative Update web
page:
http://www.cdc.gov/futures/update.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(3 of 8)
May 24, 2004
MAY 2004 ISSUE OF "VACCINATE ADULTS" IS IN THE MAIL AND ON THE WEB
IAC recently mailed the latest issue of "VACCINATE ADULTS" to 100,000 health
professionals and others who work in the field of immunization. Packed with
timely immunization resources for health professionals and patients, the
12-page issue is well worth downloading. All articles and education pieces,
except editorials, have been reviewed by immunization and hepatitis experts
at CDC.
HOW TO READ "VACCINATE ADULTS" ON THE WEB
You can view selected articles from the table of contents below or download
the entire issue from the Web.
To view the table of contents with links to individual articles, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va
Please note: The PDF file of the entire issue, linked below, is
large at 616,955 bytes. Some printers cannot print such a large
file. For tips on downloading and printing PDF files, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/tips.htm
To download a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of the May issue, go
to: http://www.immunize.org/va/va13.pdf
The articles in the May issue fall into two broad areas:
(1) general immunization information and (2) adult immunization
resources.
(1) GENERAL IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION
Turn to the following resources for the latest information on
immunization.
-
ANSWERS TO PROFESSIONALS' QUESTIONS AND CURRENT VACCINE NEWS.
"Ask the Experts" answers questions about immunization and
viral hepatitis. "Vaccine Highlights" presents timely
information on recommendations, schedules, specific vaccines,
and vaccine safety.
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of "Ask the Experts,"
go to: http://www.immunize.org/va/va13exprt.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va/va13exprt.htm
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of "Vaccine
Highlights," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va/va13vac.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va/va13vac.htm
(2) ADULT IMMUNIZATION RESOURCES
Following are four resources that can improve adult immunization
rates in your practice:
-
INFLUENZA VACCINATION OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS. In response to
the distressing statistic that only 36% of health care
workers receive annual influenza vaccination, IAC developed
"First Do No Harm. Protect Your Patients by Getting
Vaccinated Against Influenza," a one-page professional-education sheet that outlines the primary steps necessary to
conduct an employee influenza immunization campaign for
health care workers.
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of "First Do No Harm.
Protect Your Patients by Getting Vaccinated Against
Influenza," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2014.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2014.htm
-
STANDING ORDERS PROTOCOL. "Standing Orders for Administering
Pneumococcal Vaccine to Adults" gives health professionals a
guideline that can be used to allow an appropriately licensed
individual to administer pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
without a direct order from a physician.
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of "Standing Orders
for Administering Pneumococcal Vaccine to Adults," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3075.pdf
No web-text (HTML) version is available.
-
PATIENT EDUCATION RESOURCES. "Immunization . . . Not Just
Kids' Stuff" encourages patients to safeguard their health by
getting vaccinated against VPDs if they haven't had certain
diseases or been vaccinated against them. "Protect Yourself
against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B . . . A Guide for Gay and
Bisexual Men" educates men who have sex with men about their
increased risk for contracting these two diseases and makes
the case for getting immunized against them. (Please note
that this brochure is intended for use in certain venues—STD
clinics and clinics for men who have sex with men, for
example. It's not suitable for the waiting rooms of most
clinics and medical practices.)
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of "Immunization. . . Not Just Kids' Stuff," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4035.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n17/p4035.htm
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of "Protect Yourself
against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B . . . A Guide for Gay and
Bisexual Men" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4115.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4115.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(4 of 8)
May 24, 2004
CDC NOTIFIES READERS ABOUT NEW DEFINITIONS FOR TRAVEL NOTICES
CDC published "Notice to Readers: New Definitions for Travel
Notices Regarding Diseases Abroad" in the May 21 issue of MMWR.
The article is reprinted below in its entirety.
***********************
The Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Travelers'
Health, National Center for Infectious Diseases, is
announcing new, scalable definitions for travel notices about
disease occurrences abroad. The purpose is to refine the
announcements so they are more easily understood by
international travelers, U.S. citizens living abroad, health-care providers, and the general public. In addition, defining
and describing levels of risk will clarify the need for
travelers to take recommended preventive measures.
From a public health perspective, scalable definitions will
enhance the usefulness of the travel notices, enabling them to
be tailored readily in response to events and circumstances. A
complete description of the definitions and criteria for issuing
and removing travel notices at each of the four levels is
available at http://www.cdc.gov/travel
The new notices are as follows:
In the News. This notice provides information about sporadic
cases of disease or an occurrence of disease of public
health concern affecting a traveler or travel destination. At
this level, the risk for an individual traveler does not differ
from the usual risk in that area.
Outbreak Notice. Information is provided regarding a disease
outbreak in a limited geographic area or setting. The risk
for travelers is defined and limited, and the notice reminds
travelers about standard or enhanced travel recommendations
such as vaccination.
Travel Health Precaution. Specific information is provided
to travelers regarding a disease outbreak of greater scope and
over a larger geographic area, aimed at reducing the risk for
infection. This precaution also provides guidance to travelers
about what to do if they become ill while in the area. At this
level, CDC does not recommend against travel to a specific
area, but might recommend limiting exposure to a defined
setting (e.g., poultry farms or health-care facilities).
Travel Health Warning. A recommendation is issued against
nonessential travel to an area because a disease of public
health concern is expanding beyond the locales or populations
that were affected initially. The purpose of a travel warning is
to reduce the volume of traffic to affected areas, limiting the
risk for spreading the disease to unaffected areas.
***********************
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go
to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5319a4.htm
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR,
go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5319.pdf
To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which
includes new ACIP statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(5 of 8)
May 24, 2004
CVP AT PATH LAUNCHES E-LEARNING MODULES
The Children's Vaccine Program (CVP) at PATH has announced the
pre-launch of the first set of Advanced Immunization Management
(AIM) e-Learning modules. The AIM modules are being developed by
CVP and SUMMIT at Stanford University School of Medicine, in
collaboration with partners of the Global Alliance for Vaccines
and Immunization (GAVI).
AIM e-Learning modules are a tool for global health managers
trying to improve immunization programs. The modules provide up-to-date information through an interactive experience available
on the Internet and CD-ROM.
To see a short demonstration movie describing AIM e-Learning, go
to http://aim-e-learning.stanford.edu/demo.html and click on one
of the three bandwidth options. To view the interactive site on
the Internet, go to: http://aim-e-learning.stanford.edu
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(6 of 8)
May 24, 2004
NEW VIS TRANSLATION: RABIES VACCINE VIS NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH
Dated 11/4/03, the current version of the rabies vaccine VIS is
now available on the IAC website in Spanish. IAC gratefully
acknowledges the California Department of Health Services for
the translation.
To obtain a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of the rabies VIS in
Spanish, go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/sp_rab03.pdf
To obtain it in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/rabies03.pdf
For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in a total
of 31 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at
http://www.immunize.org/vis
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(7 of 8)
May 24, 2004
IMMUNIZATION DOCUMENTARY TO BE AIRED ON BBC WORLD
"Fragile Lives—Immunization at Risk," a new film by award-winning documentary producer Jenny Barraclough, will be seen by
more than 28 million people in 200 countries when it airs on BBC
World later this month.
"Fragile Lives" is an informative, emotionally engaging film on
the values of vaccines and the need to increase investment in
immunization programs. The film will air four times May 29, 30,
and 31, depending on time zone. Unfortunately, the film is not
yet scheduled for airing where BBC World is not available, such
as in the United States or England.
For more information on "Fragile Lives," visit
http://www.childrensvaccine.org/files/fragile-lives-0405.htm
To view the BBC World schedule for your country, go to:
http://www.bbcworld.com/content/template_tvlistings.asp?pageid=668
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(8 of 8)
May 24, 2004
CDC NOTIFIES READERS ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF DIPHTHERIA ANTITOXIN
THROUGH AN INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG PROTOCOL
CDC published "Notice to Readers: Availability of Diphtheria
Antitoxin Through an Investigational New Drug Protocol" in the
May 21 issue of MMWR. The notice is reprinted below in its
entirety, excluding two references.
***********************
Cases of respiratory diphtheria continue to occur sporadically
among persons in the United States. Respiratory diphtheria
is caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae (also,
rarely, by toxigenic C. ulcerans) and frequently manifests
insidiously as a membranous nasopharyngitis or obstructive
laryngotracheitis accompanied by a low-grade fever. Respiratory
diphtheria most often affects unvaccinated or inadequately
vaccinated persons, particularly those who travel to areas where
diphtheria is endemic and those who come into close contact
with travelers from such areas. Effective treatment of
respiratory diphtheria includes early administration of an
equine diphtheria antitoxin (DAT). Delay in DAT administration
can lead to life-threatening respiratory obstruction,
myocarditis, and other complications. To ensure quick access to
DAT, CDC maintains a stock of DAT for release to U.S.
physicians.
No manufacturer has sought U.S. licensure of a DAT product
since 1996. In 1997, an equine DAT product manufactured
by Pasteur Merieux (Lyons, France) was made available
in the United States through a Food and Drug Administration
(FDA)–approved Investigational New Drug (IND) protocol.
Production of this product ceased in 2002, and remaining
supplies at CDC will expire on May 30, 2004.
To ensure the continued availability of DAT in the United
States, CDC has procured an equine DAT product from the
Instituto Butantan in Brazil. CDC will provide this product
to U.S. physicians under an FDA-approved IND protocol.
U.S. physicians caring for patients with suspected respiratory
diphtheria can obtain DAT by contacting the diphtheria duty
officer at CDC's Bacterial Vaccine Preventable Disease Branch
in the Epidemiology and Surveillance Division of the National
Immunization Program (telephone, 404-639-8257) from
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time or from the Emergency
Operations Center (telephone, 770-488-7100) at all other
times. The duty officer will discuss the case and protocol with
the physician and, if indicated, DAT will be rushed from one
of eight U.S. Public Health Service quarantine stations.
Respiratory diphtheria is a reportable disease; physicians
should report any suspected case of respiratory diphtheria
promptly to their local and state health departments.
***********************
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go
to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5319a3.htm
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR,
go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5319.pdf |
