Issue
Number 487
October 25, 2004
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- New: CDC issues a patient-screening questionnaire to
determine who is eligible for injectable influenza vaccine
- Updated: IAC's professional piece "Give these people
influenza vaccine" now reflects interim CDC recommendations
- DHHS/CDC issue press releases about the influenza
vaccine shortage
- New: October issue of "Vaccinate Adults" is in the mail
and on the Web
- CDC reports on Iowa's efforts to interrupt measles
transmission in spring 2004
- New: NIP makes audio versions of almost all VISs
available on its website
- CDC notifies readers about the availability of a 24-hour
clinician information line
- Job opening: AAP seeks manager for its national
infectious diseases committee and section
- December 1 is the date for CDLHN's free satellite
broadcast, Quality Assurance in Vaccine Handling and Storage
- NIP updates the address for its web-based interactive
"Vaccine Quiz"
- Louisiana's "Shots for Tots" state immunization
conference is scheduled for December 16-17 in New Orleans
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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.
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October 25, 2004
NEW: CDC ISSUES A PATIENT-SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE TO DETERMINE WHO IS
ELIGIBLE FOR INJECTABLE INFLUENZA VACCINE
On October 22, CDC issued a patient self-screening questionnaire, "Who
should and who should not get a flu shot?" Based on the most current CDC
influenza vaccine recommendations, the questionnaire will allow patients
visiting health care providers to screen themselves about their eligibility
to receive injectable trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV).
The questionnaire should be especially useful in influenza vaccination
clinics, where it may help reduce long lines by enabling the early
identification of those who should NOT be vaccinated during the 2004-05
influenza season.
PLEASE NOTE: The questionnaire has the word "revised" in the upper right
corner. If you have questionnaires that do not have "revised" on them,
please discard them; they are outdated.
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the most current questionnaire,
go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/pdf/vaccinescreeningform.pdf
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October 25, 2004
UPDATED: IAC'S PROFESSIONAL PIECE "GIVE THESE PEOPLE INFLUENZA VACCINE" NOW
REFLECTS INTERIM CDC RECOMMENDATIONS
IAC updated its professional-education piece "Give these people influenza
vaccine" to reflect CDC's interim recommendations on the priority groups for
receiving trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV). CDC issued the
interim recommendations on October 5 in response to the U.S. influenza
vaccine shortage.
IAC's updated piece is now titled "Revised! Give these people influenza
vaccine." The title of the older piece did not contain "Revised!" If you
have copies of the older piece, please discard them.
To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the revised piece, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/2013flu.pdf
To obtain a web-text (HTML) version of it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/2013flu.htm
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October 25, 2004
DHHS/CDC ISSUE PRESS RELEASES ABOUT THE INFLUENZA VACCINE SHORTAGE
In the past several days, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
and CDC have issued two press releases about the influenza vaccine shortage.
Following are links to the press releases:
(1) On October 21, DHHS issued a press release announcing that an additional
one million doses of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) will be
available in the U.S. for the 2004-05 influenza season. To access the press
release, go to:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20041021.html
(2) On October 22, CDC issued a press release announcing that during the
week of October 18-22, more than 3.2 million doses of influenza vaccine were
shipped to health care providers serving high-priority groups. To access the
press release, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r041022.htm
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October 25, 2004
NEW: OCTOBER ISSUE OF "VACCINATE ADULTS" IS IN THE MAIL AND ON
THE WEB
IAC recently mailed the latest issue of "VACCINATE ADULTS" (October 2004) to
100,000 health professionals and others who work in the field of
immunization. Packed with immunization resources for health professionals
and patients, the 12-page issue is well worth downloading. All articles and
education pieces, except editorials, have been thoroughly reviewed by
immunization and hepatitis experts at CDC.
PLEASE NOTE: Current as of September 2004, the resources in the October
"VACCINATE ADULTS" do not contain the most recent information on influenza
vaccine and vaccine supply. On October 5, ACIP developed interim influenza
vaccine recommendations in response to Chiron Corporation's announcement
that its trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine will not be available in
the United States for the 2004-05 influenza season. The information in the
interim recommendations is not reflected in any of the influenza information
published in the October "VACCINATE ADULTS."
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
The PDF file of the entire issue, linked below, is large at 608,197 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 October issue, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va/va14.pdf
Below are descriptions of articles in the October issue, followed by links:
(1) In "Ask the Experts," CDC specialists answer questions about influenza
immunization, vaccine storage and handling, hepatitis B vaccine
administration, and hepatitis A vaccination for travelers.
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va/va14exprt.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va/va14exprt.htm
(2) Educate your adult patients about their lifelong need for vaccinations
with the one-page patient-education piece "Vaccinations for Adults: You're
NEVER too old to get immunized!" (updated in August).
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4030a.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n18/p4030new.htm
(3) Updated in July, the two-page professional-education piece "Summary of
Recommendations for Adult Immunization" distills hundreds of pages of ACIP
recommendations for adult immunization into a document that can be printed
on one double-sided sheet of 8-1/2" x 11" paper.
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2011b.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2011b.htm
(4) A patient's answers to "Screening Questionnaire for Adult Immunization"
will give health professionals the information they need to assess whether
the patient has contraindications to vaccination on the day of the visit;
one page, updated in April.
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4065scr.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4065scr.htm
(5) Updated in June, the one-page professional-education piece "Standing
Orders for Administering Influenza Vaccine to Adults" provides a protocol
that clinics and practices can use to implement standing orders.
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3074.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3074.htm
(6) Updated in September, the two-page patient education brochure "Hepatitis
A is a serious liver disease: Vaccination can protect you" succinctly
explains the disease and vaccine.
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4080a.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4080a.htm
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October 25, 2004
CDC REPORTS ON IOWA'S EFFORTS TO INTERRUPT MEASLES TRANSMISSION IN SPRING
2004
CDC published "Postexposure Prophylaxis, Isolation, and Quarantine to
Control an Import-Associated Measles Outbreak--Iowa, 2004" in MMWR on
October 22. The article presents the measures the Iowa Department of Public
Health took to control the outbreak, distinguishes quarantine from
isolation, and discusses the role quarantine has in safeguarding the
public's health. It concludes by encouraging state governments and state and
local public health officials to review state and local quarantine laws. It
presents two boxes of information that can assist in this review; they are
"Ten principles of modern quarantine" and "Essential questions to review
regarding quarantine authority."
The first paragraph of the article is reprinted below.
***********************
On March 12, 2004, a college student infectious with measles returned to
Iowa from India by a commercial airliner; the case was subsequently linked
to two other measles cases. This report updates information about this
outbreak and provides details regarding vaccination, quarantine, and other
measures used by Iowa public health authorities to interrupt disease
transmission in a vulnerable population. The effective uses of quarantine
and isolation during the outbreak underscore the utility of these public
health tools in halting communicable disease transmission.
***********************
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5341a3.htm
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5341.pdf
To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which includes new ACIP
statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html
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October 25, 2004
NEW: NIP MAKES AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALMOST ALL VISs AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE
On October 5, NIP added audio versions of most Vaccine Information
Statements (VISs) to its VIS web section. The audio versions are intended
for use with blind patients and patients with limited or no literacy.
Audio VISs are unavailable for anthrax and smallpox vaccines.
Audio VISs are available for the following vaccines:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
- Trivalent inactivated influenza (TIV)
- Live attenuated influenza (LAIV)
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
- Meningococcal
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPV)
- Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)
- Polio (IPV)
- Rabies
- Tetanus, diphtheria (Td)
- Typhoid
- Varicella
- Yellow fever
To access available audio VISs, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/default.htm#audio
Audio VISs require the use of Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded
at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/default.aspx
A CD-ROM of the audio files is available. To get one, email
NIPINFO@cdc.gov
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October 25, 2004
CDC NOTIFIES READERS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF A 24-HOUR CLINICIAN
INFORMATION LINE
CDC published "Notice to Readers: Availability of 24-Hour Clinician Line
and Addition of Topics" in MMWR on October 22. The notice is reprinted
below in its entirety.
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CDC's Clinician Information Line (CIL) announces the addition of three
topics--mass trauma, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)/variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), and viral hemorrhagic fevers--to its
expanding list of disease topics. The line now covers 16 topics: smallpox,
influenza/avian influenza, ricin, severe acute respiratory syndrome,
radiation, West Nile virus, chlorine, anthrax, botulism, plague, nerve
agents, tularemia, viral hemorrhagic fevers, hurricane recovery, mass
trauma, and BSE/vCJD. Clinicians with questions relating to any of these
topics can reach CIL at telephone (877) 554-4625 (toll-free).
CIL was established by CDC in 2003 to rapidly disseminate information to
clinicians. The hotline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is
staffed by registered nurses who have access to the latest CDC guidelines
and information. The nurses use these guidelines to address emergency
preparedness concerns and answer specific questions about emerging
diseases. In addition, CIL nurses can connect callers to their local and
state public health departments in real time. CIL nurses interact with CDC
staff and subject matter specialists to obtain the most up-to-date
information. Additional information is available at
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/coca
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the notice, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5341a5.htm
To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5341.pdf
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October 25, 2004
JOB OPENING: AAP SEEKS MANAGER FOR ITS NATIONAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
COMMITTEE AND SECTION
The American Academy of Pediatrics has requested IAC to notify readers
about a job opening for the position of manager of AAP's national
Committee on Infectious Diseases and Section on Infectious Diseases. The
job description is reprinted below.
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Manager, Committees & Sections
The American Academy of Pediatrics has an exciting opportunity for an
energetic professional to manage the activities of its national Committee
on Infectious Diseases (COID) and Section on Infectious Diseases (SOID).
In this key position, the Manager will support the clinical policy and
program activities of the COID and SOID, oversee production of the
Academy's Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases (Red Book), serve
as a technical resource on vaccines and other infectious diseases-related
issues, identify and assess opportunities that advance the advocacy
and professional/public education agenda of the AAP, and implement all
governance, reporting, and communication requirements. Other core duties
include developing member alerts, Q and A information, and critical
guidance pertaining to immunization practice; organizing and staffing
national committee meetings; managing value-added member
programs/projects; and responding to external and internal inquiries. The
Manager will engage in a high level of interaction with AAP
members/volunteers, government agencies, industry, and selected
professional societies.
Qualified candidates will possess a Masters degree in Public Health or
Health Sciences with a working knowledge of immunization practice and its
relationship to the management of infectious diseases in children.
Previous experience working with the CDC and FDA, and private sector
advocacy groups a plus. A minimum of three years progressively responsible
experience managing health care programs, projects and/or campaigns.
Excellent communication, technical writing, time management, and medical
editing skills essential. Ability to work independently and within a team
environment. Demonstrated ability to undertake and complete multiple
assignments simultaneously. Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, and
PowerPoint applications. Some travel and weekend work also required.
Previous association and policy experience preferred.
We offer an excellent work environment, competitive salary, and a
comprehensive benefits package. If interested, please reference HR/W/420
and visit our How To Apply page at
http://www.aap.org/visit/apply.htm Or send cover letter, resume,
and salary history to
American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Blvd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Fax: (847) 228-5099
Email: resumes@aap.org
**********************
To access the job description on the AAP website, go to:
http://www.aap.org/visit/jobopen.cfm#eg Scroll down to the subhead
titled Manager, Committees & Sections.
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October 25, 2004
DECEMBER 1 IS THE DATE FOR CDLHN'S FREE SATELLITE BROADCAST, QUALITY
ASSURANCE IN VACCINE HANDLING AND STORAGE
In partnership with CDC, California Distance Learning Health Network (CDLHN)
and the California Department of Health Services have scheduled a free
satellite broadcast on December 1 from 10AM to 11:30AM PT. Titled Quality
Assurance in Vaccine Handling and Storage, the broadcast will present
essential information for program and field staff who provide advice and
training on vaccine storage in physician offices and clinics.
The broadcast will include a live Q&A segment and real-life scenarios that
health care workers face every day. It will offer information on vaccine
storage equipment, temperature logging, and protecting vaccines in the
event of storage problems or an emergency. The intended audience includes
public health nurses and site coordinators, immunization coordinators, and
health department personnel in California and other states.
For additional information, contact Kate Spilis at (619) 594-5912 (phone),
(619) 594-7427 (fax), info@cdlhn.com
(email), or
http://cdlhn.com/default.htm (Web).
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October 25, 2004
NIP UPDATES THE ADDRESS FOR ITS WEB-BASED INTERACTIVE "VACCINE QUIZ"
NIP has updated the address for its web-based interactive "Vaccine Quiz"
to ensure it will work for the greatest number of users. The new address
is
http://www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultImmSched
For complete information on the "Vaccine Quiz," see article #4 in the "IAC
EXPRESS" for September 20 at
http://www.immunize.org/genr.d/issue480.htm#n4
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October 25, 2004
LOUISIANA'S "SHOTS FOR TOTS" STATE IMMUNIZATION CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED
FOR DECEMBER 16-17 IN NEW ORLEANS
The Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, New Orleans, is the site for the 13th annual
"Shots for Tots" State Immunization Conference. To take advantage of the
early-bird registration rate of $35, make sure your registration is
postmarked before November 1. For a
registration form and information about the conference program, go to:
http://www.shotsfortots.com/html/11th_annual.html or call Gina
Deris at (504) 483-1900. |
