Issue
Number 563
November 7, 2005
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- New: DHHS releases pandemic influenza plan for nation;
federal government launches a pandemic influenza website
- CDC updates its Influenza web section
- Spanish-language version of the interim VIS for
meningococcal disease available on IAC's website
- Updated: IAC revises two professional-education pieces
related to viral hepatitis
- New: November 4 issue of Hep Express now available on
IAC's website
- CDC publishes a correction to the current adult
immunization schedule
- CDC reports on the global Measles and Rubella Laboratory
Network during January 2004-June 2005
- November 11 is the early-bird registration date for the
Phacilitate North American Vaccine Forum
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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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November 7, 2005
NEW: DHHS RELEASES PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PLAN FOR NATION; FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
LAUNCHES A PANDEMIC INFLUENZA WEBSITE
On November 2, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued a
press release outlining its plan for preparing the national healthcare
system for an influenza pandemic. Portions of the press release are
reprinted below.
On November 1, the federal government launched a website dedicated to
providing information on pandemic influenza and avian influenza. To access
the website, go to:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov
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For immediate release
November 2, 2005
HHS RELEASES PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PLAN; Plan provides guidance to prepare
nation's healthcare system for a pandemic
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today released the HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan, a
detailed guide for how our nation's healthcare system can prepare and
respond to an influenza pandemic. The HHS plan is the medical and public
health component of the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, announced
by the President yesterday.
"An influenza pandemic would test our nation's healthcare system as never
before, and this plan anticipates the specific problems we will face and
recommends solutions to better protect the American people," Secretary
Leavitt said. "A pandemic will cause disease outbreaks in many different
communities all at the same time, making state and local preparedness so
important in saving lives."
The HHS plan specifies four major components of preparedness and response to
pandemic influenza.
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Intensifying surveillance and collaborating on containment measures--both
international and domestic;
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Stockpiling of antivirals and vaccines and working with industry to expand
capacity for production of these medical countermeasures;
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Creating a seamless network of federal, state, and local preparedness,
including increasing healthcare surge capacity; and
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Developing the public education and communications efforts so critical to
keeping the public informed. . . .
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To access the complete press release, go to:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2005pres/20051102.html
To access the DHHS pandemic influenza plan, go to:
http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan
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November 7, 2005
CDC UPDATES ITS INFLUENZA WEB SECTION
On October 28, CDC updated two pages of its Influenza web section:
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"Recent Avian influenza outbreaks in Asia and Europe"
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"Questions and answers: Vaccine supply and prioritization
recommendations for the U.S. 2005-06 influenza season"
To access these materials, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm#updated and click on the pertinent
links.
On November 3, the Influenza web section posted the link to WHO's web
section on "Avian influenza: Frequently asked questions."
To access it, go to:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/avian_faqs/en/index.html
and click on links of interest.
To access a broad range of continually updated influenza information, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu
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November 7, 2005
SPANISH-LANGUAGE VERSION OF THE INTERIM VIS FOR MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE
AVAILABLE ON IAC'S WEBSITE
The Spanish-language version of the interim VIS for meningococcal
disease (dated 10/7/05) is now available on the IAC website. IAC
gratefully acknowledges the California Department of Health Services for
the translation.
To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the interim VIS for
meningococcal disease in Spanish, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/sp_men05.pdf
To obtain it in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/menin05.pdf
For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in a total of 33
languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at
http://www.immunize.org/vis
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November 7, 2005
UPDATED: IAC REVISES TWO PROFESSIONAL-EDUCATION PIECES RELATED TO VIRAL
HEPATITIS
[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action Coalition's
"Hep EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 11/4/05.]
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has revised "Hepatitis A & B
Vaccines. . . Be sure your patient gets the correct dose!" to reflect
that FDA recently approved use of both hepatitis A vaccines in children
as young as 12 months.
To obtain the document in ready-to-print (PDF) format, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/2081ab.pdf
To obtain it in web-text (HTML) format, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/2081ab.htm
Coleman I. Smith, MD, has updated a piece he wrote for IAC titled "Does
your patient have chronic hepatitis B?" This piece answers questions
often asked by physicians, and was revised to reflect newly licensed
treatments.
To obtain the document in ready-to-print (PDF) format, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2162.pdf
To obtain it in web-text (HTML) format, go to
http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n18/p2162.htm
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November 7, 2005
NEW: NOVEMBER 4 ISSUE OF HEP EXPRESS NOW AVAILABLE ON IAC'S WEBSITE
The November 4 issue of Hep Express, an electronic newsletter published
by IAC, is now available online. It is intended for health and social
service professionals involved in the prevention and treatment of viral
hepatitis. IAC Express has already covered some of the information
presented in the November 4 Hep Express; titles of articles we have not
yet covered follow.
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CDC adds web section on viral hepatitis transmission in ambulatory
care settings
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Detailed agenda for National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference
available online
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CDC discontinuing online hepatitis C training module
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National blood-borne pathogen conference to be held October 2006 in
Chicago; abstracts due November 18
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B Informed Patient Conference notes posted
To access the November 4 issue, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/issue37.asp
To sign up for a free subscription to Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/signup.asp
To access previous issues of Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress
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November 7, 2005
CDC PUBLISHES A CORRECTION TO THE CURRENT ADULT IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE
CDC published "Erratum: Vol. 54, No. 40" in the November 4 issue of
MMWR. It is reprinted below in its entirety.
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In the Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule--United States, October
2005-September 2006, on page Q4, an error occurred in the first
sentence under footnote 10, "Selected conditions for which Haemophilus
influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine may be used." The sentence should read
as follows: "Hib conjugate vaccines are licensed for children aged 6
WEEKS--71 months."
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5443a7.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5443.pdf
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November 7, 2005
CDC REPORTS ON THE GLOBAL MEASLES AND RUBELLA LABORATORY NETWORK
DURING JANUARY 2004-JUNE 2005
CDC published "Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, January
2004-June 2005" in the November 4 issue of MMWR. A summary made
available to the press is reprinted below in its entirety.
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An effective worldwide measles/rubella laboratory network has been
developed [that] supports the control and elimination of measles and
rubella. Measles and rubella control and elimination programs depend
on effective global surveillance. Serological testing and genetic
characterization performed within the Measles and Rubella Laboratory
Network (LabNet) improves the accuracy of case identification and
confirmation, thus improving the quality of disease surveillance.
About 190 laboratories worldwide can now perform IgM testing on sera
from suspected cases, and virological (genotyping) information is now
available on viruses from every WHO region. Genotype information can
help to document viral transmission pathways, aid in case
classification, and help to document the elimination of endemic
disease. Both surveillance activities and vaccination programs must be
continued in countries where measles or rubella have been eliminated,
since there is still a threat of disease importation from endemic
areas.
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5443a3.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5443.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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November 7, 2005
NOVEMBER 11 IS THE EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION DATE FOR THE PHACILITATE
NORTH AMERICAN VACCINE FORUM
Planned for January 30-February 1, 2006, the Phacilitate North
American Vaccine Forum will be held at the Baltimore Marriott
Waterfront, Baltimore. The conference is intended for senior-level
industry and public personnel driving the development of novel
prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. Register by November 11 to save
$200.
For comprehensive information on the conference, go to:
http://www.phacilitate.co.uk/pages/baltimore_vac
For registration information, go to:
http://www.phacilitate.co.uk/pages/baltimore_vac/register.html |
