Issue
Number 582
February 13, 2006
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- New: CDC publishes recommendations for influenza
vaccination of healthcare personnel
- Don't miss it: Rosalynn Carter and Betty Bumpers to
speak at NIC's closing plenary
- New: 9th edition of the Pink Book now available for
downloading and ordering
- New: Spanish-language version of the current Recommended
Adult Immunization Schedule now online
- Your help is needed: Support the National Hepatitis B
Act, H.R. 4550
- February issue of CDC's Immunization Works newsletter
focuses on Dr. Anne Schuchat, the new NIP director
- NIP makes Td and Tdap resources available online
- New: IAC and New York state collaborate on a
professional-education piece about the hepatitis B birth dose
- Updated: IAC revises two patient-education pieces
- MMWR includes article about new lab test for diagnosing
avian influenza in humans
- CDC adds to and updates its Influenza web section
- HHS and Institut Pasteur to collaborate on pandemic
influenza preparedness
- February 2 issue of CDC's Pandemic Influenza Update now
available on IAC's website
- CDC reports on U.S. influenza activity during January
22-28
- ICEID to be held in Atlanta on March 19-22; two related
conferences also planned
- Minnesota Coalition for Adult Immunization Conference
set for March 10
----------------------------------------------------------
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 16)
February 13, 2006
NEW: CDC PUBLISHES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INFLUENZA VACCINATION OF HEALTHCARE
PERSONNEL
On February 9, CDC published "Influenza Vaccination of Health-Care
Personnel: Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices
Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP)" as an MMWR Early Release. Documents published in the MMWR
Early Release format are available in electronic format only. Subsequently,
they are included in a printed issue of MMWR.
Two sections of the recommendations are reprinted below--the Summary and the
Summary Recommendations.
**********************
SUMMARY
This report summarizes recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control
Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) concerning influenza vaccination of healthcare
personnel (HCP) in the United States. These recommendations apply to HCP in
acute care hospitals, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, physician's
offices, urgent care centers, and outpatient clinics, and to persons who
provide home health care and emergency medical services. The recommendations
are targeted at healthcare facility administrators, infection-control
professionals, and occupational health professionals responsible for
influenza vaccination programs and influenza infection-control programs in
their institutions. HICPAC and ACIP recommend that all HCP be vaccinated
annually against influenza. Facilities that employ HCP are strongly
encouraged to provide vaccine to their staff by using evidence-based
approaches that maximize vaccination rates.
SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS
The summary recommendations contained in this report are categorized by
using the HICPAC evidence ranking system. The recommendations were drafted
after review of peer-reviewed scientific articles, and whenever possible are
based on well-designed studies; certain recommendations are based on strong
theoretic rationale and expert opinion. All recommendations have been
approved by HICPAC and ACIP. The committees involved in drafting and
reviewing these recommendations included persons with expertise in
infectious diseases, infection control, pediatrics, vaccinology, internal
medicine, and public health. The recommendations are as follows:
-
Educate HCP regarding the benefits of influenza vaccination and the
potential health consequences of influenza illness for themselves and
their patients, the epidemiology and modes of transmission, diagnosis,
treatment, and nonvaccine infection control strategies, in accordance with
their level of responsibility in preventing healthcare-associated
influenza.
-
Offer influenza vaccine annually to all eligible HCP to protect staff,
patients, and family members and to decrease HCP absenteeism. Use of
either available vaccine (inactivated and live, attenuated influenza
vaccine [LAIV]) is recommended for eligible persons. During periods when
inactivated vaccine is in short supply, use of LAIV is especially
encouraged when feasible for eligible HCP.
-
Provide influenza vaccination to HCP at the work site and at no cost as
one component of employee health programs. Use strategies that have been
demonstrated to increase influenza vaccine acceptance, including
vaccination clinics, mobile carts, vaccination access during all work
shifts, and modeling and support by institutional leaders.
-
Obtain a signed declination from HCP who decline influenza vaccination for
reasons other than medical contraindications.
-
Monitor HCP influenza vaccination coverage and declination at regular
intervals during influenza season and provide feedback of ward-, unit-,
and specialty-specific rates to staff and administration.
-
Use the level of HCP influenza vaccination coverage as one measure of a
patient safety quality program.
**********************
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete recommendations, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr55e209a1.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of them, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr55e209.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(2 of 16)
February 13, 2006
DON'T MISS IT: ROSALYNN CARTER AND BETTY BUMPERS TO SPEAK AT NIC'S CLOSING
PLENARY
The closing plenary of this year's National Immunization Conference (NIC)
will give conference attendees the opportunity to hear from two
outstanding champions of pediatric immunization: Rosalynn Carter, former
first lady of the United States, and Betty Bumpers, former first lady of
Arkansas. Both are spokespersons for Every Child By Two, an organization
that advocates for timely infant immunization.
Scheduled for March 9 at 11:30AM ET, the closing plenary session will
focus on the two women's presentation, "Fifteen years of successful
immunization partnerships--the successes and challenges that remain."
This year's conference is scheduled for March 6-9 in Atlanta. To access
comprehensive online information, including the preliminary conference
agenda, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/nic
To register online, go to:
http://conferences.taskforce.org/2006NIC/2006NIC.htm
For additional information, contact the conference planning team at (404)
639-8225 or nipnic@cdc.gov
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(3 of 16)
February 13, 2006
NEW: 9TH EDITION OF THE PINK BOOK NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOADING AND
ORDERING
[The following is cross posted, with thanks, from CDC's Immunization Works
electronic newsletter (February 2006).]
The 9th Edition of NIP's textbook, "Epidemiology and Prevention of
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" (the Pink Book) has been completed and is
now available online at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/default.htm The Pink Book
provides immunization providers with comprehensive information about
routinely recommended vaccines, vaccine-preventable diseases, and much
more. Updates and corrections to the book will be made in the online
edition as they occur. PowerPoint slide sets for each chapter will also be
available online. A hard copy of the Pink Book can be purchased for $29
from the Public Health Foundation. To obtain order information, please
visit
http://bookstore.phf.org/product_info.php?cPath=45&products_id=463
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(4 of 16)
February 13, 2006
NEW: SPANISH-LANGUAGE VERSION OF THE CURRENT RECOMMENDED ADULT
IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE NOW ONLINE
[The following is cross posted, with thanks, from CDC's Immunization Works
electronic newsletter (February 2006).]
The October 2005-September 2006, [Recommended] Adult Immunization Schedule
is now available in Spanish and can be printed from the CDC website. The
[Recommended] Adult Immunization Schedule--which was released in English
in October 2005--has been approved by the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP),
and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). To
view, download, or print the schedule in English or Spanish, please visit
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/adult-schedule.htm#print
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(5 of 16)
February 13, 2006
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED: SUPPORT THE NATIONAL HEPATITIS B ACT, H.R. 4550
The Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) has asked IAC to pass along the following
message.
Please support H.R. 4550, the National Hepatitis B Act, which was
introduced by U.S. Representatives Mike Honda (D-CA) and Charles Dent
(R-PA) to Congress on December 15, 2005. Honda and Dent invite everyone
who is concerned about hepatitis B to contact their U.S. representatives
today.
You can read the text of the bill and contact your legislator today to
support H.R. 4550. HBF has provided a sample letter you can send to your
U.S. representative--simply copy and paste the text of the letter in an
email, add your personal information, and send. Or print the letter and
send it by postal mail.
H.R. 4550 specifically calls for the development of a national plan for
hepatitis B, support for screening and immunization of high-risk
populations in particular, and an increase in federal research to improve
hepatitis B prevention and treatment options. Contact your representative
and show your support today!
To read the bill, go to:
http://www.hepb.org/pdf/Hepatitis_B_Bill_HR_%204550.pdf
To read the sample letter, go to:
http://www.hepb.org/pdf/sample_letter.doc
For online information about contacting your representative, go to:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt?action=myreps_form
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(6 of 16)
February 13, 2006
FEBRUARY ISSUE OF CDC's IMMUNIZATION WORKS NEWSLETTER FOCUSES ON DR. ANNE
SCHUCHAT, THE NEW NIP DIRECTOR
The lead article in the February issue of CDC's Immunization Works
newsletter focuses on an interview with Anne Schuchat, MD, the new NIP
director. Much of the rest of information in the February issue has
already appeared in previous issues of IAC Express. Following is the text
of the lead article and two articles we have not covered previously.
********************
MEET ANNE SCHUCHAT, NEW NIP DIRECTOR. Anne Schuchat, MD, pictured here in
her office,
(http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/newsltrs/imwrks/images/2006/Anne_Schuchat.jpg)
is the new director of CDC's National Immunization Program (NIP). Dr.
Schuchat began her career at CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS)
officer in 1988 and most recently served as the acting director of the
National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID). In her work at NCID, Dr.
Schuchat was involved in emergency response activities for the 2001
anthrax bioterrorism response and the 2003 severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) outbreak, where she led the Beijing City epidemiology team
for the World Health Organization (WHO) China office. She has also made
important contributions to prevention of group B streptococcal disease and
evaluation of foodborne listeriosis. Dr. Schuchat graduated with highest
honors from Swarthmore College and with honors from Dartmouth Medical
School. She served as resident and chief resident in internal medicine at
NYU's Manhattan VA Hospital before beginning her public health career at
CDC. Recently, Dr. Schuchat spoke with NIP's Stacey Hoffman.
YOU HAVE MANY SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH
AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE. WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
I was part of a CDC team that worked with many partner organizations to
create a new standard of care for prevention of group B streptococcal
infection in babies. It's one of those incredible stories in public
health; there wasn't a new vaccine or new scientific breakthrough, but
there was information, community concerns, and a willingness on the part
of healthcare professional organizations, the legislatures, and the health
departments to do something, without waiting for some new innovation. The
new guidelines have accounted for more than 40,000 prevented infections in
newborns, a greater than 80% drop in infection rate, and a 75% narrowing
of the racial disparity between blacks and whites with that condition. I'm
proud of the impact this has had for families, the use of science to bring
policy and decision makers together, and the realization that I'm doing
something that's good for people.
I UNDERSTAND YOU WORKED ON THE SARS RESPONSE. TELL ME ABOUT THAT
EXPERIENCE.
Being part of the SARS response was an incredible honor and privilege.
When I arrived in Beijing City in May 2003, the city had essentially shut
down, and concern could not have been higher. Initially, there had been a
delay in information acknowledgement. People had lost their jobs, and
there was an acting mayor and a new health minister for the country. But
Beijing had finally acknowledged the problem, and my role was to work with
the public health leaders in the city to try to help control SARS. It was
exciting and exhilarating to see public health interrupt the transmission,
and control for something very serious that, as far as we know, didn't
even exist before 2002. To stop human-to-human transmission, we used very
traditional public health tools, including infection control, isolation,
quarantine, and social distancing.
HOW WILL YOU APPLY YOUR EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH SARS TO YOUR NEW ROLE AS
NIP'S DIRECTOR?
All of the things that were done with SARS--epidemiologic evaluation,
surveillance, communication, partnership--are also needed in preventing
vaccine-preventable diseases and in having strong immunization programs.
The other thing that I enjoyed about working on SARS, and that I'm really
looking forward to at NIP, is working with the whole network of people and
expertise that's needed to keep infections at bay. You need to make new
vaccines, keep production of old vaccines going, distribute vaccines to
the places that need them, and finance vaccines so that people can
actually get them. It's really the kind of thing that no one can do
independently; you need lots of different people. I think that's what
makes public health fun.
WHAT ARE YOUR SHORT-TERM PRIORITIES FOR NIP?
In the short-term, I'm really trying to learn the program, meet the
people, and understand what we do. I'm also trying to understand our
partners' needs, what's expected of us, and how I can lead the program.
Also, a short-term priority is to help transition NIP into the new Center
to be focused on immunizations and respiratory diseases. I can help smooth
that transition, and get all of us excited about the things we can do now.
I can also help reduce uncertainty and anxiety about what this means to
people individually, or what this means to a program that they really care
about. (Editor's Note: More information about CDC's reorganization can be
found at
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5415a8.htm)
IMMUNIZATIONS ARE IN THE NEWS A LOT THESE DAYS. HOW DO YOU BALANCE ISSUES
GETTING A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION, E.G., PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS, WITH CORE
IMMUNIZATION ISSUES, SUCH AS INCREASING ADULT INFLUENZA VACCINATION RATES?
Despite available vaccines, policies, and recommendations, and lots of
educational activities, it's been hard to get adult immunization to be as
strong as the childhood program. There are many reasons for that. On the
other hand, pandemic influenza has concerned the public health community
for years, but now it actually has the attention of the highest levels of
government. But the pandemic concerns just highlight the critical role of
our response to seasonal influenza, which is part of our adult
immunization program. The more we handle seasonal influenza--having an
ample vaccine supply, a strong vaccine delivery system, knowledgeable
providers, informed consumers, a public that is ready to be vaccinated,
and a system that can vaccinate very large numbers of people--then the
better we'll do when the next pandemic occurs.
IMMUNIZATION WORKS IS A PUBLICATION FOR OUR PARTNERS. HOW DO SEE THE ROLE
OF PARTNERS WITHIN THE REORGANIZED NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM?
The new Center will bring together immunizations from vaccine development
through program implementation. Many of the partners that NIP has had are
similar to the partners that NCID has had in terms of healthcare groups,
state health departments, vaccine manufacturers, the research community,
and the policy community. I hope that our new Center can be one-stop
shopping for vaccine related issues; that partners will find us easy to
work with, accessible, and responsive. We will need our partners more than
ever, in the sense that we'll have the full range of immunization
responsibilities. The new Center brings together vaccine delivery and
adult immunization, the influenza branch, the surveillance research, and
the laboratory activities involved with that. I hope that we can really
strengthen our partnerships and raise the profile of these programs.
WHILE VACCINE SAFETY HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF NIP, ISSUES CONCERNING VACCINE
SAFETY CONTINUE TO BE OF CRITICAL CONCERN TO OUR PARTNERS. WHAT WOULD YOU
TELL PARTNERS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE REORGANIZED CDC
ON VACCINE SAFETY ISSUES?
I'm committed to making sure that information is available to partners
quickly, and that we learn what we need to learn about vaccines before and
after they are licensed. I think that the changes in location of the
immunization safety office have been made, and learning to work well with
the new structure is an important priority for all of us. It's important
for CDC to make this transition be successful, to fulfill the obligations
that we have for an independent safety office, but strong communications
internally and externally.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AS NIP'S NEW DIRECTOR?
I actually think the biggest challenge is to deliver on the incredible
opportunities we have. I know that we're already making a huge difference,
but there's so much more we can do during the next few years with the
recent licensure of new vaccines and several new vaccines on the horizon.
There are also enormous opportunities for improving our adult and
adolescent immunization programs, narrowing some of the gaps in the
childhood immunization program, and assuring equity throughout the U.S.
population. And there are opportunities on a global front, with polio
eradication and measles mortality reduction. It's really tremendous to
think about how much of a difference we could make.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES TO CONTINUING TO
SUSTAIN HIGH IMMUNIZATION RATES, AND ADDRESSING CURRENT GAPS IN
IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE?
I think that vaccine financing is an important area that underpins a lot
of the barriers we have to ensuring vaccine gets to the persons who can
benefit from it. I'd like to learn more about that as an issue and start
working together on possible solutions.
I'M SURE YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF IT WITH YOUR NEW JOB, BUT HOW DO YOU LIKE
TO SPEND WHAT LITTLE FREE TIME YOU HAVE?
Work is busy, but when I have it, I like to spend time with my husband. I
also read quite a bit.
********************
OTHER IMMUNIZATION NEWS
2006 NATIONAL INFLUENZA VACCINE SUMMIT: The 2006 National Influenza
Vaccine Summit was held January 24-25 in Atlanta, GA, with 112
organizations represented and 226 persons in attendance. The Summit is an
informal partnership co-sponsored by the CDC and the American Medical
Association (AMA). Through its co-chairs, executive committee, and
standing work groups, it seeks to address year-round issues related to the
production, regulation, distribution, and administration of influenza
vaccine.
The focus of this year's Summit was on vaccine supply and distribution
issues. The Summit opened with a welcome and overview provided by J.
Edward Hill, MD, President of the AMA, and a keynote address by Julie
Gerberding, MD, director of CDC. Next, Raymond Strikas, MD, of CDC's
National Immunization Program (NIP), summarized data from surveys
conducted by CDC, or in collaboration with partners.
The purpose of the surveys, conducted in mid-to-late November, 2005, was
to learn about the experiences of various types of providers in
acquiring/administering influenza vaccine and the general public in
seeking influenza vaccination. Below are key points from the presentation:
-
At least 50% in all provider groups reported they received [more than]
40% of their orders except family physicians (43%).
-
More government providers--including state and local federal
immunization grantees (86%), and county and city health departments
(70%)--received [more than] 80% of their orders than providers in other
groups [median 50%; range 24%-64%].
-
Those ordering from non-Chiron source were more likely to report [more
than] 60% of their order received.
-
At least 50% in all provider groups reported that they referred
priority-group patients to other locations for flu shots due to
inadequate vaccine supplies, except pediatricians (39%) and occupational
health groups (25%).
-
Of the public surveyed, 38% reported having received the vaccine, and
10% had not yet been vaccinated, but intended to seek vaccination. Four
percent tried to, but vaccine was not available, and 48% said that they
did not plan to be vaccinated. These estimates are similar to those in
2003, when over 83 million doses of vaccine were distributed.
-
Among those who received the flu shot, the locations where they were
vaccinated included: doctor's office/HMO (39%); workplace (17%); other
clinic/health center (10%); store, e.g., grocery/pharmacy (10%); health
department (8%); hospital (6%); senior/recreation center (4%); other
(4%); school (2%).
During the Summit, participants identified supply and distribution issues
experienced during the 2005-2006 influenza vaccination season. The influenza
vaccine manufacturers, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the
Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA), and the Health
Industry Distributors Association (HIDA) offered their perspectives followed
by extensive open discussion. Initial projections for the 2006-07 season
suggest as many as 120 million doses may be produced for the U.S. market, a
substantial increase over the approximately 86 million doses produced in
2005.
Slides from the presentations, including Summit recommendations and proposed
activities, are available at the AMA website at
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13732.html
********************
ROBERT DAVIS TO DIRECT CDC'S IMMUNIZATION SAFETY OFFICE: Robert Davis, MD,
MPH, was recently selected as the director of the CDC's Immunization Safety
Office (ISO). Dr. Davis received his MD from the University of California at
San Diego and his MPH from the University of Washington School of Public
Health and Community Medicine. He served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service
(EIS) officer at the CDC from 1987-1989 and then as an epidemiologist for
the Washington State Department of Health. He returns to CDC from the
University of Washington where he was a professor in the Department of
Pediatrics in the School of Medicine and a professor in the Department of
Epidemiology in the School of Public Health. Dr. Davis has served as a
leader in the field of immunization safety for many years. He is well
positioned to lead the ISO as it evolves to take advantage of emerging
capabilities in genomics and information technology, and to operate in a
transparent, efficient, and accountable manner that ensures the public's
trust.
********************
To access the complete February issue from the NIP website, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/newsltrs/imwrks/2006/200602.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(7 of 16)
February 13, 2006
NIP MAKES Td AND Tdap RESOURCES AVAILABLE ONLINE
NIP recently alerted its partners to various resources concerning
tetanus-diphtheria (Td) and tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap)
vaccines, as follows:
********************
On June 30, 2005, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
voted to recommend the routine use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria
toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine, adsorbed (Tdap) in adolescents
11–18 years of age in place of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td)
vaccine. On that date, ACIP also voted to approve the Vaccines for
Children (VFC) resolution entitling eligible adolescents to receive this
vaccine free of charge. For further information on ACIP recommendations
for Tdap for adolescents, please see
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vaccine/tdap/tdap_child_recs.pdf
The VFC resolution may be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vfc/acip_resolutions/605dtap.pdf
On October 26, 2005, the ACIP voted to recommend the routine use of a
single dose of Tdap in adults 19-64 years of age to replace Td when
indicated. In addition, adults who have or who anticipate having close
contact with an infant [younger than] 12 months of age (e.g., parents,
child care providers, healthcare providers) should receive a single dose
of Tdap. For further information on ACIP recommendations for Tdap for
adults, please see
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vaccine/tdap/tdap_adult_recs.pdf
CDC currently has contracts for the Tdap vaccine with the two licensed
manufacturers for purchase by grantees utilizing VFC Program funds, 317
Grant funds, and state/local funds.
The purpose of this notice is to re-emphasize that Tdap is recommended
as a replacement to the previous recommendation for Td for adolescents
with the following exceptions:
-
Children 7-9 years of age who need catch-up vaccination for tetanus
and diphtheria or for wound management (10-year-old children would
also need Td if ADACEL is the only Tdap product available since this
vaccine is not licensed for children [younger than] 11 years of age).
-
Children 11-18 years of age receiving the primary series for tetanus
and diphtheria need Td for 2 of the 3-dose series (they can receive
one dose of Tdap).
-
Children 7-18 years of age who have contraindications (or precautions)
to the pertussis components in Tdap.
-
Children 11-18 years of who have already received one dose of Tdap and
need wound prophylaxis.
-
Pregnant adolescents (ACIP currently prefers Td for pregnant
adolescents who need tetanus vaccination).
Inventories of Td should not be used in lieu of Tdap for those adolescents
and adults in whom Tdap is recommended. Inventories of Td will not count
against orders for Tdap in grantees' allocations. Project officers will be
contacting grantees in the near future regarding current Td inventories and
grantees' plans for its use.
********************
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(8 of 16)
February 13, 2006
NEW: IAC AND NEW YORK STATE COLLABORATE ON A PROFESSIONAL-EDUCATION
PIECE ABOUT THE HEPATITIS B BIRTH DOSE
IAC recently collaborated with the New York State Department of Health
to develop a professional-education piece, "Medical errors put infants
at risk for chronic hepatitis B virus infection--six case reports."
The one-page piece succinctly relates six instances in New York state
in which infants born to mothers infected with hepatitis B virus did
not receive proper perinatal prophylaxis because of medical errors.
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2128.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2128.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(9 of 16)
February 13, 2006
UPDATED: IAC REVISES TWO PATIENT-EDUCATION PIECES
IAC recently revised the following two patient-education piece:
1. "Screening Questionnaire for Adult Immunization" was revised to
include a question related to tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis
vaccine (Tdap).
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, 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
2. "When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?" is a piece for
parents that was updated to reflect new recommendations and
licensures.
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/when1.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n17/when1.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(10 of 16)
February 13, 2006
MMWR INCLUDES ARTICLE ABOUT NEW LAB TEST FOR DIAGNOSING AVIAN
INFLUENZA IN HUMANS
CDC published "New Laboratory Assay for Diagnostic Testing of Avian
Influenza A/H5 (Asian Lineage)" in the February 10 MMWR. Previously,
the article was available only in electronic format as an MMWR Early
Release.
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the MMWR article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5505a3.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5505.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
(11 of 16)
February 13, 2006
CDC ADDS TO AND UPDATES ITS INFLUENZA WEB SECTION
CDC recently added one page to and updated three pages of its
Influenza web section:
NEW
1. "Amendment of the February 4, 2004, order to embargo birds & bird
products imported from Nigeria" (posted 2/9/06)
To access this resource, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm#new and click on the pertinent
link.
UPDATED
2. "Embargo of birds from specified countries" (posted 2/9/06)
3. "Avian influenza: Current situation" (posted 2/8/06)
4. "Questions & answers: Vaccine supply and prioritization
recommendations for the U.S. 2005-06 influenza season" (posted 2/3/06)
To access these materials, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm#updated and click on the
pertinent link(s).
To access a broad range of continually updated information on seasonal
influenza, avian influenza, and pandemic influenza, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(12 of 16)
February 13, 2006
HHS AND INSTITUT PASTEUR TO COLLABORATE ON PANDEMIC INFLUENZA
PREPAREDNESS
On February 6, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
announced that it and the Institut Pasteur have agreed to collaborate
on activities intended to strengthen global pandemic influenza
preparedness. The Institut Pasteur is a nonprofit foundation involved
in preventing and treating infectious diseases through biological
research, education, and public health activities.
Portions of the press release are reprinted below.
*********************
For immediate release
February 6, 2006
HHS AND INSTITUT PASTEUR PARTNER ON PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Institut
Pasteur (IP) today agreed to carry out joint activities, beginning in
Southeast Asia, to strengthen global capacity to detect influenza
viruses that could have the potential to trigger a human pandemic.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed by HHS Deputy Secretary
Alex M. Azar and IP President Professor Alice Dautry, establishes a
Joint HHS-IP Working Group to oversee the development of collaborative
projects, to include the following:
-
Building capacity in terms of surveillance, epidemiological
investigation, testing, diagnosis, and control of infectious disease
in countries affected by and at-risk for the spread of the H5N1
influenza strain;
-
Exchanging technical expertise to foster rapid response to disease
threats; and
-
Disseminating effective and accurate public information on
infectious disease, including in local languages in developing
countries. . . .
For additional information about the U.S. government's efforts to contain
avian influenza and prepare for a potential influenza pandemic, including
the President's National Strategy and the HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan,
please visit www.pandemicflu.gov
For additional information about the IP, visit
www.pasteur.fr
*********************
To access the complete press release, go to:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060206.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(13 of 16)
February 13, 2006
FEBRUARY 2 ISSUE OF CDC'S PANDEMIC INFLUENZA UPDATE NOW AVAILABLE ON
IAC'S WEBSITE
IAC recently updated its pandemic influenza web section with the
February 2 issue of CDC's email newsletter Pandemic Influenza
Update. To access it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/pandemic/panflu020206.pdf
To access a range of pandemic influenza resources, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/pandemic
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(14 of 16)
February 13, 2006
CDC REPORTS ON U.S. INFLUENZA ACTIVITY DURING JANUARY 22-28
CDC published "Update: Influenza Activity--United States, January
22-28, 2006" in the February 10 MMWR. A portion of the article is
reprinted below.
*****************
During January 22–28, 2006, the number of states reporting
widespread influenza activity remained at five. Twenty-one states
reported regional activity, 13 reported local activity, and 11
reported sporadic activity.
*****************
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5505a4.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go
to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5505.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(15 of 16)
February 13, 2006
ICEID TO BE HELD IN ATLANTA ON MARCH 19-22; TWO RELATED CONFERENCES
ALSO PLANNED
The International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID)
is scheduled for March 19-22 in Atlanta. Two related conferences
will be held in Atlanta in the days preceding and following ICEID.
They are the International Conference on Women & Infectious Diseases
(ICWID; to be held March 16-18) and the International Symposium on
Emerging Zoonoses (ISEZ; to be held March 22-24). Information on the
three conferences follows.
ICEID brings together public health professional to encourage the
exchange of scientific and public health information on global
emerging infectious disease issues. For a comprehensive overview of
the conference, go to:
http://www.iceid.org or contact
iceid@asmusa.org or (202)
942-9330.
ICWID brings together clinicians, scientists, public health
professionals, academicians, government representatives, and
representatives from nonprofit, philanthropic, and international
organizations to enhance prevention and control of infectious
diseases among women worldwide. For comprehensive information on the
conference, go to:
http://www.womenshealthconf.org or contact Marian McDonald at
mmcdonald@cdc.gov or Sakina
Jaffer at (404) 371-5308 or
sjm1@cdc.gov
ISEZ brings together public health and animal health professionals
to strengthen the development of effective and co-operative
partnerships to face microbial threats from emerging and re-emerging
zoonotic diseases. For comprehensive conference information, go to:
http://www.isezconference.org/home.htm or contact
iceid@asmusa.org or (202)
942-9330.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(16 of 16)
February 13, 2006
MINNESOTA COALITION FOR ADULT IMMUNIZATION CONFERENCE SET FOR MARCH
10
The Minnesota Coalition for Adult Immunization will hold its 15th
annual conference on March 10 in Bloomington, MN. Titled "Issues and
Strategies in Adult Vaccine Preventable Diseases," the conference is
intended for healthcare providers committed to preventing influenza,
pneumococcal disease, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
For a copy of the conference brochure and to register online, go to:
http://www.stratishealth.org/MCAI2006conference.htm
For additional information, contact Mari Drake, MCAI conference
planner, at
maridrake@comcast.net or (651) 428-6591. |
