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IAC Express 2006 |
| Issue number 633: November 30, 2006 |
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Contents
of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article. |
- HHS press
release encourages everyone who hasn't received influenza vaccine to get
immunized
- Updated:
www.preventinfluenza.org adds new resources—be sure to visit it often
throughout influenza season
- CDC and
the National Immunization Coalition TA Network offer useful information
for promoting influenza vaccination in December and beyond
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| Abbreviations |
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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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Issue 633: November 30, 2006 |
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1. |
HHS press release encourages
everyone who hasn't received influenza vaccine to get immunized
On November 27, the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a press release to coincide with the
start of National Influenza Vaccination Week. It is reprinted below in its
entirety.
For immediate release
Monday, November 27, 2006
HHS LAUNCHES NATIONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION WEEK
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, along with other federal health officials, today
kicked off National Influenza Vaccination Week by urging Americans who have
not gotten flu vaccinations yet to get them before flu season peaks. National
Influenza Vaccination Week runs from November 27 through December 3.
"Getting a flu vaccination is a holiday gift you can give now to yourself and
your family," Secretary Leavitt said. "Many people visit relatives with
infants or those at high risk of complications from flu around this time of
year—vaccination is your chance to protect them. We want Americans to catch
the holiday spirit, not the flu."
Flu vaccine makers have produced a record amount of vaccine to distribute
this flu season. To make vaccination more convenient, HHS and its Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call on the providers to extend their
hours and locations, such as clinics for holiday shoppers at malls.
"While most people think of flu season as happening in the fall, flu activity
typically peaks in February or later," said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding.
"For that reason, we strongly recommend vaccination throughout November and
December and into January. It's not too late to protect yourself and your
loved ones."
A record number of influenza vaccine doses will be manufactured this year,
and distribution continues throughout the season. As of November 17, a record
92 million doses have already been distributed. Additional doses are still
being shipped from manufacturers and will continue to be distributed to
providers throughout November and into early December. With a total of
110-115 million doses expected to be available this year, anyone who wishes
to protect themselves and their families should be able to get vaccinated.
Each year in the United States, 5 percent to 20 percent of the population is
infected with influenza, about 36,000 people die from the flu, and more than
200,000 people are hospitalized because of influenza complications.
The flu can affect otherwise-healthy adults and children, as well as people
with weaker immune systems such as infants and the elderly.
Flu vaccine is especially recommended for those 50 and older, those with
chronic illnesses, pregnant women, children six months until their fifth
birthday, healthcare workers, and household contacts and caregivers of
high-risk persons.
National Influenza Vaccination Week is a collaborative effort of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, including CDC, and the National
Influenza Vaccine Summit. The following organizations and manufacturers have
lent their support to this nationwide effort to encourage Americans to get
vaccinated:
National Influenza Vaccine Summit
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Pediatrics
American College of Physicians
American Lung Association
American Medical Association
American Public Health Association
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
National Association of County & City Health Officials
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
GlaxoSmithKline
MedImmune
Novartis
sanofi pasteur
Statements of support from all of these organizations along with information
on National Influenza Vaccination Week can be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw06.htm
For complete information on flu prevention, visit
http://www.cdc.gov/flu
To access the HHS press release, go to:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20061127.html
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2. |
Updated: www.preventinfluenza.org
adds new resources—be sure to visit it often throughout influenza season
The website
www.preventinfluenza.org has
been augmented with resources that encourage influenza vaccination in
December and beyond. Sponsored by the National Influenza Vaccination Summit,
the website offers healthcare professionals, the public, and the media an
array of resources intended to encourage and facilitate influenza vaccination
throughout December and into the first months of 2007.
Recent additions include the following:
(1) Special issues of the National Influenza Vaccination Summit Newsletter
that promote influenza vaccination during National Influenza Vaccination Week
(NIVW; November 27-December 3) and beyond. To access them, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org/nivs.asp
(2) Resources for health professionals on late-season vaccination, including
flyers suitable for display in private practices and clinics; novel
approaches to late-season vaccination that havebeen used successfully to
reach unvaccinated priority adults;and information on locating sources of
vaccine and community vaccination clinics. To access them, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org/profs_late.asp
(3) Links to CDC's influenza patient-education materials in Spanish,
traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. To access these materials, go
to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/languages.htm
The new website of National Influenza Vaccination Summit,
www.preventinfluenza.org is
managed by IAC. Be sure to visit it now and often throughout the influenza
season for new and updated resources. To access the website, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org
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3. |
CDC and the National Immunization
Coalition TA Network offer useful information for promoting influenza
vaccination in December and beyond
The websites of CDC and the National Immunization Coalition TA
[technical assistance] Network recently posted information that
health departments and community clinics will find useful in
promoting late-season influenza vaccination. The network is a
program of the Center for Health Communication, Academy for
Educational Development.
From CDC: A flyer and mini poster for promoting influenza
vaccination to patients and their loved ones are available in
English and Spanish at
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/flyers.htm
From the National Immunization Coalition TA Network: A full-page
print ad is available at
http://www.izcoalitionsta.org/FluPSAs/NIVW%20ad_full%20page.pdf
In addition, promotional materials for a variety of media are
available at
http://www.izcoalitionsta.org/category.cfm?id=23
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