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IAC Express 2007 |
| Issue number 671: June 25, 2007 |
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Contents
of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article. |
- ACIP's
varicella recommendations now published in MMWR Recommendations and
Reports
- IDSA
issues policy blueprint to strengthen adult and adolescent immunization
- IAC
introduces new pieces that answer patients' questions about chickenpox,
diphtheria, and HPV
- HHS
Policy Information Center releases five influenza vaccine issue briefs
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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; AMA, American Medical Association; CDC, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; IAC, Immunization
Action Coalition; MMWR, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; NCIRD,
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; NIVS, National
Influenza Vaccine Summit; VIS, Vaccine Information Statement; VPD,
vaccine-preventable disease; WHO, World Health Organization. |
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Issue 671: June 25, 2007 |
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1. |
ACIP's varicella recommendations now published in MMWR Recommendations and
Reports
CDC published "Prevention of Varicella:
Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)"
in the June 22 MMWR Recommendations and Reports. These recommendations were
available online previous to this publication, but were considered
provisional until now. The summary follows.
Note: The PDF version (linked below) includes a free CDC-sponsored
continuing-education activity that can be completed online or submitted by
U.S. mail for CME, CEU, or CNE credit. Simply read the primer, answer the
questions at the end, and follow instructions for submitting your answers.
Two live, attenuated varicella zoster virus-containing vaccines
are available in the United States for prevention of varicella:
1) a single-antigen varicella vaccine (VARIVAX, Merck & Co.,
Inc., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey), which was licensed in the
United States in 1995 for use among healthy children aged >=12
months, adolescents, and adults; and 2) a combination measles,
mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine (ProQuad, Merck & Co.,
Inc., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey), which was licensed in the
United States in 2005 for use among healthy children aged 12
months-12 years. Initial Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP) recommendations for prevention of varicella
issued in 1995 (CDC. Prevention of varicella: recommendations of
the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP]. MMWR
1996;45[No. RR-11]) included routine vaccination of children
aged 12-18 months, catch-up vaccination of susceptible children
aged 19 months-12 years, and vaccination of susceptible persons
who have close contact with persons at high risk for serious
complications (e.g., healthcare personnel and family contacts of
immunocompromised persons). One dose of vaccine was recommended
for children aged 12 months-12 years and 2 doses, 4-8 weeks
apart, for persons aged >=13 years. In 1999, ACIP updated the
recommendations (CDC. Prevention of varicella: updated
recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices [ACIP]. MMWR 1999;48[No. RR-6]) to include
establishing child care and school entry requirements, use of
the vaccine following exposure and for outbreak control, use of
the vaccine for certain children infected with human
immunodeficiency virus, and vaccination of adolescents and
adults at high risk for exposure or transmission.
In June 2005 and June 2006, ACIP adopted new recommendations
regarding the use of live, attenuated varicella vaccines for
prevention of varicella. This report revises, updates, and
replaces the 1996 and 1999 ACIP statements for prevention of
varicella. The new recommendations include 1) implementation of
a routine 2-dose varicella vaccination program for children,
with the first dose administered at age 12-15 months and the
second dose at age 4-6 years; 2) a second dose catch-up
varicella vaccination for children, adolescents, and adults who
previously had received 1 dose; 3) routine vaccination of all
healthy persons aged >=13 years without evidence of immunity; 4)
prenatal assessment and postpartum vaccination; 5) expanding the
use of the varicella vaccine for HIV-infected children with age-specific CD4+T lymphocyte percentages of 15%-24% and adolescents
and adults with CD4+T lymphocyte counts >=200 cells/microliter;
and 6) establishing middle school, high school, and college
entry vaccination requirements. ACIP also approved criteria for
evidence of immunity to varicella.
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the recommendations, go
to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5604a1.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5604.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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2. |
IDSA issues policy blueprint to
strengthen adult and adolescent immunization
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
has released a
new "blueprint for action" to prevent thousands of deaths and
illnesses by strengthening adult and adolescent immunization.
Unacceptably low rates of immunization coverage exist among many
adults and adolescents in the United States. Coverage for adult
vaccines ranges from 26% to 65%, depending on the vaccine and
specific target group. IDSA has developed a set of policy
principles and recommendations to strengthen adult and
adolescent immunization coverage. Published in Clinical
Infectious Diseases (June 15, 2007), the blueprint addresses
raising provider and public awareness regarding the availability
of vaccines; improving public financing for vaccines; improving
health insurance coverage; and improving quality, monitoring,
and research. A companion commentary offers an analysis of
strategies to improve adult immunization from the vantage point
of factors that have led to the success of the pediatric
immunization experience.
All parts of the blueprint and additional information on adult
and adolescent immunization can be accessed from
http://www.idsociety.org/adultimmunization
Individual components of the blueprint include:
"Actions to Strengthen Adult and Adolescent Immunization
Coverage in the United States: Policy Principles of the
Infectious Diseases Society of America"
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/journal/issues/v44n12/51160/51160.html
"Executive Summary--Actions to Strengthen Adult and Adolescent
Immunization Coverage in the United States: Policy Principles of
the Infectious Diseases Society of America"
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/journal/issues/v44n12/51161/51161.html
"Adult Immunization: What Can We Learn from the Childhood
Immunization Program?"
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/journal/issues/v44n12/51162/51162.html
IDSA is an organization of physicians, scientists, and other
healthcare professionals dedicated to promoting health through
excellence in infectious diseases research, education,
prevention, and patient care.
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3. |
IAC introduces new pieces that answer patients' questions about chickenpox,
diphtheria, and HPV
IAC recently developed ready-to-print versions of
some of the
CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on IAC's Vaccine Information
website (www.vaccineinformation.org). The website is intended
for the public, health professionals, and the media.
The newly formatted Q&As present information on the following
diseases and vaccines: chickenpox (varicella), diphtheria, and
HPV (human papillomavirus). In the next several weeks, IAC
Express will announce the availability of more ready-to-print
Q&As on additional vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccines.
Organized in an easy-to-follow Q&A format, these pieces can be
printed and handed out to patients to help educate them about
the seriousness of VPDs and the importance of vaccination. Links
to the new ready-to-print Q&As follow:
To access "Chickenpox (Varicella): Questions and Answers," go
to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4202.pdf
To access "Diphtheria: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4203.pdf
To access "HPV: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4207.pdf
In the June 4, 11, and 18 issues of IAC Express, we announced
newly formatted Q&As on 11 other diseases and vaccines.
Following are the direct links to them:
To access "Tetanus: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4220.pdf
To access "Rubella: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4218.pdf
To access "Polio: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4215.pdf
To access "Meningococcal: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4210.pdf
To access "Rotavirus: Questions and Answers, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4217.pdf
To access "Mumps: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4211.pdf
To access "Pertussis: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4212.pdf
To access "PPV: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4213.pdf
To access "Hepatitis A: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4204.pdf
To access "Hepatitis B: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4205.pdf
To access "Measles: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4209.pdf
To access IAC's online disease/vaccine Q&A material for patients
and parents, go to: http://www.vaccineinformation.org and click
on the pertinent link(s).
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4. |
HHS Policy Information Center releases five influenza vaccine issue briefs
The Department of Health and Human Services
Policy Information Center has released a series of Influenza Vaccine Issue
Briefs, dated October 2005. This project was an attempt to clarify the
dynamics of influenza vaccine supply and demand. The five briefs are titled
Overview: Summary and Assessment; Manufacturing; Who Buys It, Who Sells It;
Demand: Chicken and Egg; and Economics.
To access any or all of these five briefs, go to:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/pic/fullreports/06/8476.htm
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