On October 4, CDC released an updated edition of the VIS for the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV; nasal-spray formulation). The updated VIS reflects the FDA-approved change in the age at which LAIV can be given to children. Previously, LAIV was approved for use in children age 5 years and older; it is now approved for use in children age 2 years and older.

To access the updated VIS from the CDC website, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-flulive.pdf

To access it from the IAC website, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/liveflu.pdf

For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in more than 30 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at http://www.immunize.org/vis

CDC recently brought the following information to the attention of IAC and other organizations:

In the September 28 MMWR update on influenza activity (titled "Update: Influenza Activity--United States and Worldwide, May 20-September 15, 2007), the editorial note mentioned FDA's recent approval of FluMist (live attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV]; nasal spray formulation) for use in healthy children aged 2 to 4 years, as well as three other FDA-approved changes. We want to make sure you were aware of these other changes, which include the following:

1. a reduction in the volume of vaccine used to 0.1 mL per nostril,
2. a reduction in the minimum dose spacing to 4 weeks for children who require 2 doses (which makes the LAIV minimum interval now the same as the TIV (trivalent inactivated vaccine; injectable) minimum interval, and
3. a change in the temperature requirements for shipping and storage of the vaccine (now 2-8 degrees C [35-46 degrees F])

The link to the MMWR influenza update is:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5638a4.htm

IAC recently revised five of its print materials; two revisions reflect the FDA-approved change in the age at which the live inactivated influenza vaccine (LAIV; nasal-spray formulation) can be given to children. Previously, LAIV was approved for use in children age 5 years and older; it is now approved for use in children age 2 years and older. Information on the five revised print materials follows:

(1) "Summary of Recommendations for Childhood and Adolescent Immunization" (revised 10/07): The section on influenza vaccine was changed to indicate that LAIV vaccine may be given to healthy, non-pregnant persons age 2-49 years.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2010.pdf

(2) "Standing Orders for Administering Influenza Vaccines to Children & Adolescents" (revised 10/07): The section on vaccine administration now states that healthy children age 2 years and older without contraindications may be given LAIV.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3074a.pdf

(3) "It's Federal Law! You must give your patients current Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)" (revised 9/07): The table that lists the most current VIS dates was updated to show that 8/16/07 is the most current date for the VIS for meningococcal vaccine.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2027.pdf


(4) "If You Have HIV Infection, Which Vaccinations Do You Need?" (revised 10/07): Minor changes were made.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4041.pdf


(5) "Declination of Influenza Vaccination" (revised 9/07): Minor changes were made.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4068.pdf

In its September 27 issue, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a research article, "Early Thimerosal Exposure and Neuropsychological Outcomes at 7 to 10 Years," about thimerosal in childhood vaccines. In response, CDC and the National Network of Immunization Information (NNii) posted resources related to the article on their websites. Information about and links to the resources follow.

From CDC: CDC resources were compiled by the Office of the Chief Science Officer at CDC. The resources include a brief synopsis of the NEJM article, an explanation of terms used in the article, FAQs pertinent to the article information, and links to other electronic sources of information. To access these materials (posted 9/28/07), click here.

From NNii: On September 26, NNii issued a press release related to the NEJM article. To access it, click here.

The 2007 Recommended Childhood, Adolescent, and Catch-up Immunization Schedule is now available in Spanish and can be printed from the CDC website. The schedule, which was released in English in January 2007, has been approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

To access the Spanish-language schedule, click here.

The October 5 issue of the Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER; a periodical published by WHO) included an article titled "Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2008 influenza season." The article includes the recommendation on the composition of the influenza virus vaccine for use in the southern hemisphere in winter 2008. Portions of the article are reprinted below.

To access the complete article, go to:
http://www.who.int/wer/2007/wer8240.pdf

The October 4 issue of Hep Express, an electronic newsletter published by IAC, is now available online. It is intended for health professionals, program planners, and advocates involved in prevention, screening, and treatment of viral hepatitis.

IAC Express has already covered some of the information presented in the October 4 Hep Express; titles of articles we have not yet covered follow.

• IAC updates prevention programs website
• LOLA [Latino Organization for Liver Awareness] offering Spanish-language support groups
• Global Hepatitis A Meeting planned for November 30-December 1 in Miami
• SIGN [Safe Injection Global Network] meeting to take place October 23-25 in Geneva, Switzerland

To access the October 4 issue, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/issue62.asp

To sign up for a free subscription to Hep Express, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/subscribe

To access previous issues of Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress

On September 28, NCIRD updated its website with information about a current production delay for Vaqta hepatitis A vaccine; the delay applies to both the pediatric and adult formulations of Vaqta. The vaccine delay information is reprinted below in its entirety.

To access the information from the NCIRD website, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages and scroll down the section titled Chart of Vaccines in Delay or Shortage.

The theme of the next Current Issues in Immunization net conference is "travel health issues, including malaria." It is scheduled for October 11, noon to 1PM ET. The moderator is Andrew Kroger, MD, MPH; the speaker is Katherine Tan, MD, MPH.

Registration will close October 10 at midnight ET or when the course is full. To register, go to:
http://www2.cdc.gov/nip/isd/ciinc2

CDC published "Notice to Readers: Clinical Vaccinology Course—November 9-11, 2007" in the September 28 issue of MMWR. The notice is reprinted below in its entirety.

To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which includes new ACIP statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html

The 2008 National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions is now accepting abstract submissions. The conference, which will be held in San Francisco on May 21-23, 2008, will provide training in creating, leading, and sustaining effective coalitions for all health-related issues. Abstract applications must be received electronically by February 1, 2008.

For information on submitting an abstract and for preliminary conference details, go to: http://www.sfimmunize.org/page3.html Scroll down and click on the pertinent links.

For additional information, email Andrew Resignato at andrew@sfimmunize.org

CDC published "Progress in Measles Control—Nepal, 2000-2006" in the October 5 issue of MMWR. An article synopsis made available to the press is reprinted below in its entirety.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5639.pdf