On December 5, Merck & Co. updated information on the supply of two of its varicella containing vaccines: Varivax varicella vaccine and ProQuad measles-mumps-rubella-varicella combination vaccine. The information was posted on the CDC website on December 18.

To access the information, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages/default.htm Scroll down to the varicella section of the Chart of Vaccines in Delay or Shortage, and click on the link titled "updated vaccine supply status in December."

CDC published "Interim Recommendations for the Use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Conjugate Vaccines Related to the Recall of Certain Lots of Hib-Containing Vaccines (PedvaxHIB and Comvax)" in the December 21 issue of MMWR. Previously, the interim recommendations were available only in electronic format as published in the MMWR Dispatch on December 19.

To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5650a4.htm

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5650.pdf

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

On December 14, the New Jersey health commissioner approved an amendment to the state's immunization rules that will require children attending licensed day care and preschool facilities to receive annual influenza vaccination. The rule, which goes into effect in September 2008, makes New Jersey the first state in the nation to require influenza vaccination for day care and preschool attendance. It was one of a series of amendments that the health commissioner, Fred M. Jacobs, MD, JD, approved regarding additional immunizations required for school attendance in the state.

A press release, issued by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, quotes Dr. Jacobs: "The amendments to the rules governing immunizations will have a direct impact on reducing illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in one of New Jersey's most vulnerable populations--our children. Vaccinations have proven to be one of the most effective and safe forms of disease prevention."

To access the complete press release, go to:
http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/dhss/njnewsline/view_article.pl?id=3133

To access additional information about state immunization mandates, visit IAC's State Mandates on Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases web section at http://www.immunize.org/laws

IAC Express depends on readers to help us stay informed and ensure our website contains the most current and accurate information available. Please let us know when any changes occur in your state's immunization mandates by emailing us at admin@immunize.org

On November 21, immunization advocate Rebecca Cole died of undisclosed causes. Deborah Wexler, MD, IAC's executive director, wrote the following tribute in Rebecca's Guest Book in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

To access Rebecca Cole's obituary, click here.

The CDC website recently posted the Record of the Proceedings of ACIP's October 24-25 meeting.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the proceedings, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/downloads/min-oct07.pdf

The current version of the VIS for hepatitis A vaccine (dated 3/21/06) is now available on the IAC website in Burmese. IAC gratefully acknowledges the Minnesota Department of Health for the translation.

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the VIS for hepatitis A vaccine in Burmese, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/bu_hpa06.pdf

To obtain the VIS for hepatitis A vaccine in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/v-hepa.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

Influenza vaccination should continue from now into the early months of 2008. Visit the following websites often to find the information you need to keep vaccinating. Both are continually updated with the latest resources.

The National Influenza Vaccine Summit website at http://www.preventinfluenza.org

CDC's Seasonal Flu web section at http://www.cdc.gov/flu

[The following is cross posted, with thanks, from the 12/07/07 issue of "IZTA Update," the electronic newsletter of the Academy for Educational Development's Immunization Coalitions Technical Assistance Network.]

Spotlight on Shingles Website
This website from the American Pain Foundation offers a variety of free materials such as a shingles fact sheet, promotional poster, and educational video. Visit the website at http://spotlightonshingles.com

Healthy Roads Media (HRM) requests help from state and local health departments. If you've used HRM immunization materials with at least two patients, please complete a short (5-10 minute) survey. In return, you will receive a free CD of HRM's vaccine materials.

For additional information, and to access online and mail-in versions of the survey, go to:
http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/phsurvey.htm

The Immunization Coalitions Technical Assistance Network (IZTA) plans two conference calls for early 2008. The January 23 call will present tips and ideas to help immunization coalitions plan for National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW; April 21-24, 2008). The February 5 call will focus on how coalition can form partnerships to expand their reach and resources despite budget cutbacks. IZTA is a program of the Center for Health Communication, Academy for Educational Development.

January 23 conference call. Experienced NIIW event planners from New Mexico and Nevada share how they develop and implement effective state and local events. A CDC speaker will discuss educational materials and other support provided for NIIW at the national level.

The call will be held at 1PM, ET. To register, send an email to izta@aed.org Include this message: "Sign me up for the Planning an NIIW Event call."

February 5 conference call. Join this call to find out how coalitions in Indiana and Washington state have formed partnerships with non-immunization groups to strengthen their vaccination efforts. You will also learn about the new IZTA toolkit, designed to assist you in identifying, establishing, and maintaining effective partnerships.

The call will be held at 1PM, ET. To register, send an email to izta@aed.org Include this message: "Sign me up for the Expanding Your Reach call."

For additional information, or to access earlier programs, go to: http://www.izta.org/confcall.cfm

CDC recently updated the "News & Highlights" portion of its Avian Influenza web section with information that the World Health Organization has received reports of confirmed human cases of avian influenza in Myanmar and Pakistan. There are no reports of animal or human cases of avian influenza in the United States.

To access information about the Myanmar report, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/updates/myanmar14dec07.htm

To access information about the Pakistan report, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/updates/pakistan28dec07.htm

To access a broad range of continually updated information on seasonal influenza, avian influenza, pandemic influenza, and swine influenza, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu