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IAC Express 2008 |
| Issue number 766: November 24, 2008 |
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Contents
of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article. |
- New VIS:
CDC issues an interim VIS to be used for both Td vaccine and Tdap vaccine
- New: IAC
patient-education piece makes the case for getting the whole family
vaccinated against influenza every year
- Nineteen
medical societies support a statement affirming the importance of adult
vaccination
- New: This
year, National Influenza Vaccination Week focuses on vaccinating three
significant populations: children, seniors, and healthcare personnel
- Reminder:
CDC's December 12 net conference to focus on influenza vaccination of
healthcare personnel
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Important: Be sure to give influenza vaccine throughout the influenza
season--through spring 2009
- VIS
translations: Current VISs for injectable and nasal-spray influenza
vaccines now in Arabic, Cambodian, and Korean
- MMWR
publishes article on worldwide implementation of newborn hepatitis B
vaccination during 2006
- CDC
reports on importance of Hib surveillance during the current Hib vaccine
shortage
- CDC
issues guidance for testing people with suspected avian influenza virus
and for following up on their contacts
- MMWR
publishes article on worldwide rotavirus surveillance during 2001-08
- CDC and
Emory University schedule a series of epidemiology courses for 2009
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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 766: November 24, 2008 |
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1. |
New VIS: CDC issues an interim VIS to be used for both Td vaccine and Tdap
vaccine
On November 18, CDC issued a new interim VIS to
be used when
administering either Td or Tdap vaccine. The new interim VIS
replaces the VIS for Td vaccine (dated 6/10/94) and the VIS for
Tdap vaccine (dated 7/12/06). Providers may use up stocks of the
two older VISs.
To access the 11/18/08 interim VIS for Td and Tdap vaccines from
the IAC website, go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/td_tdap.pdf
For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in more than
35 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at
http://www.immunize.org/vis
For general information about VISs from CDC's website go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis
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2. |
New: IAC patient-education piece makes the case for getting the whole family
vaccinated against influenza every year
With annual influenza vaccination recommended for
about 85
percent of the U.S. population, chances are every patient a
clinician sees has at least one family member for whom influenza
vaccination is recommended. With that in mind, IAC has developed
a new one-page print resource titled "Don't take chances with
your family's health--make sure you all get vaccinated against
influenza every year!"
The piece explains how easy it is to become infected with and to
transmit influenza and outlines the range of health consequences
the disease can have on the individual and family. The intention
is to influence at least one person in each family to see to it
that all family members--children, parents, and grandparents--get vaccinated every year.
To access the new piece, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4069.pdf
IAC's Print Materials web section offers healthcare
professionals and the public approximately 250 FREE English-language materials (many also available in translation), which
we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute
widely. To access all of IAC's free print materials, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials
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3. |
Nineteen medical societies support a statement affirming the importance of
adult vaccination
On November 19, the American College of
Physicians (ACP) and the
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) announced that
they released a joint statement on the importance of adult
vaccination against an increasing number of vaccine-preventable
diseases. The statement has been endorsed by 17 other medical
societies representing a range of practice areas. The statement
is reprinted below in its entirety, excluding references and
information on the endorsing medical societies. Also on November
19, ACP and ISDA issued a related press release; a link to it is
given at the end of this IAC Express article.
Joint Statement of Medical Societies Regarding Vaccination by
Physicians
Summary:
In an effort to emphasize the importance of adult vaccination
against an increasing number of vaccine-preventable diseases,
primary care and many subspecialty physicians should take an
active role in the discussion and review of their adult
patients' vaccination status and in the administration of
recommended vaccines. Increased consumer demand for quality
care, and guidelines and/or recommendations from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and other professional societies
provide additional impetus for a renewed and stronger emphasis
on provision of vaccines.
The Potential Role of Subspecialists:
Primary care is the most convenient and appropriate setting for
delivery of vaccines to most adult patients, since it serves as
their "medical home." However, many patients with chronic
disease also have a "medical home" with a subspecialist. For
example, infectious disease physicians often provide primary and
preventive care services for patients with HIV infection. Other
subspecialists also may serve as the preferred source of care
for their patients with chronic disease, providing an
opportunity to serve as a source of vaccination administration
or referral.
It is proposed that
(1) Primary and subspecialty physicians should conduct
immunization review at appropriate adult medical visits to
educate patients about the benefits of vaccination and to assess
whether the patient's vaccination status is current, referring
to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Adult
Immunization Schedule.
(2) When appropriate, physicians should provide or refer
patients for recommended immunizations.
(3) Physicians who administer vaccines should ensure appropriate
documentation in the medical record. In addition, documentation
of vaccination in other settings, patient refusal, and any
contraindications is advisable. The use of immunization
registries and electronic data systems facilitates access to
accurate and complete immunization data.
(4) Physicians who refer patients for vaccination also should
review and document the vaccination status of their patients
whenever possible.
(5) Consistent with the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices and multiple subspecialty organizations, physicians
and their staff should be immunized consistent with CDC
recommendations, with particular attention to annual influenza
immunization. . . .
To access the complete joint statement, click
here.
To access the related press release, go to:
http://www.idsociety.org/Content.aspx?id=12370
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4. |
New: This year, National Influenza Vaccination Week focuses on vaccinating
three significant populations: children, seniors, and healthcare personnel
Scheduled for December 8-14, this year's National
Influenza
Vaccination Week (NIVW) emphasizes the importance of vaccinating
children, seniors, and healthcare personnel by setting aside a
day for each group. Tuesday, December 9, is Children's
Vaccination Day; Thursday, December 11, is Seniors' Vaccination
Day; and Friday, December 12, is Healthcare Worker Vaccination
Day. Links to materials for NIVW in general and to materials
pertinent to children, seniors, and healthcare personnel are
listed below.
NATIONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION WEEK
To access resources pertinent to NIVW, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw
CHILDREN'S VACCINATION DAY
To access an English-language poster, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/2008-09/fluvac_kids.htm
To access a Spanish-language poster, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/2008-09/fluvac_kids_sp.htm
To access a video narrated by parents who have lost a child to
influenza, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/2008-09/vaccination_video.htm
SENIORS' VACCINATION DAY
To access posters intended for African-American and Hispanic
seniors, who have lower reported influenza vaccination rates
than their Caucasian peers, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery
HEALTHCARE WORKER VACCINATION DAY
To access a poster that focuses on nurses and allied healthcare
personnel, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/2008-09/p_healthcare_provide.htm
To access numerous print materials, public service
announcements, e-cards, web badges and buttons, and ready-to-use
articles for the media, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery
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5. |
Reminder: CDC's December 12 net conference to focus on influenza vaccination
of healthcare personnel
The next "Current Issues in Immunization" net
conference will be held on December 12 from 2PM to 3PM ET. This coincides
with the 2008 observation of National Influenza Vaccination Week, which is
scheduled for December 8-14.
Andrew T. Kroger, MD, MPH, will speak on influenza vaccination of healthcare
personnel, and Alan Janssen, MSPH, will present case studies about influenza
vaccination of healthcare personnel.
Registration is limited and will close on December 10 or when the course is
full. To register, go to:
http://www2.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/ciinc
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6. |
Important: Be sure to give influenza vaccine throughout the influenza
season--through spring 2009
Influenza vaccine for the 2008-09 influenza
season is available.
Vaccination should continue through the spring months of 2009.
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
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7. |
VIS translations: Current VISs for injectable and nasal-spray influenza
vaccines now in Arabic, Cambodian, and Korean
The current (7/24/08) VISs for trivalent
influenza vaccine (TIV;
injectable) and for live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV;
nasal spray) are now available in Arabic, Cambodian, and Korean.
IAC gratefully acknowledges the California Department of Public
Health, Immunization Branch, for the translations.
VIS for TIV
To access the Arabic version of the VIS for TIV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ab_flu06.pdf
To access the Cambodian version of the VIS for TIV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ca_flu04.pdf
To access the Korean version of the VIS for TIV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ko_flu06.pdf
To access the English version of the VIS for TIV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/2flu.pdf
NOTE: The VIS for TIV comes in additional languages, including
Spanish. To access them, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_flu_inactive.asp Click on the
link to the pertinent language.
VIS for LAIV
To access the Arabic version of the VIS for LAIV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/abLAIV06.pdf
To access the Cambodian version of the VIS for LAIV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/caLAIV04.pdf
To access the Korean version of the VIS for LAIV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/koLAIV06.pdf
To access the English version of the VIS for LAIV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/liveflu.pdf
NOTE: The VIS for LAIV comes in additional languages, including
Spanish. To access them, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_flu_live.asp Click on the link
to the pertinent language.
For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in more than
35 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at
http://www.immunize.org/vis
For general information about VISs from CDC's website go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis
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8. |
MMWR
publishes article on worldwide implementation of newborn hepatitis B vaccination
during 2006
CDC published "Implementation of Newborn
Hepatitis B
Vaccination--Worldwide, 2006" in the November 21 issue of MMWR.
A summary made available to the press is reprinted below in its
entirety.
An analysis of data collected by the World Health Organization
(WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) indicates low
worldwide coverage of hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination of infants
at birth. Only 27 percent of infants born worldwide and 36
percent of infants born in countries with high rates of chronic
hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection received HepB vaccination
within 24 hours of birth. WHO recommends HepB vaccination of
newborns in countries with high rates of chronic hepatitis B,
since vaccination within 24 hours of birth is up to 95 percent
effective in preventing mother-to-child HBV transmission.
Globally, hepatitis B is a major cause of cirrhosis and liver
cancer and is estimated to cause 620,000 deaths each year.
Infants who become HBV-infected have a 90 percent risk of
developing chronic infection and a 25 percent risk of dying from
the disease. Low worldwide coverage of the HepB vaccine at birth
represents significant missed opportunities. More complete
implementation of routine newborn HepB vaccination globally
would help prevent the substantial morbidity and mortality
caused by perinatally-acquired HBV infection.
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go
to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5746a1.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR,
go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5746.pdf
To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which
includes new ACIP recommendations), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html
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9. |
CDC
reports on importance of Hib surveillance during the current Hib vaccine
shortage
CDC published "Continued Shortage of Haemophilus
influenzae Type
b (Hib) Conjugate Vaccines and Potential Implications for Hib
Surveillance--United States, 2008" in the November 21 issue of
MMWR. A summary made available to the press is reprinted below
in its entirety.
Health departments, state and hospital laboratories, and
physicians should increase efforts for timely serotyping and
reporting of all cases of invasive H. influenzae disease in
children aged <5 years.
In October 2008 Merck & Co., Inc. announced that their supply
outage of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines
(PedvaxHIB and Comvax) would continue until mid-2009. As this
ongoing outage has disrupted the United States supply of Hib
vaccines, national surveillance for invasive Hib disease in
children <5 years of age is of particular importance.
Unfortunately, national Hib surveillance is hampered by
incomplete serotype reporting. For children aged <5 years,
serotype are missing for nearly 40 percent of H. influenzae
cases reported to CDC. The extended vaccine shortage heightens
the need for timely reporting and investigation of all H.
influenzae cases, and accurate serotyping of all invasive H.
influenzae isolates in children aged <5 years.
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go
to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5746a2.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR,
go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5746.pdf
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10. |
CDC issues guidance for testing people with suspected avian influenza virus
and for following up on their contacts
CDC recently added the following two guidance
documents to its
avian influenza web section:
"Guidance Document: Interim Guidance for Laboratory Testing of
Persons with Suspected Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in the United States"
To access the document, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/guidance-labtesting.htm
"Guidance Document: Interim Guidance for Follow-up of Contacts
of Persons with Suspected Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in the United States"
To access the document, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/guidance-followup.htm
To access a broad range of continually updated information on
seasonal influenza, avian influenza, pandemic influenza, swine
influenza, and canine influenza, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu
The National Influenza Vaccine Summit's website also contains
extensive information and resources on influenza. Visit
www.preventinfluenza.org often.
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11. |
MMWR publishes article on worldwide rotavirus surveillance during 2001-08
CDC published "Rotavirus Surveillance--Worldwide,
2001-08" in
the November 21 issue of MMWR. A summary made available to the
press is reprinted below in its entirety.
Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in young
children worldwide, accounting for approximately 40 percent of
hospitalizations for this disease. The large health burden
underscores the potential health benefits of new vaccines
against rotavirus. The availability and use of rotavirus
vaccines globally can have a substantial impact in reducing
hospitalizations and the estimated >500,000 annual deaths from
rotavirus diarrhea, thereby contributing to the achievement of
the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals for reduction
of childhood mortality. Approximately 40 percent of diarrhea
hospitalizations among children aged <5 years worldwide were
attributed to rotavirus infection according to surveillance
conducted during 2001-2008 at sentinel hospitals in 35 countries
in each of the 6 regions of the World Health Organization. This
percentage is greater than that previously reported. The large
health burden of rotavirus diarrhea underscores the need for effective vaccines for the control of this disease, as part of a comprehensive approach for prevention and control of diarrhea.
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go
to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5746a3.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR,
go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5746.pdf
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12. |
CDC and Emory University schedule a series of epidemiology courses for 2009
CDC and the Rollins School of Public Health at
Emory University
recently announced a schedule of epidemiology courses for 2009.
Courses are offered in applied epidemiology, public health
surveillance, and public health software.
For comprehensive information, go to:
http://www.sph.emory.edu/EPICOURSES
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