IAC's 2009 laminated immunization schedules are a must for every immunization setting: from conventional health clinics and private practices to walk-in shot clinics in workplaces, pharmacies, schools, and other sites. We offer the laminated schedules for two age groups. The child/teen immunization schedule is for people ages 0 through 18 years; the adult schedule is for those older than 18. Though both are adapted from the immunization schedules that were posted on the CDC website in January, the laminated schedules offer these advantages over downloadable paper versions:

• Coated in thick plastic, the laminated schedules are washable and will hold up to a year's worth of use as teaching tools that providers in any immunization setting can use to give patients and parents authoritative information about the vaccines recommended for various age groups. You can also use them as a handy reference to consult at a moment's notice.
   
• For the second year in a row, IAC has added a significant feature to the two laminated schedules. Each includes a guide to contraindications and precautions for the pertinent age group (i.e., the child/teen schedule has a guide to contraindications and precautions for child/teen vaccines, and the adult schedule has a guide for adult vaccines). Healthcare professionals will find these guides extremely valuable in making an on-the-spot determination about vaccinating any patient they see in any immunization setting.

The durable laminated schedules come complete with essential footnotes and are printed in color for easy reading. Each schedule has six pages (i.e., three double-sided pages), and when folded, measures 8.5" x 11".

For specific information about the child/teen schedule, to view images of it, or to order online or download an order form, visit http://www.immunize.org/shop/schedule_child.asp

For specific information about the adult schedule, to view images of it, or to order online or download an order form, visit http://www.immunize.org/shop/schedule_adult.asp

Prices start at $10 each for 1-4 copies and drop to $6.50 each for 5-19 copies. Discount pricing is available for 20 or more copies. For quotes on customizing or placing orders in excess of 999 schedules, call (651) 647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org

To learn about other essential immunization resources available for purchase from IAC, go to: http://www.immunize.org/shop

At the February 25-26 ACIP meeting, ACIP members voted to recommend hepatitis A vaccination for all previously unvaccinated people who anticipate having close personal contact with an international adoptee from a country that has high or intermediate hepatitis A endemicity. On March 11, ACIP posted the PowerPoint slide sets that accompanied the presentations made at the February meeting. Links to the two hepatitis A slide sets shown at the meeting are given at the end of this IAC Express article.

The hepatitis A recommendation ACIP voted in favor of is reprinted below in its entirety, using the wording that was posted on the ACIP slide sets of presentations made at the February 25-26 meeting. Note: ACIP recommendations become recommendations of CDC once they are accepted by the director of CDC and the Secretary of Health and Human Services and are published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. As of this writing that has not yet happened with this hepatitis A recommendation. IAC Express will inform its readers when it does.

To access CDC's recommendations for preventing hepatitis A, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/acip/acipvax_hepa.asp

U.S. Influenza activity is really on the move. In the week of March 1-7, CDC received reports of four more U.S. children killed by complications from influenza; the total of reported pediatric influenza deaths this influenza season now stands at 26. Thirty-five states have reported widespread influenza activity, up from 31 reported during the week of February 22-28.

Yearly vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting against influenza and its complications. It is important to continue vaccinating into the spring months. The supply of influenza vaccine is robust; if you run out of vaccine in your work setting, please place another order.

Many resources regarding influenza disease and vaccination are available to healthcare professionals and the public. Following is a list of some of them.

To access the National Influenza Vaccine Summit website, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org

To access CDC's Seasonal Flu web section, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu

To access a CDC web page of information for the public titled "Taking Care of Yourself: What to Do if You Get Sick with Flu," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare.htm

To access a CDC resource for clinicians titled "Talking Points: Deaths in Children from Influenza Complications," go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org/media/Pediatric_Deaths_209.pdf

To access the VIS for trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV; injectable), go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/2flu.pdf

To access the VIS for live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV; nasal spray), go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/liveflu.pdf

To access IAC's print piece titled "Don't take chances with your family's health--make sure you all get vaccinated against influenza every year!" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4069.pdf

To access IAC's print piece titled "Give these people influenza vaccine!" go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2013.pdf

To access IAC's print piece titled "Screening questionnaire for injectable influenza vaccination," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4066.pdf

To access IAC's print piece titled "Screening questionnaire for intranasal influenza vaccination," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4067.pdf

IAC recently made several changes to its two-page adult vaccination screening questionnaire, "Do I need any vaccinations today?" Its content was updated to reflect recently issued or revised ACIP vaccination recommendations.

To access the revised "Do I need any vaccinations today?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4036.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

IAC's Video of the Week is the trailer for "The Final Inch," a 2008 Academy Award nominee in the category best documentary short subject. The trailer features six clips, each about two minutes long, that cover various aspects of polio and polio eradication. To view a clip, click on the pertinent image. Note: To view the clips, you may need to install Adobe Flash Player.

The video will be available on the home page of IAC's website through March 22. To access it, go to: http://www.immunize.org and click on the image under the words Video of the Week, which you'll find toward the top of the page.

Remember to bookmark IAC's home page to view a new video every Monday. While you're at our home page, we encourage you to browse around--you're sure to find resources and information that will enhance your practice's immunization delivery.

To view IAC's video collection, go to:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/video

IAC recently revised its two checklists of vaccine supplies that are useful to bring to immunization clinics. The checklists are titled "Suggested supplies checklist for pediatric and adult immunization clinic" and "Suggested supplies checklist for adult immunization clinic." New pediatric vaccines have been added; vaccine abbreviations have been updated in accordance with ACIP's list of standardized abbreviations; and other revisions have been made.

To access the revised "Suggested supplies checklist for pediatric and adult immunization clinic," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3046.pdf

To access the revised "Suggested supplies checklist for adult immunization clinic," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3047.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

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases. It is a call to action for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to ensure that infants are fully immunized against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases. This year NIIW will be held April 25-May 2 and will coincide with Vaccination Week in the Americas and European Immunization Week.

Any health department or immunization coalition interested in promoting infant immunization within their community will find abundant useful information on the CDC's NIIW website. Resources include tools for planning events and promoting them through the media (e.g., print ads, radio public service announcements); listings of 2009 NIIW activities and events planned across the nation; and education materials for providers and parents (some available in both English and Spanish).

To access NIIW resources, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw

Be sure to use the online form to add your organization's event and/or activity. If you agree to have your event or activity posted, others will be able to learn from your experience.

To access the form, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/2009/activity-form.htm

To find out what different organizations did during NIIW in 2008, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/2008/08activities.htm

The CDC website recently posted the PowerPoint slide sets presented at the February 25-26 ACIP meeting. Slide sets are available on the following topics:

• Anthrax vaccine
• Hepatitis vaccines
• Influenza vaccines
• Rabies vaccine
• Pertussis vaccines
• Pneumococcal vaccines
• Measles, mumps, and rubella
• General recommendations
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines
• Pediatric Haemophilus influenzae b cases in Minnesota, 2008-2009
• Vaccination of immigrants and refugees
• Meningococcal vaccine
• Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine
• Vaccine supply
• MMRV vaccine safety
• Polio vaccines
• Yellow fever vaccine

To access the slides, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/slides-feb09.htm

"The Saturday Shot" tells the story of a young girl going to the doctor's office for a check-up and vaccine. Written by a child for children, this book provides a child's perspective on getting immunized.

Published in 2009, it is available from Tate Publishing. You can order it, download it digitally, or download an audio book. To access the various options, go to:
http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60696-129-2

The Confederation of Meningitis Organizations (CoMO) urges healthcare professionals, meningitis advocates, and others to join hands on April 25 to make World Meningitis Day a day of action to raise awareness about meningitis and septicemia.

To find out more about World Meningitis Day, go to:
http://www.comoonline.org/wmd.html

To join in a virtual community against meningitis, go to:
http://www.comoonline.org/JoiningHands.aspx

Formed in 2004 to bring together meningitis organizations from across the world, CoMO now has members in 19 countries across Europe, North and South America, Australia, the Philippines, and Africa.

To access the CoMO website, go to: http://www.comoonline.org

The Phacilitate European Vaccine Forum is planned for June 22-24 in Barcelona. It runs parallel to the Phacilitate Active Immunotherapeutics Forum. Attendees are welcome to participate in sessions in either forum.

For comprehensive information on the forums, go to:
http://www.phacilitate.co.uk/pages/barcelona