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IAC Express 2009 |
| Issue number 786: March 23, 2009 |
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as well as other FREE IAC periodicals. |
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Contents
of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article. |
- CDC
Health Advisory stresses the need for all young children
to receive the 3-dose primary series of Hib vaccine
- Pennsylvania Department of Health announces several recently
reported Hib cases and strongly encourages clinicians to give
the full primary series of Hib vaccine
- ACIP releases provisional recommendations for the use of
influenza vaccine in the 2009-10 influenza season
- CDC publishes information on the recommendations ACIP members
voted on at the February 25-26 ACIP meeting
- IAC's Video of the Week features a mother's story about her
son's death from Hib disease
- The most recent version of IAC's popular parent-education
piece "When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?" now
available in Spanish and six additional languages
- Influenza complications have killed 32 U.S. children during
the current influenza season. It is vital to continue
vaccinating through the spring months
- California Department of Public Health's "i choose" campaign
validates and encourages the decision to immunize
- FDA alert: Healthcare professionals can lower the risk of
transmitting hepatitis and HIV viruses by never sharing
insulin pens and cartridges among patients
- FDA selects influenza virus strains for the 2009-10
influenza vaccine
- March issue of CDC's Immunization Works electronic
newsletter recently released
- Attention healthcare professionals: Free CE credits are
available at the National Immunization Conference
- Inactivated influenza vaccine VIS now available in the
Karen language
-
California Immunization Coalition's 2009 Summit is planned for April 20-21
in Pasadena
- North
Dakota Vaccination Expedition 2009 scheduled for May 28-29 in Grand Forks
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Attention: March 31 is the deadline for early bird registration for the
May 14 Points Across VI conference
- GAO publishes the
findings of its study on sustaining U.S. efforts to plan and prepare for
an influenza pandemic
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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 786: March 23, 2009 |
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1. |
CDC Health Advisory stresses the need for all young children
to receive the 3-dose primary series of Hib vaccine
On March 18 CDC issued an official Health
Advisory titled
"Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Type b Disease in Young
Children and Importance for All Young Children to Receive 3-Dose
Primary Series with Available Hib-containing Vaccine." The
Health Advisory is reprinted below in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE HIB VACCINE SHORTAGE
Healthcare providers must be vigilant about ensuring that all
young children are appropriately vaccinated with the 3-dose
primary series of Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) vaccine. A
nationwide shortage of Hib vaccine began in December 2007 and is
ongoing. The recall of certain lots of the two Hib-containing
vaccines produced by Merck & Co., Inc., and cessation of
production of both vaccines has left only one manufacturer of
Hib vaccine in the United States (sanofi pasteur). The shortage
resulted in a recommendation by CDC to defer the Hib booster
(routinely recommended at 12 through 15 months) for children who
are NOT at high risk of Hib infection temporarily, until
supplies are restored. This recommendation is still in effect.
Temporary deferral of the booster dose at 12 through 15 months
of age for non-high risk children may have resulted in increased
Hib carriage and transmission in non-symptomatic children. There
is potential to see increases in cases of Hib disease at the
local level. During 2008 in Minnesota, five children aged 5
months through 3 years were reported with invasive Hib disease;
one died. Three patients had received no vaccinations because of
parent or guardian deferral or refusal. One child was aged 5
months and had received 2 doses of Hib PRP-TT vaccine in
accordance with the primary series schedule. Another child had
received 2 doses of Hib PRP-OMP vaccine, but no booster dose,
per CDC recommendations during the shortage. Subsequent to Hib
infection, this child was diagnosed with hypogammaglobulinemia.
The five cases in 2008 were the most reported for 1 year from
Minnesota since 1992, when 10 cases were reported.
There is enough Hib-containing vaccine for all U.S. children to
receive the primary series. All children should complete the
primary series by 7 months of age; high-risk children should
continue to receive the full primary series and the booster
dose. Completion of the primary series with currently available
vaccine products (manufactured by sanofi pasteur) requires a
total of 3 doses of Hib-containing vaccine (2, 4, and 6 months).
Although there is enough Hib-containing vaccine nationally to
support these recommendations, there may be times when
practitioners do not have an adequate supply of vaccine to meet
local demand. If Hib vaccine is not available in the office at
the time of a visit, children who are unable to receive one of
the primary series doses should be tracked and recalled to
schedule an appointment to receive their dose as soon as vaccine
becomes available in the office.
In addition, using available Hib-containing vaccines has
presented challenges associated with switching from the Merck to
sanofi products for some providers.
There are indications that these challenges have led to lower
completion of the primary series. Preliminary information comes
from sentinel immunization information systems (registries) in
select states, which have indicated up to 10% lower coverage
with the third Hib dose in the primary series compared to other
vaccines (DTaP, PCV7) commonly administered at the same visit.
In the scenario of booster dose deferral, it is even more
important that all infants receive the complete primary series.
Specifically, some of the challenges in using the currently
available Hib-containing vaccines have included provider
reluctance to switch inventory and schedules, misunderstanding
regarding what constitutes primary versus booster doses,
determining a catch-up schedule in the setting of the deferred
booster, and provider and parent concerns about over
vaccination resulting from switching to the sanofi pasteur Hib-containing vaccine. Despite these challenges, healthcare
providers need to ensure that all children are appropriately
vaccinated with the primary series. For example, if Pentacel
(DTaP-IPV/Hib) is the only Hib-containing vaccine available,
this combination product should be used to complete the primary
series, even if doing so results in receipt of additional doses
of other antigens (e.g., DTaP, IPV). The Hib-containing vaccine
products that are available may not be what providers used
previously in their practice; however, the potential for
increased transmission of Hib makes it more important than ever
that every child is adequately protected.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following non-high risk children should be scheduled to
receive the primary series of Hib vaccine as outlined below:
- If the child is at least 6 weeks but less than 12 months of
age and has received zero, one, or two doses of Hib vaccine,
schedule him/her for the first or next dose(s) immediately with
a minimum of four weeks between the doses. These children will
need one booster dose when the Hib vaccine shortage is over.
- If the child is between 12 and 14 months of age and has not
had any doses of Hib vaccine, schedule appointments for two
doses, eight weeks apart.
- If the child is between 12 and 14 months of age and has
received Hib vaccine but did not complete the primary series
before they turned 1-year-old (i.e., had 1 dose of the Merck
product OR 1-2 doses of the sanofi product), schedule an
appointment for 1 additional dose, a minimum of eight weeks from
the last dose.
- If the child is at least 15 months of age but less than 5
years of age and has not received any doses of Hib vaccine OR
has not completed the primary series (i.e., had 1 dose of the
Merck product OR 1-2 doses of the sanofi product), schedule an
appointment for one dose.
- If the child is 5 years old or older and hasn't received any
Hib vaccine, Hib vaccine is not necessary.
Certain children are at increased risk for Hib disease,
including children with asplenia, sickle cell disease, human
immunodeficiency virus infection, and certain other
immunodeficiency syndromes, and malignant neoplasms. CDC
recommends that providers continue to vaccinate these children
with available Hib conjugate vaccines according to the routinely
recommended schedules, including the 12-through-15-month booster
dose. Providers who serve predominantly American Indian/Alaska
Native (AI/AN) children living in AI/AN communities should
continue to stock and use PRP-OMP–containing Hib vaccines (Merck
product) and vaccinate according to the routinely recommended
schedule, which includes the 2-dose primary series (ages 2 and 4
months) and a 12-through-15-month booster dose. This product is
available from the VFC Pediatric Vaccine Stockpile, through
their state immunization programs.
For more information about Hib disease and vaccination, contact
your state or local public health official or CDC at (800) 232-4636/(800) CDC-INFO or by email at
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/contact/nipinfo_contact_form.htm
Information about current vaccine shortages and delays can
be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages/default.htm
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
CDC. Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Type b Disease in Five
Young Children--Minnesota, 2008. MMWR 2009;58:1-3.
CDC. Continued Shortage of Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib)
Conjugate Vaccines and Potential Implications for Hib
Surveillance--United States, 2008. MMWR 2008;57(46):1252-1255.
CDC. 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). MMWR 2007; 56(50):1318-1320.
To access the CDC Health Advisory, go to:
http://www2a.cdc.gov/HAN/ArchiveSys/ViewMsgV.asp?AlertNum=00281
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2. |
Pennsylvania Department of Health announces several recently
reported Hib cases and strongly encourages clinicians to give
the full primary series of Hib vaccine
On March 13, the Pennsylvania Department of
Health issued a
Health Advisory regarding recently reported Hib cases in
Pennsylvania. Two paragraphs from the Health Advisory are
reprinted below.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) is releasing the
following information related to the occurrence of Haemophilus
influenzae type b (Hib) cases in Pennsylvania.
In the last six months, the PADOH has received reports of
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) invasive disease in four
unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children less than five
years of age in southeastern Pennsylvania. Isolates from three
additional cases of Haemophilus influenzae invasive disease,
also in unvaccinated children less than five years old from
southeastern Pennsylvania, have not yet been serotyped. Three of
these seven children died. Clinicians are strongly encouraged to
ensure that children have received the full primary series of
Hib vaccinations. . . .
To access the complete PADOH Health Advisory, go to:
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?A=171&Q=252640
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3. |
ACIP releases provisional recommendations for the use of
influenza vaccine in the 2009-10 influenza season
On March 20, ACIP updated its website with its
provisional
recommendations for the use of influenza vaccine in the 2009-10
influenza season. Provisional recommendations are those ACIP has
voted on but that are not yet approved by CDC or the Department
of Health and Human Services and have not yet been published in
MMWR. The influenza provisional recommendations are reprinted
below in their entirety.
Date of ACIP vote: February 25, 2009
Date of posting provisional recommendations: March 2009
Tentative date of publication of recommendations in CDC
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: June 2009
On February 25, 2009, the ACIP made policy recommendations for
use of influenza vaccine for the 2009-2010 influenza season.
Provisional recommendations for prevention and control of
influenza (2009-2010 influenza season):
- The 2009-2010 trivalent influenza vaccines will contain
A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like,
and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like antigens. Compared to the 2008-09
Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccines, only the B strain has
changed.
- Age and risk groups previously recommended for annual
vaccination against influenza have not changed.
- All children aged 6 months through 18 years are recommended to
receive vaccination against influenza for the 2009-2010
influenza season.
- In the United States, most influenza A(H1N1) viruses have been
resistant to oseltamivir, and most influenza A(H3N2) viruses
have been resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, during the
2008-09 influenza season. Consult CDC's Interim Recommendations
for Use of Influenza Antiviral Medications in the Setting of
Oseltamivir Resistance among Circulating Influenza A(H1N1)
Viruses (available at
http://www2a.cdc.gov/HAN/ArchiveSys/ViewMsgV.asp?AlertNum=00279)
for guidance pending new ACIP recommendations for use of
antiviral medications.
- ACIP recommendations for use of antiviral medications for the
2009-10 influenza season will be provided in a separate MMWR
document. Discussion regarding recommendations for use of
antiviral medications will be held, and a vote may be taken, at
the June 2009 ACIP meeting. Publication of antiviral
recommendations will occur before the 2009-10 influenza season.
This document can be found on the
CDC website.
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4. |
CDC publishes information on the recommendations ACIP members
voted on at the February 25-26 ACIP meeting
[The following is cross-posted
from CDC's Immunization Works
electronic newsletter, March 2009.]
FRONT PAGE NEWS
ACIP RECOMMENDS HEPATITIS A VACCINE FOR HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS OF
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTEES: Due to the identification of recent
cases of hepatitis A in family members, the Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend hepatitis A
vaccine for all household contacts of international adoptees.
Those potential household contacts that travel abroad should be
vaccinated prior to departure; the remaining household contacts
should ideally be vaccinated prior to the arrival of the
adoptee. ACIP meets three times annually and provides
recommendations to the Director of the CDC and the Secretary of
HHS concerning the prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases in
the United States. Below are other key votes from the February
meeting:
ANTHRAX VACCINE
The ACIP voted to change its recommendations regarding the
timing and route of administration for Anthrax vaccination. This
vaccine is now recommended as 5 intramuscular doses at time 0, 4
weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months, with annual boosters
thereafter.
INFLUENZA VACCINE
With the removal of the phrase "if feasible" from the previous
recommendation, the ACIP now recommends influenza vaccine for
all children 6 months through 18 years of age. The strains to be
included in this year's vaccine are (A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like, and
B/Brisbane/60/2008-like). The two "A" strains are unchanged from
last year. The "B" strain represents a change in the lineage to
the Victoria strain. Information on ocular and respiratory
symptoms following TIV will be added to the safety section of
this year's ACIP recommendations.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON IMMUNIZATION
The ACIP voted to revise language in the General Recommendations
on Immunization including a stated preference for stand-alone
storage units (single refrigeration or single freezer units)
over combination units.
Other topics discussed, but not voted on, include: a modified
schedule for rabies vaccine, use of pneumococcal polysaccharide
vaccine during an influenza pandemic, potential use of HPV
vaccine among males, and the status of the global polio
initiative. The next ACIP meeting will be held June 24-25 in
Atlanta, GA.
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5. |
IAC's Video of the Week features a mother's story about her
son's death from Hib disease
IAC encourages IAC Express
readers to watch "Marijean's Story:
Haemophilus influenzae type b," an eight-minute video that shows
a mother recounting the illness and death of her toddler-age son
from Hib disease at a time before Hib vaccine was available. The
video is one of several videos in the series "Shot by Shot:
Stories of vaccine-preventable diseases." Supported by the
California Immunization Coalition, the series is a collection of
video testimonies of people's personal experiences with VPDs.
Its goal is to help illuminate and preserve the human experience
of VPDs and create an ongoing, lasting database that can be used
for the purposes of training, education, and awareness. 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 29. 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. It may take a few
moments for the video to begin playing; please be patient!
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
To view other videos in the "Shot by Shot" series, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/user/shotbyshotstories
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6. |
The most recent version of IAC's popular parent-education
piece "When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?" now
available in Spanish and six additional languages
Updated in October 2008, "When Do
Children and Teens Need
Vaccinations?" is now available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese,
French, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese.
To access the Spanish version of "When Do Children and Teens
Need Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050-01.pdf
To access the Arabic version of "When Do Children and Teens Need
Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050-20.pdf
To access the Chinese version of "When Do Children and Teens
Need Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050-08.pdf
To access the French version of "When Do Children and Teens Need
Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050-10.pdf
To access the Korean version of "When Do Children and Teens Need
Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050-09.pdf
To access the Russian version of "When Do Children and Teens
Need Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050-07.pdf
To access the Vietnamese version of "When Do Children and Teens
Need Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050-05.pdf
To access the English version of "When Do Children and Teens
Need Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050.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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7. |
Influenza complications have killed 32 U.S. children during
the current influenza season. It is vital to continue
vaccinating through the spring months
During the week of March 8-14,
CDC received reports of six more
U.S. children killed by complications from influenza; the total
of reported pediatric influenza deaths this influenza season now
stands at 32. U.S. influenza activity decreased slightly in the
week of March 8-14, with 30 states reporting widespread
influenza activity, down from 35 reported during the week of
March 1-7.
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; in
some past influenza seasons, influenza has remained active into
May. 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 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 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
Recently CDC's Seasonal Flu web section was updated with these
eight resources:
Infectious Diseases Society of America's Diagnostic & Antiviral
Guidelines at
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/598513#h33
Podcast: Influenza Season Update at
http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=11007
Data & Statistics Feature: Influenza and Antivirals at
http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsFluView2009
Q&A: Seasonal Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations in the
United States at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/hospital.htm
Q&A: Questions and Answers Regarding Estimating Deaths from
Influenza in the United States at
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us_flu-related_deaths.htm
Podcast: Influenza Vaccination: What Your Patients Want to Know
at http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=11042
Podcast: Influenza 2008-2009: ACIP Recommendations at
http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=11041
Podcast: Testing for Influenza: What It Can Tell Us at
http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=11040
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8. |
California Department of Public Health's "i choose" campaign
validates and encourages the decision to immunize
[The following is cross posted
from California Department of
Public Health's "IZ Update" electronic newsletter, February
2009.]
"i choose" Campaign Launches
The Immunization Branch launched its "i choose" campaign in
January 2009. The campaign is the first to utilize the pictures
and voices of local advocates to promote immunization. The i
choose theme allows individuals from all walks of life to
validate and encourage the decision to immunize. It also
reflects the choice to vaccinate as a social norm.
The i choose materials can be delivered through a variety of
media such as outdoor advertising, print, television, radio, and
the Internet.
The campaign website http://www.whyichoose.org offers a suite of
posters available for download. The i choose gallery features
pictures of people from around the state (and other states) who
have taken a stand on the importance of immunizations. The site
also incorporates interactive elements including user-generated
content. Community members can upload their picture and
statement explaining why they choose immunization. A
downloadable poster template is provided. The template is
customizable for any age group, ethnicity, or population and
audience, including healthcare settings. In addition, the site
offers trusted information resources for anyone inquiring about
vaccine safety.
The i choose campaign was developed by the CDPH Immunization
Branch in partnership with the California Immunization Coalition
(CIC). To learn more about the campaign, or how to implement it
in a local community, visit http://www.whyichoose.org or
contact Edgar.Ednacot@cdph.ca.gov
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9. |
FDA alert: Healthcare professionals can lower the risk of
transmitting hepatitis and HIV viruses by never sharing
insulin pens and cartridges among patients
On March 19, FDA issued a press
release reminding healthcare
professionals that insulin pens and cartridges must not be
shared. It is reprinted below in its entirety.
FDA: Insulin Pens and Insulin Cartridges Must Not Be Shared
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued an alert to
healthcare professionals reminding them that single-patient
insulin pens and insulin cartridges should not be used to
administer medication to multiple patients due to the potential
risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and the
hepatitis viruses.
Insulin pens are pen-shaped injector devices that contain a
disposable needle and either an insulin reservoir or an insulin
cartridge. The devices typically contain enough insulin for a
patient to self-administer several doses of insulin before the
reservoir or cartridge is empty. All insulin pens are approved
only for single-patient use (one device for only one patient).
The FDA is aware of incidents at two undisclosed hospitals
involving more than 2,000 people in which the cartridge
component of the insulin pens were used to administer insulin to
multiple patients, although the disposable needles were
reportedly changed among patients.
"Insulin pens are designed to be safe for one patient to use one
pen multiple times with a new, fresh needle for each injection,"
said Amy Egan, MD, deputy director of safety at the FDA's
Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products in the Center
for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Insulin pens are not
designed, and are not safe, for one pen to be used by more than
one patient, even if needles are changed between patients due to
the risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens."
Patients exposed to shared insulin pens are being contacted by
the two hospitals and are being offered testing for hepatitis
and HIV. Some of the potentially exposed patients have
reportedly tested positive for the hepatitis C virus, although
it is not known if the virus was spread as a result of insulin
pen sharing.
The FDA is working with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and professional organizations to address infection
control issues related to insulin pens.
For Information:
Information for Healthcare Professionals: Risk of Transmission
of Blood-borne Pathogens from Shared Use of Insulin Pens
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/HCP/insulin_pensHCP.htm
To access the press release, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW01976.html
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10. |
FDA selects influenza virus strains for the 2009-10
influenza vaccine
The FDA recently posted the
following information on its
website.
FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory
Committee (VRBPAC) met in Silver Spring, Maryland, on February
18, 2009, to select the influenza virus strains for the
composition of the influenza vaccine for use in the 2009-2010
U.S. influenza season. During this meeting, the advisory panel
reviewed and evaluated the surveillance data related to
epidemiology and antigenic characteristics, serological
responses to 2008/2009 vaccines, and the availability of
candidate strains and reagents.
The panel recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2009-2010
influenza season in the U.S. contain the following:
- an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus; [see Note 1 below]
- an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus; [see Note 2 below]
- a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
Note 1: A/Brisbane/59/2007 is a current vaccine virus; A/South
Dakota/6/2007 (an A/Brisbane/59/2007-like virus) is a current
vaccine virus used in live attenuated vaccines.
Note 2: A/Brisbane/10/2007 and A/Uruguay/716/2007 (an
A/Brisbane/10/2007-like virus) are current vaccine viruses.
The influenza vaccine composition to be used in the 2009-2010
influenza season in the U.S. is identical to that recommended by
the World Health Organization on February 12, 2009, for the
Northern Hemisphere's 2009-2010 influenza season.
To access the information from the FDA website, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/cber/flu/flu2009.htm
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11. |
March issue of CDC's
Immunization Works electronic
newsletter recently released
CDC recently released the March
issue of its monthly newsletter
Immunization Works; it will soon be posted on the website of the
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
(NCIRD). The newsletter offers the immunization community
information about current topics. The information is in the
public domain and can be reproduced and circulated widely.
Some of the information in the March issue has already appeared
in this or previous issues of IAC Express. Following is the text
of some articles we have not covered.
ADOLESCENT VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS UPDATE: In 2006, the
Assistant Secretary for HHS asked the National Vaccine Advisory
Committee (NVAC) to assess issues and make recommendations for
developing a comprehensive and successful adolescent
immunization program in the U.S. Years of research have
culminated in the publication of a report, entitled
Adolescent
Vaccination, Recommendations from the National Vaccine Advisory
Committee,
which appears in the March 2009 issue of the American Journal
of Preventive Medicine and details recommendations for five
key areas: venues for vaccine administration, consent for
immunizations, communication, surveillance, and the potential
for school mandates.
SURVEY OF HIB CARRIAGE IN MINNESOTA: Concerned that the increase
in invasive Hib disease may be the result of increased Hib
circulation among children in Minnesota, the Minnesota
Department of Health (MDH) is conducting a survey of Hib
carriage. "Carriage" occurs when bacteria live in the nose and
throat without causing illness. Vaccine reduces not only Hib
disease among children, but also Hib carriage. The MDH survey
aims to estimate the current proportion of Hib carriage among
children less than five years-old in Minnesota. Using roughly a
dozen pediatric clinics across the state, MDH staff are
enrolling approximately 2,000 children in the study when they
come to these clinics for well or sick child visits. In addition
to obtaining a throat swab of the child and reviewing the
child's immunization records, the child's caregiver will be
asked to complete a brief questionnaire. MDH is hopeful that
this evaluation will help them understand reasons why some
children are not vaccinated. While the Hib vaccine shortage
continues, completion of the primary series in all children is
essential to safeguarding individual protection as well as to
strengthening herd immunity. Visit CDC's
Hib Resource Webpage
for the latest tools and information.
SAVE THE DATE: GET SMART ABOUT ANTIBIOTICS WEEK: Mark your
calendars for "Get Smart about Antibiotics Week", October 5th-11th, 2009. For more information, please contact Darcia Johnson
at clq7@cdc.gov or visit the "Get Smart" web page
(http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community).
APPROPRIATE ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIBING TRAINING: CDC is offering a
free, interactive case-based online learning experience for
clinicians, Improving Appropriate Antibiotic Prescribing for
Acute Respiratory Infections
(http://www.getsmartcolorado.com/08course.htm). Participants can
choose to take the course for credit (CME, CNE, or AAFP).
Issues of Immunization Works are posted on CDC's Vaccines &
Immunizations website a few days after publication. To access
the March issue, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/news/newsltrs/imwrks Click on the
link titled "MAR" under the banner titled "2009 Newsletters
Available Online."
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12. |
Attention healthcare professionals: Free CE credits are
available at the National Immunization Conference
[The following is cross-posted
from CDC's Immunization Works
electronic newsletter, March 2009.]
HOW YOU CAN GET FAST AND FREE CE AT NIC: Did you know that free
Continuing Education credits will be offered at The National
Immunization Conference (NIC) in Dallas? Come to the CE
Room/Cyber Cafe at the conference for more information. And
here's a tip: You can avoid the Number One Headache for CE
seekers: Come to the conference with your password and login in
hand! Go online beforehand if you need a password reset:
www.cdc.gov/tceonline Contact
sfarrall@cdc.gov if you have
questions. NIC will be held March 30–April 2, 2009, at the
Sheraton Dallas. The draft NIC agenda is now posted
(http://cdc.confex.com/cdc/nic2009/webprogram/meeting.html).
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13. |
Inactivated influenza vaccine VIS now available in the
Karen language
The current version of the VIS
for trivalent inactivated
influenza vaccine (TIV; injectable), dated 7/24/08, is now
available in the Karen language, which is spoken in Myanmar. IAC
was informed that the previous Karen-language translation of the
VIS for TIV contained an error. IAC gratefully acknowledges the
Minnesota Department of Health for making the corrected
translation available.
To access the Karen version of the VIS for TIV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ka_flu.pdf
To access the English version of the VIS for TIV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/2flu.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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14. |
California Immunization Coalition's 2009 Summit is planned for April 20-21 in
Pasadena
"Strengthening Trust in Vaccines"
is the theme of the California Immunization Coalition's 2009 Summit. It will
be held in Pasadena on April 20-21. Featured speakers include Paul A. Offit,
MD, chief, Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital in Philadelphia and
professor of pediatrics at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; and
Litjen (L.J.) Tan, PhD, director, Medicine and Public Health, American
Medical Association.
For comprehensive information, go to:
http://immunizeca.org//index.pacq
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15. |
North Dakota Vaccination Expedition 2009 scheduled for May
28-29 in Grand Forks
Sponsored by the Grand Forks
Public Health Department and
Greater Grand Forks Immunization Coalition, North Dakota
Vaccination Expedition 2009 will be held in Grand Forks on May
28-29. Speakers include CDC's William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH,
medical epidemiologist, NCIRD; and Gary S. Marshall, MD,
professor of pediatrics, University of Louisville School of
Medicine.
For comprehensive information, go to:
http://www.grandforksgov.com/gfgov/health.nsf/pages/immunizations
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16. |
Attention: March 31 is the deadline for early bird
registration for the May 14 Points Across VI conference
Scheduled for May 14 in
Baltimore, the Points Across VI
conference will present information on professional development
and self-care for health promotion professionals. The deadline
for early bird registration in March 31.
To download information about the conference, including
registration information, go to:
http://www.edcp.org/pdf/2009_Points_Across_VI_Brochure.pdf
For additional information, email info@immunizemaryland.org or
call (410) 902-4677.
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17. |
GAO publishes the findings of its study on sustaining U.S.
efforts to plan and prepare for an influenza pandemic
In February, the Government
Accountability Office (GAO)
published the findings of its study on preparing for, responding
to, and recovering from a possible influenza pandemic. Titled
"Sustaining Focus on the Nation's Planning and Preparedness
Efforts," the report is available for downloading.
To access the document, go to:
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-334
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