The July 2009 issue of Vaccinate Adults is now available for viewing and downloading. This free, popular, semi-annual, 12-page resource for health professionals is packed full of easy-to-read and CDC-reviewed educational content, as well as other resources for adult immunization.

Here are the titles of articles included in this issue:

• Ask the Experts
• Do I Need Any Vaccinations Today?
• Vaccinations for Adults . . . You're NEVER too old to get immunized!
• How to Administer IM and SC Injections to Adults
• Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule, U.S., 2009
• Influenza Vaccination for Healthcare Workers: Our duty to our patients

The July 2009 issue is the first issue of Vaccinate Adults that is not being distributed in print by U.S. mail. IAC assures IAC Express and Vaccinate Adults readers that the content of the July 2009 issue--as well as all future issues--is fully up to the standards you have come to expect from the hardcopies of Vaccinate Adults.

This online issue of Vaccinate Adults allows readers to navigate its content by using some of the more than 100 clickable links located throughout.

To download the entire issue, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va/va23.pdf
 

If you don't have time to print the entire issue, select from the clickable links, which you will find at http://www.immunize.org/va

On June 24, ACIP voted on revised recommendations for the use of Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine in travelers and laboratory workers. On July 14, ACIP website posted "ACIP Provisional Recommendations for the Use of Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine." The provisional recommendations will become final after they are approved by CDC and HHS and are published in MMWR.

To access the provisional recommendations for the use of Japanese encephalitis vaccine, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/provisional/downloads/je-july2009-508.pdf

The home page of IAC's redesigned diseases and vaccines web section is structured to take web users directly to a broad range of useful and reliable information on 22 diseases and vaccines. If you have two minutes to spare, take time now to learn how to save yourself a lot of valuable time in the future.

Go to the diseases and vaccines home page at http://www.immunize.org/vaccines Click on the orange dot next to any of the 22 diseases/vaccines listed. Then, click around on the various orange dots and hyperlinks on the disease/vaccine page you've selected.

Prepare to be impressed as you gain immediate access to practical, hands-on information for patients and staff; definitive policy and licensing information; compelling videos, case reports, and personal accounts about people who have experienced VPDs; and pertinent articles published in the main-stream media and academic journals.

All of it is focused on the single vaccine/disease you selected. No searching in side bars, no scrolling through lists. Click once and you are THERE, looking at JUST the information you want and ONLY the information you want.

Now that you're familiar with the benefits of using IAC's diseases and vaccines web section, we hope you will bookmark it and visit it often.

The August observation of National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is a great way for health departments and other healthcare organizations to get community groups involved in immunization education efforts. Communities are encouraged to plan local health screenings or fairs, media events, and other related outreach efforts that promote the benefits of immunization.

For general information about NIAM and immunization, and for specific resources that promote immunization throughout the lifespan, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam

On July 16, FDA reported that Wyeth was voluntarily recalling one lot of its pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), Prevnar. Information from the FDA website follows.

To access the recall notice, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/Recalls/ucm172378.htm

On July 3, CDC posted the following updates to its Current Vaccine Shortages & Delays web page:

MONOVALENT MEASLES, MUMPS, AND RUBELLA: Merck does not anticipate its monovalent measles (Attenuvax), mumps (Mumpsvax), and rubella (Meruvax) vaccines to be available for at least two years given its current expectations regarding vaccine manufacturing capacity.

MEASLES-MUMPS-RUBELLA-VARICELLA (MMRV): Merck expects its MMRV vaccine (ProQuad) to be fully available to the U.S. market in the first half of 2010.

HIB AND HIB-HEPATITIS B: Merck is working with regulatory authorities with a goal of making a limited supply of its Hib vaccine PedvaxHIB available in fourth quarter 2009, with full availability of product in first quarter 2010. The market return of its Hib-HepB vaccine (Comvax) will depend on the supply situation for both the Hib and HepB vaccine components.

ADULT HEPATITIS A: Merck's adult hepatitis A vaccine (adult Vaqta) will not be available in 2009. GSK's production and supply of its adult HepA vaccine (adult Havrix) and its adult HepA/HepB combination vaccine (Twinrix) are adequate to meet current demand for adult HepA vaccination.

CDC updates vaccine supply information as needed to provide public information on vaccine shortages and/or delays. To access vaccine supply and shortage information, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages/default.htm

CDC advises healthcare professionals that during the current outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1), all people who have existing indications for PPSV should be vaccinated according to current ACIP recommendations. This is important because people with existing indications are not only at increased risk for pneumococcal disease, but are also at increased risk for serious complications from influenza. Use of PPSV among people without current indications for vaccination is not recommended at this time.

To access CDC's comprehensive document "Interim guidance for use of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine during  novel influenza A (H1N1) outbreak," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/ppsv_h1n1.htm

CDC recently posted new or updated information to various sub-sections of its H1N1 Flu web section. Following are the titles and URLs of documents that have been posted since the July 13 issue of IAC Express:

10 Steps You Can Take: Actions for Novel H1N1 Influenza Planning and Response for Medical Offices and Outpatient Facilities
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/10steps.htm

Home Care Guidance: Physician Directions to Patient/Parent
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare_directions.htm

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Related Links [to H1N1 information posted on the websites of national and international organizations]
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/related_links.htm

The home page of CDC's H1N1 Flu web section can be accessed
from http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

IAC has gathered information related to H1N1 influenza in a web section to make it easier to keep up to date with developments. To access this resource, go to: http://www.immunize.org/h1n1

IAC recently revised four of its Q&A print pieces that educate the public about various diseases and vaccines:

(1) "Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Questions and Answers" now has additional information about vaccine side effects and reactions.
(2) "Measles: Questions and Answers" now includes the number of measles cases reported to CDC in 2008.
(3) "Pneumococcus: Questions and Answers" now reflects the new recommendations to vaccinate adult smokers and adult asthmatics with PPSV.
(4) "Polio: Questions and Answers" has been updated with a new question, new statistics, and data on the number of new polio cases reported worldwide in 2008.

The revised pieces are ready-to-print versions of some of the CDC-reviewed material located on IAC's Vaccine Information website (www.vaccineinformation.org). The website is intended for the public, health professionals, and the media.

HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV)
To access the revised ready-to-print (PDF) print piece "Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4207.pdf

To view an HTML version of these Q&As, go to the following:
(1) Human Papillomavirus (HPV) disease:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/HPV/qandadis.asp

(2) Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/HPV/qandavax.asp

MEASLES
To access the revised ready-to-print (PDF) print piece
"Measles: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4209.pdf

To view an HTML version of these Q&As, go to the following:
(1) Measles disease:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/measles/qandadis.asp

(2) Measles vaccine:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/measles/qandavax.asp

PNEUMOCOCCUS
To access the revised ready-to-print (PDF) print piece
"Pneumococcus: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4213.pdf

To view an HTML version of these Q&As, go to the following:
(1) Pneumococcal disease:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/pneumchild/qandadis.asp

(2) Pneumococcal vaccine:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/pneumchild/qandavax.asp

POLIO
To access the revised ready-to-print (PDF) print piece
"Polio: Questions and Answers," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4215.pdf

To view an HTML version of these Q&As, go to the following:
(1) Polio disease:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/polio/qandadis.asp

(2) Polio vaccine:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/polio/qandavax.asp

To access Q&As about other diseases and vaccines in PDF format, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials/questions.asp

CDC recently updated its online shingles vaccine Q&As for the public. To access "Herpes Zoster Vaccine Q&A (Shingles)," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/vac-faqs.htm

CDC offers an array of information on shingles disease/vaccine for the public, healthcare professionals, and the media. To access it, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles

CDC published "Japanese Encephalitis Among Three U.S. Travelers Returning from Asia, 2003-2008" in the July 17 issue of MMWR. The opening paragraph of the article is reprinted below.

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

CDC will present a satellite broadcast and webcast, Immunization Update 2009, on July 30. The live broadcast will air from 9AM ET-11:30AM ET. It will be rebroadcast the same day from 12 noon ET-2:30PM ET.

Anticipated topics include the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus, seasonal influenza, rotavirus, vaccine safety, vaccine supply, "alternative" vaccination schedules, and other issues.

More program information is available at
http://www2a.cdc.gov/phtn/immupdate2009/default.asp

On July 13, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a press release titled "HHS Purchases Additional H1N1 Vaccine Ingredients." The press release states: "The funds will be used to place additional orders for bulk H1N1 antigen and adjuvant on existing contracts with sanofi pasteur, MedImmune, GlaxoSmithKline, and Novartis. The vaccine ingredients will become a part of the pandemic stockpile, for use if a vaccination campaign is necessary."

On July 16, the White House issued the text of a related one-paragraph letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In it, the President writes that Congress has appropriated $7.65 billion to HHS for the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak and gives a few details on the breakdown of the appropriation.

To access complete HHS press release, go to:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/07/20090713b.html

To access the complete White House letter, go to:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Letter-from-the-President-regarding-H1N1

Dated 4/16/09, the current VIS for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) is now available in Thai. IAC gratefully acknowledges Asian Pacific Health Care Venture for the translation.

For the Thai version of the VIS for PPSV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/th_pne97.pdf

For the English version of the VIS for PPSV, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/pneum3.pdf

NOTE: The VIS for PPSV comes in additional languages, including Spanish. To access them, go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_ppsv.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

IAC encourages IAC Express readers to watch a 70-minute video of a Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) conference panel on the global response to H1N1. This session was part of the CFR Symposium on the United States and the Future of Global Governance. A transcript of the video is available at http://www.cfr.org/publication/19399/global_response_to_the_swine_influenza.html

The video will be available on the home page of IAC's website through July 26. To access it, go to: http://www.immunize.org and click on the image under the words Video of the Week. 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. To view an IAC Video of the Week from the past, go to the video archive at http://www.immunize.org/votw/jun09.asp

The American College of Emergency Physicians recently announced the online availability of its National Strategic Plan for Emergency Department Management of Outbreaks of Novel H1N1 Influenza. It is intended to help the nation's emergency departments and first responders plan for and manage the surge in novel H1N1 influenza cases that may arrive as early as September.

To access the plan, go to:
http://www.acep.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=45781

CDC published "Notice to Readers: Epidemic Intelligence Service Application Deadline--September 15, 2009" in the July 17 issue of MMWR. A portion of the notice is reprinted below.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5827.pdf

ACIP recently updated its website with the following:

Draft meeting agenda for the July 29 special meeting on H1N1 influenza:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/downloads/agenda-jul09.pdf

Presentation slides from the June 24-26 ACIP meeting:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/slides-jun09.htm

The National Influenza Vaccine Summit recently posted presentation slides from its June 29-July 1 meeting. To access them, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org/presentations_2009.asp

IAC has two laminated immunization schedules for 2009--one for children/teens ages 0 through 18 years and one for adults. Based on CDC's 2009 immunization schedules, the laminated schedules offer two significant advantages over paper schedules:

(1) They are covered with a tough, washable coating that lets them stand up to a year's worth of use as guides to immunization and as teaching tools you can use to give patients and parents authoritative immunization information.

(2) Each schedule includes a guide to vaccine contraindications and precautions, a feature that will help you to make on-the-spot determinations about vaccinating patients of any age.

IAC's 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".

An image of each schedule is available, as is specific information about each, and a downloadable order form and online ordering information.

To access an image of the child/teen schedule and related information, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/shop/schedule_child.asp

To access an image of the adult schedule and related information, go to:
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 mailto:admininfo@immunize.org

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently launched a new public service announcement (PSA) contest. The goal is to encourage more Americans to get involved in the nation's flu preparedness efforts by making a 15-second or 30-second PSA. The winning PSA will be featured on national television, and the winner will receive a prize of $2,500. The deadline for submissions is August 17.

For information about the contest and for contest rules, go to: http://www.flu.gov/psa

The July 17 issue of MMWR includes an article, "Intensive-Care Patients with Severe Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection--Michigan, June 2009." It was previously published as a MMWR Dispatch on July 10 and was covered in the July 13 issue of IAC Express. Links to the article and entire July 17 MMWR issue follow:

To access a web-text version of "Intensive-Care Patients with Severe Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection--Michigan, June 2009," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5827a4.htm

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the July 17 issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5827.pdf

The Nevada Immunization Coalition's "NV'r Miss A Shot: 2009 Early Childhood Health and Immunization Summit" will be held in Las Vegas on September 14-15. The keynote speaker is Dr. Paul A. Offit, chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, and director, Vaccine Education Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

To access the conference brochure, which includes a mail-in registration form, go to:
http://immunizenevada.com/documents/document_78.pdf

To register online, go to:
https://esimgt.org/eventcontroller?eventid=1&action=register

The annual Shots for Tots conference will be held in New Orleans on October 29. The keynote speaker is Dr. Anne Schuchat, director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC.

To access the conference brochure, which includes a mail-in registration form, go to:
http://www.shotsfortots.com/docs/conference1.pdf

The International Neonatal and Maternal Immunization Symposium (INMIS 2009) will be held in Antalya, Turkey, on November 8-9 2009. Sponsors include the Turkish Pediatric Infectious Disease Society, European Society of Pediatric Infectious Disease, and PATH. The deadline for abstract submissions is August 5.

To access comprehensive information about the program, speakers, registration, and more, go to:
http://www.inmis2009.org