IAC Express 2010
Issue number 880: August 2, 2010
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Contents of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article.
  1. CDC's 2010 recommendations for prevention and control of seasonal influenza published as an MMWR Early Release
  2. MMWR publishes CDC's recommendations for use of yellow fever vaccine
  3. MMWR reports on influenza activity in the United States during the 2009-10 influenza season
  4. MMWR reports on regional H1N1 influenza vaccination campaign in Skokie, IL
  5. IAC's Video of the Week focuses on autism research
  6. "CDC Features" educates the public about various immunization-related topics
  7. FDA approves 4 influenza vaccines for the 2010-11 season
  8. Campaign plans to vaccinate almost 8 million Afghani children against polio
  9. IAC updates "Management of Chronic Hepatitis B in Adults"
  10. CDC website posts presentation slide sets from the June ACIP meeting
  11. WHO publishes the June 2010 meeting report of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety
  12. Reminder: Vaccine Education Center to hold symposium in Philadelphia on September 25
  13. Minnesota immunization conference set for October 15
 
Abbreviations
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.
  
Issue 880: August 2, 2010
1.  CDC's 2010 recommendations for prevention and control of seasonal influenza published as an MMWR Early Release

On July 29, CDC published "Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010" as an MMWR Early Release. The Summary section is reprinted below.


This report updates the 2009 recommendations by CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of influenza vaccine for the prevention and control of influenza (CDC. Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP]. MMWR 2009;58[No. RR-8] and CDC. Use of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine--recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP], 2009. MMWR 2009;58:[No. RR-10]). The 2010 influenza recommendations include new and updated information. Highlights of the 2010 recommendations include (1) a recommendation that annual vaccination be administered to all persons aged >=6 months for the 2010-11 influenza season; (2) a recommendation that children aged 6 months-8 years whose vaccination status is unknown or who have never received seasonal influenza vaccine before (or who received seasonal vaccine for the first time in 2009-10 but received only 1 dose in their first year of vaccination) as well as children who did not receive at least 1 dose of an influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine regardless of previous influenza vaccine history should receive 2 doses of a 2010-11 seasonal influenza vaccine (minimum interval: 4 weeks) during the 2010-11 season; (3) a recommendation that vaccines containing the 2010-11 trivalent vaccine virus strains A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like (the same strain as was used for 2009 H1N1 monovalent vaccines), A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like, and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like antigens be used; (4) information about Fluzone High-Dose, a newly approved vaccine for persons aged >=65 years; and (5) information about other standard-dose newly approved influenza vaccines and previously approved vaccines with expanded age indications. Vaccination efforts should begin as soon as the 2010-11 seasonal influenza vaccine is available and continue through the influenza season. These recommendations also include a summary of safety data for U.S.-licensed influenza vaccines. These recommendations and other information are available at CDC's influenza website (http://www.cdc.gov/flu); any updates or supplements that might be required during the 2010-11 influenza season also will be available at this website. Recommendations for influenza diagnosis and antiviral use will be published before the start of the 2010-11 influenza season. Vaccination and healthcare providers should be alert to announcements of recommendation updates and should check the CDC influenza website periodically for additional information.


To access "Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr59e0729.pdf

To access all final ACIP recommendations, go to: http://www.immunize.org/acip IAC's ACIP web section allows visitors to sort documents by date, vaccine, and topic. Bookmark this link for easy access to all provisional and final ACIP recommendations.

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2 MMWR publishes CDC's recommendations for use of yellow fever vaccine CDC published "Yellow Fever Vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)" in a July 30 MMWR Recommendations and Reports. The Summary section is reprinted below.


This report updates CDC's recommendations for using yellow fever (YF) vaccine (CDC. Yellow fever vaccine: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices: MMWR 2002;51 [No. RR-17]). Since the previous YF vaccine recommendations were published in 2002, new or additional information has become available on the epidemiology of YF, safety profile of the vaccine, and health regulations related to the vaccine. This report summarizes the current epidemiology of YF, describes immunogenicity and safety data for the YF vaccine, and provides recommendations for the use of YF vaccine among travelers and laboratory workers.

YF is a vectorborne disease resulting from the transmission of yellow fever virus (YFV) to a human from the bite of an infected mosquito. It is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America and is estimated to cause 200,000 cases of clinical disease and 30,000 deaths annually. Infection in humans is capable of producing hemorrhagic fever and is fatal in 20%-50% of persons with severe disease. Because no treatment exists for YF disease, prevention is critical to lower disease risk and mortality. A traveler's risk for acquiring YFV is determined by multiple factors, including immunization status, location of travel, season, duration of exposure, occupational and recreational activities while traveling, and local rate of virus transmission at the time of travel.

All travelers to countries in which YF is endemic should be advised of the risks for contracting the disease and available methods to prevent it, including use of personal protective measures and receipt of vaccine. Administration of YF vaccine is recommended for persons aged >=9 months who are traveling to or living in areas of South America and Africa in which a risk exists for YFV transmission. Because serious adverse events can occur following YF vaccine administration, healthcare providers should vaccinate only persons who are at risk for exposure to YFV or who require proof of vaccination for country entry. To minimize the risk for serious adverse events, healthcare providers should observe the contraindications, consider the precautions to vaccination before administering vaccine, and issue a medical waiver if indicated.

To access "Yellow Fever Vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5907.pdf

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3 MMWR reports on influenza activity in the United States during the 2009-10 influenza season

CDC published "Update: Influenza Activity--United States, 2009-10 Season" in the July 30 issue of MMWR. The first paragraph of the Editorial Note is reprinted below.


April 2009 marked the beginning of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. The reported rates of pediatric hospitalization and mortality were the highest recorded using current surveillance systems; however, rates of hospitalization and death were lower among older persons compared to rates typically seen during influenza A (H3N2) predominant seasons. Substantial levels of transmission and detection of 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus continued from the spring into summer in contrast with the usual limited and sporadic occurrence of influenza viruses during summer months. Outpatient visits for ILI [influenza-like illness] continued to persist at elevated levels through the summer, although the levels reported did not exceed baseline levels, with the exception of 1 week in April, until late summer and early fall 2009.

To access the full article in web-text (HTML) format, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5929a2.htm

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4 MMWR reports on regional H1N1 influenza vaccination campaign in Skokie, IL

CDC published "Regional Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccination Campaign--Skokie, Illinois, October 16-December 31, 2009" in the July 30 issue of MMWR. The first paragraph is reprinted below.


On July 29, 2009, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended a phased approach for administration of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine, with certain high-risk groups in the United States receiving the first doses. In Illinois, state authorities gave responsibility for initial vaccine administration to local health departments and hospitals. This report describes the vaccination campaign of the Skokie Health Department (SHD), during October 16-December 31, 2009. The SHD campaign initially was planned to cover the 67,000 persons residing in Skokie only, but that plan was expanded on November 4, when, in response to a nationwide vaccine shortage, the state health director urged local health departments to vaccinate any person in the ACIP priority groups regardless of jurisdictional boundaries. SHD, with the assistance of 1,075 volunteers, either administered or distributed to medical providers 40,850 H1N1 vaccine doses during a 9-week period, including 8,904 doses administered at 52 Skokie schools and daycare facilities, and 12,876 doses at mass vaccination clinics visited by residents of 193 of the 1,313 Illinois municipalities. At the time of the campaign, widespread illness from 2009 H1N1 in Illinois, with highly publicized deaths, contributed to a public sense of urgency about vaccination. Consistent with published studies, mass clinics in Skokie were an effective means to vaccinate large populations rapidly. The campaign highlighted the need for flexible plans, including the possibility of vaccinating persons who resided well beyond SHD's jurisdictional borders.

To access the full article in web-text (HTML) format, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5929a3.htm

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5 IAC's Video of the Week focuses on autism research

Researchers around the world are working diligently to find the cause(s) of autism and treatments for this disease. IAC encourages IAC Express readers to watch an 8.4-minute video about current findings in autism research.

According to the Autism Science Foundation, the science is very clear: vaccines do not cause autism and it's time to move on from this well-debunked myth and find out what does. In this week's video, Dr. Jennifer Pinto-Martin, chair of the 2010 International Meeting for Autism Research, provides highlights of the most exciting research findings presented at the meeting.

The video will be available on the home page of IAC's website through August 8. To access it, go to: http://www.immunize.org and click on the image under the words Video of the Week.

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

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6 "CDC Features" educates the public about various immunization-related topics

The "CDC Features" web section includes timely immunization-related information for the public on measles, rabies, and pregnancy.

To access "Measles--Make Sure Your Child Is Fully Immunized," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Measles

To access "Protect Your Family from Rabies," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/RabiesSafeFamily

To access "Preventing Infections during Pregnancy," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pregnancy

To access an alphabetical index of all "CDC Features," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/az

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7 FDA approves 4 influenza vaccines for the 2010-11 season

FDA has recently published approval information for 4 influenza vaccines for the 2010-11 influenza season--FluLaval (GlaxoSmithKline), Fluzone and Fluzone High-Dose (sanofi pasteur), and FluMist (MedImmune).

FLULAVAL
Approval letter:
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm112845.htm

Package insert:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM112904.pdf

FLUZONE AND FLUZONE HIGH-DOSE
Approval letter:
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm112854.htm

Package insert:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM195479.pdf

FLUMIST
Approval letter:
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm094047.htm

Package insert:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM123743.pdf

To obtain package inserts for all licensed U.S. vaccines, go to: http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts

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8 Campaign plans to vaccinate almost 8 million Afghani children against polio

Last week, more than 20,000 volunteers and healthcare workers in Afghanistan went door-to-door to deliver oral polio vaccine as part of a 3-day polio eradication effort. This campaign is just part of a greater effort led by the Ministry of Public Health with the support of WHO, UNICEF, and other partners. This coalition hopes to vaccinate 7.7 Afghani million children by the year's end, despite the impediments of war, population mobility, and violence against volunteers.

To read more about this inspiring effort, go to: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=35432&Cr=polio&Cr1=

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9 IAC updates "Management of Chronic Hepatitis B in Adults"

IAC recently updated "Management of Chronic Hepatitis B in Adults." This one-page summary of management of people with chronic hepatitis B virus infection was reviewed by the author, Brian McMahon, MD. Dr. McMahon is an internal medicine specialist and medical director of the Liver Disease and Hepatitis Program at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, Alaska.

To access this updated handout, go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2161.pdf

IAC's Handouts for Patients and Staff web section offers healthcare professionals and the public approximately 250 FREE English-language handouts (many also available in translation), which we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely. To access all of IAC's free handouts, go to: http://www.immunize.org/handouts

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10.  CDC website posts presentation slide sets from the June ACIP meeting

The CDC website recently posted the PowerPoint slide sets presented at the June 23-24 ACIP meeting.

To access the slide sets, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/slides-jun10.htm

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11.  WHO publishes the June 2010 meeting report of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety

On July 23, the WHO publication Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) published "Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety [GACVS], 16-17, June 2010." An expert clinical and scientific advisory body, GACVS deals independently and with scientific rigor with vaccine safety issues of potential global importance.

At the June meeting the committee reviewed the safety of pandemic A (H1N1) influenza vaccines, an apparent increase in febrile reactions following administration of a seasonal influenza vaccine in Australia, the finding of DNA from porcine circoviruses in rotavirus vaccines, the safety of live attenuated hepatitis A vaccines, the safety profile of a prequalified meningococcal A conjugate vaccine, and new data on yellow fever vaccine-related risks.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the July 23 issue, go to: http://www.who.int/wer/2010/wer8530.pdf

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12.  Reminder: Vaccine Education Center to hold symposium in Philadelphia on September 25

The Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia will hold a Vaccine Education Symposium on September 25.

For more information, download the symposium brochure at http://www.chop.edu/system/galleries/download/pdfs/articles/cme/vaccine-2010.pdf

To register online, go to: https://www.chop.edu/professionals/educational-resources/continuing-medical-education/registration.cfm/vaccine-2010

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13.  Minnesota immunization conference set for October 15

The Minnesota Department of Health's "Got Your Shots?" immunization conference will be held at the Grand View Lodge at Nisswa, MN, on October 15. The conference will provide an opportunity for public and private partners to explore ongoing and upcoming issues related to vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization.

For more information, go to: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/conference/index.html

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    Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
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