Issue 1010: August 21, 2012

TOP STORIES

VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS

OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

FEATURED RESOURCES

JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS



TOP STORIES

New: August 2012 issue of Needle Tips now online
The August 2012 issue of Needle Tips is now online.

Download the August issue of Needle Tips

This issue presents an array of materials that healthcare professionals can rely on to vaccinate people of all ages. Readers will find a new healthcare-provider piece on meningococcal vaccination recommendations organized by age and risk factor, updated pieces on adult vaccination, CDC resources on childhood and adolescent vaccination, and much more.

The issue also includes the "Ask the Experts" column from CDC medical epidemiologist Andrew T. Kroger, MD, MPH; nurse educator Donna L. Weaver, RN, MN; and medical officer Iyabode Akinsanya-Beysolow, MD, MPH.
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CDC publishes 2012–13 recommendations for prevention and control of influenza with vaccines
CDC published Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—United States, 2012–13 Influenza Season in the August 17 issue of MMWR (pages 613–618). The first paragraph is reprinted below.

In 2010, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) first recommended annual influenza vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months in the United States. Annual influenza vaccination of all persons aged ≥6 months continues to be recommended. This document (1) describes influenza vaccine virus strains included in the U.S. seasonal influenza vaccine for 2012–13; (2) provides guidance for the use of influenza vaccines during the 2012–13 season, including an updated vaccination schedule for children aged 6 months through 8 years and a description of available vaccine products and indications; (3) discusses febrile seizures associated with administration of influenza and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate (PCV-13) vaccines; (4) provides vaccination recommendations for persons with a history of egg allergy; and (5) discusses the development of quadrivalent influenza vaccines for use in future influenza seasons. Information regarding issues related to influenza vaccination that are not addressed in this update is available in CDC's Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010 and associated updates.

Related Links
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CDC updates influenza A (H3N2v) case counts as of August 17 and posts new H3N2v information
On August 17, CDC updated the information on "Table. Case Count: Detected U.S. Human Infections with H3N2v by State since August 2011," which is located on the Information on Influenza A (H3N2) Variant Viruses (“H3N2v”) web page. On August 17, CDC also posted More H3N2v Cases Reported, Still Linked to Pig Exposure, a web page of information on recent cases of H3N2. It indicates that 71 additional cases of H3N2v were reported in the past week, bringing the total number of such infections since July 2012 in the United States to 224.

Related Links
  • Access a PDF and a web page of the newly posted "Swine Influenza: Issues for Fair Organizers to Consider When Planning Fairs"
  • Access a web page of the newly posted "Supplemental Interim Guidance for School Administrators Associated with Possible Outbreaks of H3N2 Variant Influenza Virus ('H3N2v')"
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CDC publishes report in MMWR on evaluation of rapid influenza diagnostic tests for detection of H3N2v viruses
CDC published Evaluation of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests for Influenza A (H3N2v) Virus and Updated Case Count—United States, 2012 in the August 17 issue of MMWR (pages 619–621). This report was previously published as an MMWR Early Release on August 10, and was previously covered in IAC Express on August 14.

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CDC publishes recommendations for identifying chronic hepatitis C infection among people born during 1945–1965
On August 17, CDC published MMWR Recommendations and Reports titled Recommendations for the Identification of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Persons Born During 1945–1965. A portion of the "Summary," which appears at the beginning of the recommendations, is reprinted below.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Many of the 2.7–3.9 million persons living with HCV infection are unaware they are infected and do not receive care (e.g., education, counseling, and medical monitoring) and treatment. CDC estimates that although persons born during 1945–1965 comprise an estimated 27% of the population, they account for approximately three fourths of all HCV infections in the United States, 73% of HCV-associated mortality, and are at greatest risk for hepatocellular carcinoma and other HCV-related liver disease. With the advent of new therapies that can halt disease progression and provide a virologic cure (i.e., sustained viral clearance following completion of treatment) in most persons, targeted testing and linkage to care for infected persons in this birth cohort is expected to reduce HCV-related morbidity and mortality. CDC is augmenting previous recommendations for HCV testing (CDC. Recommendations for prevention and control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HCV-related chronic disease. MMWR 1998;47[No. RR–19]) to recommend one-time testing without prior ascertainment of HCV risk for persons born during 1945–1965, a population with a disproportionately high prevalence of HCV infection and related disease.

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Spotlight on immunize.org: New! H3N2v influenza web section
Are you looking for information on the influenza A (H3N2v) virus outbreaks in the United States? Start here! IAC’s new web section, titled H3N2v Outbreak Information, features links to current guidance and information from CDC and animal health authorities. You’ll also find other helpful resources related to the outbreak including state health department press releases, journal articles, posters, handouts, news feed, and much more.

You can access the new H3N2v Outbreak Information web section from the Influenza section, the A-to-Z index, or by using IAC’s search engine.

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VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS

VISs for 2012–13 influenza vaccine now available in up to 25 languages 
IAC recently posted the 2012–13 VIS for trivalent inactivated influenza  vaccine (TIV; injectable) in 25 languages and the 2012–13 VIS for live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV; nasal spray) in 23 languages. IAC thanks the following individuals and organizations for providing translations.
  • Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Los Angeles (Thai)
  • California Department of Public Health, Immunization Branch (Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese)
  • CDC, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (Nepali, Somali)
  • Hawaii Department of Health (Ilokano)
  • Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Haitian Creole, Portuguese)
  • Minnesota Department of Health (Hmong, Karen)
  • Mustafa Kozanoglu, MD, Adana, Turkey (Turkish)
  • New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Bengali, Polish, Russian, Urdu)
  • Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Dover, NH (Indonesian)
  • Yisehak Tura, RN, Minneapolis (Amharic)
Note: IAC provided the French translation

Related Link
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VIS for MMR vaccine now available in Indonesian
IAC recently posted a translation of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine VIS in Indonesian. IAC thanks Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Dover, NH, for the translation.
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OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

FDA approves the 2012–13 influenza vaccine formulation for manufacturers licensed to produce and distribute influenza vaccine in the United States
On August 13, FDA issued a press release titled FDA approves vaccines for the 2012–2013 influenza season. It includes information on the three vaccine strains selected for inclusion in the 2012–13 influenza vaccine, as well as a list of the manufacturers licensed to produce the nation's 2012–13 influenza vaccine and vaccine brand names.

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CDC publishes final 2011 reports of nationally notifiable infectious diseases
CDC published Notices to Readers: Final 2011 Reports of Nationally Notifiable Infectious Diseases in the August 17 issue of MMWR (page 624). The first two sentences of the article are reprinted below.

The tables listed in this report on pages 625–637 summarize finalized data, as of June 30, 2012, from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) for 2011.These data will be published in more detail in the Summary of Notifiable Diseases—United States, 2011.

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FEATURED RESOURCES

Advocacy for Vaccines guide can help school nurses promote adult vaccination within the school community
Published in June by the NEA Health Information Network, Advocacy for Vaccines: A Leadership Guide or School Nurses and Allied Health Professionals is intended to give nurses and allied school health professionals the tools they need to inform, educate, and advocate for adult immunization within their school communities. School nurses and allied health professionals can serve as role models by making sure their own vaccinations are up to date, and can also advocate for vaccination with their health colleagues, other school employees, volunteers, and students' parents and other family members.

The 30-page publication is available in hard-copy format for a nominal charge to cover shipping and handling or as a FREE PDF download.

As the nonprofit health and safety arm of the National Education Association (NEA), the NEA Health Information Network provides health and safety information, programs, and services for the benefit of the more than 3 million members of the NEA and their 43 million students.

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CDC updates its atlas of data on HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and tuberculosis
CDC published Announcement: Updated Online NCHHSTP Atlas in the August 17 issue of MMWR (page 623). Launched in January 2012 by CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), the NCHHSTP Atlas is an interactive, online mapping tool and platform for accessing data collected by the center. Atlas data were updated earlier in August. The update allows atlas users to observe disease trends and patterns not only of human immunodeficiency virus infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and some sexually transmitted infections (i.e., chlamydia, gonorrhea, and primary and secondary syphilis), but also of acute viral hepatitis A, B, and C, and tuberculosis.

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JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS

CDC publishes report on evolution of varicella surveillance in selected U.S. states during 2000–2010CDC published Evolution of Varicella Surveillance—Selected States, 2000–2010 in the August 17 issue of MMWR (pages 609–612). A press summary of the article is reprinted below.

From 2000-2010, during the routine varicella vaccination program, overall varicella incidence decreased 80 percent in 31 states. From 2006-2010, when 2 doses of varicella vaccine were first recommended for routine use in children, varicella incidence decreased approximately 70 percent. The greatest declines in varicella, also known as chickenpox, were in children 5–9 years old, the age group targeted for 2 doses of the vaccine. Varicella incidence is expected to decline further as 2-dose vaccination coverage increases. National varicella surveillance has improved greatly since 1996, when the vaccine was first recommended for use in the United States. As of 2010, 31 states had adequate and consistent varicella reporting to CDC. To continue monitoring the 2-dose varicella vaccination program effectively, it is increasingly important for all states to move towards case-based varicella surveillance. Routine varicella vaccination has been very effective at preventing varicella in the United States, and declines should continue as 2-dose coverage increases.

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Scanned 1952–1982 issues of MMWR available online
CDC published Notices to Readers: Scanned 1952–1982 Issues of MMWR Available Online in the August 17 issue of MMWR (page 624). The article is reprinted below.

Issues from the first 30 years of MMWR are now available to the public online as one of the collections in "CDC Stacks," an institutional repository. As with other documents in CDC Stacks, the MMWR issues are in portable document format (PDF), and the text can be searched electronically.

In addition to the first 30 years of
MMWR, CDC Stacks contains documents spanning the history of the agency, including CDC Open Access, Influenza Surveillance Reports, and CDC Guidelines and Recommendations. CDC Stacks allows users to browse journal articles by public health subjects and explore collections of documents on relevant topics. New documents are added each week. CDC Stacks is available at http://stacks.cdc.gov. The MMWR collection is available at http://stacks.cdc.gov/mmwr.

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IZ Express is supported in part by Grant No. 1NH23IP922654 from CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Its contents are solely the responsibility of Immunize.org and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.

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Editorial Information

  • Editor-in-Chief
    Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
  • Managing Editor
    John D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
  • Associate Editor
    Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
  • Writer/Publication Coordinator
    Taryn Chapman, MS
    Courtnay Londo, MA
  • Style and Copy Editor
    Marian Deegan, JD
  • Web Edition Managers
    Arkady Shakhnovich
    Jermaine Royes
  • Contributing Writer
    Laurel H. Wood, MPA
  • Technical Reviewer
    Kayla Ohlde

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