Issue 1028: November 27, 2012
TOP STORIES
IAC HANDOUTS
FEATURED RESOURCES
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
TOP STORIES
FDA approves first seasonal influenza vaccine manufactured using cell culture technology
On November 20, FDA approved the use of the first influenza vaccine produced using cultured animal cells (Flucelvax; Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics GmbH, Marburg, Germany). A portion of a related FDA press release issued on November 20 is reprinted below.
FDA approves first seasonal influenza vaccine manufactured using cell culture technology
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today the approval of Flucelvax, the first seasonal influenza vaccine licensed in the United States produced using cultured animal cells, instead of fertilized chicken eggs. Flucelvax is approved to prevent seasonal influenza in people ages 18 years and older.
The manufacturing process for Flucelvax is similar to the egg-based production method, but a significant difference is that the virus strains included in the vaccine are grown in animal cells of mammalian origin instead of in eggs. Cell culture technology has already been in use for several decades to produce other U.S. licensed vaccines.
“Today’s approval represents the culmination of efforts to develop a seasonal influenza vaccine using cell culture as an alternative to the egg-based process,” said Karen Midthun, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
Cell culture technology is another manufacturing alternative to conventional egg-based influenza vaccine production. Advantages of cell culture technology include the ability to maintain an adequate supply of readily available, previously tested and characterized cells for use in vaccine production and the potential for a faster start-up of the vaccine manufacturing process in the event of a pandemic.
Related Links
Back to top
IAC Spotlight! Influenza handouts for patients and staff
National Influenza Vaccination Week is almost here (December 2–8)! So if you're looking for quick access to influenza vaccination-related handouts for patients and staff, look no further. IAC's Influenza Handouts web section features more than a dozen pieces to help you carry out your vaccination activities this week and during the entire influenza vaccination season.
Related Links
Back to top
Reminder: Be sure to register for CDC's November 29 NetConference on vaccine storage and handling
CDC will present a Current Issues in Immunization NetConference on November 29 from noon to 1 p.m., ET. Dr. Chesley Richards, MD, MPH, FACP, director, Immunization Services Division, NCIRD, will speak on the impact and importance of proper vaccine storage and handling.
Patricia Beckenhaupt, RN, MS, MPH, public health analyst, will discuss updated vaccine storage recommendations. JoEllen Wolicki, RN, BSN, nurse educator, will address storage and handling best practices and resources for providers.
Registration, which is required, will close on November 28 or when the course is full.
Back to top
IAC HANDOUTS
IAC updates patient handout "Pneumococcus: Questions and Answers"
IAC recently revised Pneumococcus: Questions and Answers, a 4-page handout for patients and parents. Most notably, information about administering pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) to high-risk adults was added.
Related Link
IAC's Handouts for Patients & Staff web section offers healthcare professionals and the public more than 250 FREE English-language handouts (many also available in translation), which we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely.
Back to top
FEATURED RESOURCES
Influenza vaccination is recommended for nearly everyone, so please vaccinate your patients
Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older, so please continue to vaccinate your patients.
If you don't provide influenza vaccination in your clinic, please recommend vaccination to your patients and refer them to the HealthMap Vaccine Finder to locate sites near their workplace or home that offer influenza vaccination services.
Following is a list of resources related to influenza disease and vaccination for healthcare professionals and the public.
Back to top
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS
MMWR prints errata to measles information published in "Final 2011 Reports of Nationally Notifiable Infectious Diseases"
CDC published Errata: Vol. 61, No. 32 in the November 23 issue of MMWR (page 954). The information is reprinted below.
In the Notice to Readers, "Final 2011 Reports of Nationally Notifiable Diseases," on page 631, in "Table 2. Reported cases of notifiable diseases, by geographic division and area—United States, 2011," in the United States row, under Measles, Total should read: "220" and Indigenous "140." In the Mountain row, under Measles, Total should read: "20" and Indigenous "13." In the Utah row, under Measles, Total should read: "13" and Indigenous "12."
Back to top
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Reminder: Families Fighting Flu offers November 29 webinar to teach moms and moms-to-be how to protect themselves and their children from influenza
Families Fighting Flu is sponsoring a free webinar on November 29 from noon to 1 p.m. ET. The webinar is intended to teach how pregnant women, new moms, (including those who are breast-feeding), and young children can be protected against influenza. The presenter is Kevin Ault, MD, professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine.
Advance registration is required.
Back to top
CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
ACIP meeting scheduled for Atlanta on February 20–21, 2013; registration deadline is February 4
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will hold its next meeting on February 20–21, 2013, at CDC's Clifton Road campus in Atlanta. To attend the meeting, ACIP attendees (participants and visitors) must register online by February 4. Registration is not required to watch the live webcast of the meeting.
The ACIP web section will be updated with detailed information about the meeting, including live webcast instructions and the meeting agenda. Be sure to check back often.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
IAC Express Home |
|
|
|
|
|
2013 Issues |
|
|
|
|
|
2012 Issues |
|
|
|
|
|
2011 Issues |
|
|
|
|
|
2010 - 1997 Issues |
|
|
|
|
|
Praise for IAC Express |
|
|
|
|
|
Help |
|
|
|
|
|
Disclaimer |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Real Families Talk About Pertussis: Three families share their heart wrenching struggles with whooping cough (pertussis). The message to all parents is to make sure you and everyone who will be in contact with your baby is vaccinated. Courtesy of the What to Expect website. |
|
| Visit the VOTW archive |
|
|
| Issue 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. |
|
| Publication Staff |
|
|
|
| Editor: Deborah L. Wexler, MD |
|
| Managing Editor: Dale Thompson, MA |
|
| Associate Editor: Teresa Anderson, DDS, MPH |
|
| Editorial Assistant: Janelle Tangonan Anderson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Shop IAC |
| Record cards, laminated schedules and more |
|
|
|
A-Z
