Issue 1178: April 14, 2015
TOP STORIES
OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FEATURED RESOURCES
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS EDUCATION AND TRAINING TOP STORIES National Infant Immunization Week starts on April 18! CDC publishes related announcement in MMWR National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is finally here! This year, April 18–25 has been set aside to promote the benefits of childhood immunizations and improve the health of children age two years and younger. CDC published Announcements: National Infant Immunization Week—April 18–25, 2015 in the April 10 issue of MMWR (page 370). The entire announcement is reprinted below. National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 18–25, 2015. This annual observance promotes the benefits of childhood immunizations and their role in improving the health of children aged ≤2 years. Since 1994, local and state health departments, immunization partners, health care professionals, community leaders, clinicians from across the United States, and CDC have come together to highlight the importance of vaccination in the lives of infants and children. Although immunization coverage among children remains at high levels, recent outbreaks of measles in the United States highlight the importance of maintaining high immunization rates. NIIW provides an opportunity to celebrate immunization achievements, recognize partners and volunteers dedicated to childhood immunization, and revitalize community efforts to maintain high vaccination levels. During NIIW, local and state health departments, national immunization partners, and health care professionals will host events and educational activities for parents and clinicians. To help with planning these activities, various promotional and educational materials are available from CDC on the NIIW website. Also available are materials from CDC's new Born with Protection campaign, which promotes whooping cough vaccination during the third trimester of each pregnancy to help protect babies during their first few months of life when they are most vulnerable. Related Links
CDC reports on decrease in laboratory detection of rotavirus after implementation of routine vaccination CDC published Sustained Decrease in Laboratory Detection of Rotavirus after Implementation of Routine Vaccination—United States, 2000–2014 in the April 10 issue of MMWR (pages 337–342). The first paragraph is reprinted below. Rotavirus infection is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis among infants and young children worldwide. Before the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in the United States in 2006, rotavirus infection caused significant morbidity among U.S. children, with an estimated 55,000–70,000 hospitalizations and 410,000 clinic visits annually. The disease showed a characteristic winter-spring seasonality and geographic pattern, with annual seasonal activity beginning in the West during December–January, extending across the country, and ending in the Northeast during April–May. To characterize changes in rotavirus disease trends and seasonality following introduction of rotavirus vaccines in the United States, CDC compared data from CDC's National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS), a passive laboratory reporting system, for prevaccine (2000–2006) and postvaccine (2007–2014) years. National declines in rotavirus detection were noted, ranging from 57.8%–89.9% in each of the 7 postvaccine years compared with all 7 prevaccine years combined. A biennial pattern of rotavirus activity emerged in the postvaccine era, with years of low activity and highly erratic seasonality alternating with years of moderately increased activity and seasonality similar to that seen in the prevaccine era. These results demonstrate the substantial and sustained effect of rotavirus vaccine in reducing the circulation and changing the epidemiology of rotavirus among U.S. children. Related Links
IAC Spotlight! Make copies of IAC's parent handouts about infant immunization for use during National Infant Immunization Week and beyond According to the CDC, one of the key messages of the National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) campaign is that healthcare professionals remain parents’ most trusted source of information about vaccines for their children. You play a critical role by supporting parents in understanding and choosing vaccinations. If you’re looking for helpful vaccination-related handouts for parents, look no further. IAC’s Parent Handouts web page features more than 25 pieces about immunization for the parents of infants. IAC’s popular handouts for parents of infants include:
To find all IAC's handouts for parents, visit the Parent Handouts web section.
National Vaccine Advisory Committee requests comments on its draft report and recommendations for addressing vaccine confidence in the United States On April 6, HHS's National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) published a notice titled Solicitation of Written Comments on the National Vaccine Advisory Committee's Draft Report and Draft Recommendations for Consideration for Addressing the State of Vaccine Confidence in the United States. The first paragraph of the "Background" section is reprinted below. Vaccination confidence is one of a number of factors that affect individual and population-level willingness to accept a vaccine. Vaccine confidence means having confidence in the safety and efficacy of a vaccine, having confidence in the competence of the health professionals who administer the vaccine, and having trust in the motivations of the policy-makers who decide which vaccines are needed and when. Vaccine confidence has been shown to influence vaccine decision making, but to what extent remains unclear. This is partly due to a lack of consensus on how best to quantify the confidence of an individual and a population. Gaining this understanding along with identifying factors which drive public confidence is critical for assessing the magnitude of the problem in the U.S., as well as designing and evaluating potential intervention strategies. NVAC asks for the participation of stakeholders and the public in the public comment process. Comments for consideration by NVAC should be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (ET) on May 6, 2015. Submit your comments on NVAC’s recommendations by emailing vcwg@hhs.gov.
Now available! IAC's sturdy laminated versions of the 2015 U.S. child/teen immunization schedule and the 2015 U.S. adult immunization schedule—order a supply for your healthcare setting today! IAC's laminated versions of the 2015 U.S. child/teen immunization schedule and the 2015 U.S. adult immunization schedule are covered with a tough, washable coating; they will stand up to a year's worth of use in every area of your healthcare setting where immunizations are given. The child and adolescent schedule has eight pages (i.e., four double-sided pages) and is folded to measure 8.5" x 11". The adult immunization schedule has six pages (i.e., three double-sided pages) and is folded to measure 8.5" x 11". 
 Laminated schedules are printed in color for easy reading, come complete with essential tables and footnotes, and include contraindications and precautions—a feature that will help you make an on-the-spot determination about the safety of vaccinating patients of any age. PRICING 1–4 copies: $7.50 each 5–19 copies: $5.50 each 20–99 copies: $4.50 each 100–499 copies: $4.00 each 500–999 copies: $3.50 each For quotes on customizing or placing orders for 1,000 copies or more, call (651) 647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org. You can access specific information on both schedules, view images of both, order online, or download an order form at the Shop IAC: Laminated Schedules web page. Back to top IAC promotes The Vaccine Handbook, a.k.a. "The Purple Book," by Dr. Gary Marshall The Vaccine Handbook: A Practical Guide for Clinicians (“The Purple Book,” 2015, 560 pages) is a uniquely comprehensive source of practical, up-to-date information for vaccine providers and educators. Its author, Gary S. Marshall, MD, has drawn together the latest vaccine science and guidance into a concise, user-friendly, practical resource for the private office, public health clinic, academic medical center, and hospital.  IAC Executive Director Deborah Wexler, MD, is enthusiastic about helping get this resource circulated as widely as possible. “During more than 20 years in the field of immunization education, I have not seen a book that is so brimming with state-of-the-science vaccine information,” she states. "This book belongs in the hands of every medical student, physician-in-training, doctor, nursing student, and nurse who provides vaccines to patients.” The Vaccine Handbook provides:
Gary Marshall, MD, is professor of pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky, where he serves as chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases and director of the Pediatric Clinical Trials Unit. In addition to being a busy clinician, he is nationally known for his work in the areas of vaccine research, advocacy, and education. The newly released fifth edition of this invaluable guide is now available on IAC’s website atwww.immunize.org/vaccine-handbook. The price of the handbook is $29.95 each, plus shipping charges. Discount pricing is available for more than 10 copies. Order copies for your staff or for distribution at an upcoming conference. Quantity Discount Pricing
Order your copy today! Back to top Join the Voices for Vaccines' April 21 conference call to share input on what inspires you to promote immunization Voices for Vaccines (VFV) is a national organization of parents and others who are dedicated to raising the level of the voices of immunization supporters. VFV is parent-led in a real way, and during its next call, participants will be encouraged to talk about the events and ideas that inspire them to advocate. The call is scheduled for April 21, at 12:00 p.m. (ET). To register for this call, you must email info@voicesforvaccines.org. VFV invites everyone who appreciates vaccines to become a member of their organization. Please spread the word to your friends and colleagues to register for the conference call and to join VFV! Related Links
OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS May is Hepatitis Awareness Month; May 19 is Hepatitis Testing Day The month of May is designated as Hepatitis Awareness Month in the U.S., and May 19 is designated Hepatitis Testing Day. During May, CDC and its public health partners work to shed light on this hidden epidemic by raising awareness of viral hepatitis and encouraging priority populations to get tested. CDC has provided the following suggestions for promoting hepatitis awareness during May.
FEATURED RESOURCES Vaccine Education Center releases fact sheet on vaccines and allergies The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recently published a new handout for parents in its Special Topics Series—Online Q&A Sheets, titled Vaccines and Allergies: What You Should Know. The introduction is reprinted below. When children are diagnosed with allergies, parents try to identify potential exposures in the hopes of avoiding future reactions. Anything that goes into the child’s body may warrant consideration—even vaccines. The good news is that for the majority of children with allergies, vaccines are not the problem. Related Links
Influenza is serious; vaccination is recommended for nearly everyone, so please keep vaccinating your patients Vaccination remains the single most effective means of preventing influenza, and is recommended for everyone age six months and older. If you don't provide influenza vaccination in your clinic, please recommend vaccination to your patients and refer them to a clinic or pharmacy that provides vaccines or to the HealthMap Vaccine Finder to locate sites near their workplaces or homes that offer influenza vaccination services. Influenza antiviral drugs can treat influenza illness. CDC has issued guidance for clinicians on the use of antiviral treatment for the 2014–15 flu season. Early antiviral treatment works best. Following is a list of resources related to influenza disease and vaccination for healthcare professionals and the public:
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS CDC and WHO report on measles elimination progress in the Philippines in this week's MMWR and Weekly Epidemiological Report, respectively CDC published Progress Toward Measles Elimination—Philippines, 1998–2014 in the April 10 issue of MMWR (pages 357–362). On the same day, WHO's Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) published a similar article titled Progress towards measles elimination, Philippines, 1998–2014. Back to top EDUCATION AND TRAINING Michigan to sponsor CDC's Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases course on June 16–17 The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will sponsor CDC's live two-day Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases course (also known as the "Pink Book" course) on June 16–17, in Lansing. The course provides a comprehensive review of immunizations and the diseases they prevent. Continuing education credits are available. For more information, visit the registration website. Back to top ASK THE EXPERTS Question of the Week In regard to the current measles outbreak, some people are saying that children who have not had the vaccine should pose no threat to vaccinated people. It is my understanding that during an outbreak, vaccinated people can still contract it. Am I correct? You are correct that vaccinated people can still be infected with infections against which they are vaccinated. No vaccine is 100% effective. Vaccine effectiveness varies from greater than 95% (for diseases such as measles, rubella, hepatitis B) to much lower (influenza this year 23%, and 60% in years with a good match of wild and vaccine viruses, and the acellular pertussis vaccines after 5 years or so offer only about 70% protection). Therefore, we encourage as many people as possible to be vaccinated, to avoid outbreaks, while working towards the development of better vaccines (such as for influenza and pertussis). More information is available for each vaccine and disease at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/default.htm and www.immunize.org/vaccines. About IAC's Question of the Week Each week, IAC Express highlights a new, topical, or important-to-reiterate Q&A. This feature is a cooperative venture between IAC and CDC. William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH, IAC's associate director for immunization education, chooses a new Q&A to feature every week from a set of Q&As prepared by experts at CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. We hope you enjoy this new feature and find it helpful when dealing with difficult real-life scenarios in your vaccination practice. Please encourage your healthcare professional colleagues to sign up to receive IAC Express at www.immunize.org/subscribe. If you have a question for the CDC immunization experts, you can email them directly at nipinfo@cdc.gov. There is no charge for this service. Related Links
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About IZ Express
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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ISSN 2771-8085
IZ Express Disclaimer
ISSN 2771-8085
Editorial Information
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Editor-in-ChiefKelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
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Managing EditorJohn D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
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Associate EditorSharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
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Writer/Publication CoordinatorTaryn Chapman, MS
Courtnay Londo, MA -
Style and Copy EditorMarian Deegan, JD
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Web Edition ManagersArkady Shakhnovich
Jermaine Royes -
Contributing WriterLaurel H. Wood, MPA
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Technical ReviewerKayla Ohlde