IAC Express 2007
Issue number 654: March 26, 2007
 
Contents of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article.
  1. ACIP's human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine recommendations now published in MMWR Recommendations and Reports
  2. New: Tenth edition of the Pink Book now in print and online
  3. Errata: MMWR issues corrections to ACIP's General Recommendations on Immunization
  4. World TB Day is March 24
  5. Updated: IAC revises its professional-education sheet "Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations"
  6. March issue of CDC's Immunization Works electronic newsletter now available on the NIP website
  7. New: Seventh edition of the Canadian Immunization Guide now in print and online
  8. WHO issues position paper on pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
  9. Measles outbreak in North Korea claims four lives; UNICEF and WHO launch nationwide vaccination campaigns
  10. FluWorkLoss 1.0 software estimates loss of work days during an influenza pandemic
  11. European Vaccine Forum scheduled for May 30-June 1 in Munich
 
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 654: March 26, 2007
1.  ACIP's human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine recommendations now published in MMWR Recommendations and Reports

CDC published "Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)" in the March 23 MMWR Recommendations and Reports. Previously, the recommendations were available in electronic format as an MMWR Early Release.

Note: The PDF version (linked below) includes a free CDC-sponsored continuing-education activity that can be completed online or submitted by U.S. mail for CME, CEU, or CNE credit. Simply read the primer, answer the questions at the end, and follow instructions for submitting your answers.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the human papillomavirus vaccine recommendations, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5602.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version of them, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5602a1.htm

Back to top
   
2 New: Tenth edition of the Pink Book now in print and online

The tenth edition of CDC's Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (the Pink Book) is now available in print and online. Published by the National Immunization Program, the Pink Book provides physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and others with the most comprehensive information on vaccine-preventable diseases.

The tenth edition contains new chapters on rotavirus, human papillomavirus, and zoster (shingles). All other chapters have been updated with the most current information.

A print copy of the Pink Book is available for $32 plus shipping and handling.

To order online from the website of the Public Health Foundation, go to: http://bookstore.phf.org/index.php?cPath=45 Scroll down and click on the pertinent link.

To order by mail, phone, fax, or email, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink and follow directions.

To download chapters of the book, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/def_pink_full.htm

Back to top
   
3 Errata: MMWR issues corrections to ACIP's General Recommendations on Immunization

CDC published "Errata: Vol. 55, No. RR-15" in the March 23 issue of MMWR. It corrects errors in the MMWR Recommendations and Reports, "General Recommendations on Immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)," which were published on December 1, 2006. The text of the errata is reprinted below in its entirety.


In the MMWR Recommendations and Reports, "General Recommendations on Immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)," errors occurred. On page 17, the second subhead should read, "Adolescents and Adults (Aged >=11 Years)." In Table 11 on page 26, the first sentence of the [double dagger] footnote should read, "HIV-infected children should receive IG after exposure to measles and can receive varicella and measles vaccine if CD4+ lymphocyte count is >=15%." In the first paragraph on page 29, line 17 should read, ". . . either >=2 mg/kg of body weight or 20 mg/day of prednisone . . ."


To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete errata, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5611a6.htm

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5611.pdf

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

Back to top
   
4 World TB Day is March 24

CDC published "World TB Day—March 24, 2007" in the March 23 issue of MMWR. The announcement is reprinted below in its entirety. In addition, on March 22, CDC issued a press release titled "U.S. Tuberculosis Cases at an All-Time Low; Drug Resistance Remains a Threat." A link to the press release is given at the end of this IAC Express article.


World TB Day is observed on March 24 each year and commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). Worldwide, TB remains one of the leading causes of death from infectious disease. An estimated 2 billion persons (i.e., one-third of the world's population) are infected with M. tuberculosis. Each year, approximately 9 million persons become ill from TB; of these, nearly 2 million die from the disease. World TB Day provides an opportunity for TB programs, nongovernmental organizations, and other partners to describe problems and solutions related to the TB pandemic and to support worldwide TB-control activities. The theme for this year's observance is "TB Elimination: Now is the Time!"

After approximately 30 years of decline, the number of TB cases reported in the United States increased 20% during 1985-1992. This led to a renewed emphasis on TB control and prevention during the 1990s. However, although the 2006 TB rate is the lowest recorded in the United States since national reporting began in 1953, the average annual decline has slowed since 2000. In addition, multidrug-resistant TB remains a threat, extensively drug-resistant TB has become an emerging threat, and persons of racial/ethnic minority populations and foreign-born persons continue to account for a disproportionate number of TB cases.

CDC and its partners are committed to eliminating TB in the United States. In many states, education and awareness programs convened by local TB coalitions will take place in commemoration of World TB Day. Additional information about World TB Day and CDC TB-elimination activities is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/tb/worldtbday


To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5611a1.htm

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5611.pdf

To access the related CDC press release, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/2007/r070322.htm

Back to top
   
5 Updated: IAC revises its professional-education sheet "Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations"

IAC recently updated its professional-education sheet "Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations." The sheet now contains the most current information on mumps and tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccinations.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the revised piece, go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2017.pdf

Back to top
   
6 March issue of CDC's Immunization Works electronic newsletter now available on the NIP website

The March issue of Immunization Works, a monthly email newsletter published by CDC, is available on NIP's website. The newsletter offers members of the immunization community non-proprietary information about current topics. CDC encourages its wide dissemination.

Some of the information in the March issue has already appeared in previous issues of IAC Express. Following is the text of two articles we have not covered.


OTHER NEWS AND SUMMARIES
BIG DRAW FOR 41ST NIC: Nearly 1,500 attendees participated in the 41st National Immunization Conference (NIC), which was held March 5-8, 2007, in Kansas City, KS. The 3-1/2 day conference included 3 full plenaries, 12 topic track plenaries, 60 workshop sessions, and 2 immunization Q &A sessions. Sessions focused on six different topic tracks: (1) adult/adolescent immunizations, (2) epidemiology/new vaccines, (3) health/risk communications, (4) immunization information systems, (5) influenza, and (6) programmatic issues.

Senior leadership from HHS and CDC participated in the conference's opening session. Dr. Anne Schuchat, Director of CDC's proposed National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), opened the session, along with state/local leaders in the community and public health. They included Kansas City Councilman Alvin Brooks, Director of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Ms. Jane Drummond, and Kansas City Health Department Director Dr. Rex Archer. HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. John Agwunobi delivered the keynote address. During the opening session, awards were presented to state and local immunization leaders, and The Phil Horne Award was presented to CDC's Dr. Jon Andrus. Additional conference highlights included The Hilleman Lecture, presented by Dr. Steve Cochi, and the closing session, featuring remarks by Dr. Melinda Wharton.

Conference participants can continue to receive Continuing Education (CE) credits for participation in the 41st NIC until April 13, 2006. Please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nip/NIC/41st/cestatements.htm for CE information. Also, handouts and audio/video recordings will soon be available online from http://www.cdc.gov/nip Remember to mark your calendars for the 42nd NIC, to be held March 17-20, 2008, in Atlanta, GA.


MEETINGS, CONFERENCES & RESOURCES
FUNDING FOR MINORITY PROJECTS: New funding is currently available that will support projects to improve immunization coverage levels among racial and ethnic minorities. A cooperative agreement titled "National Minority Organization Immunization Project" will support approximately three awards, averaging $200,000 per year, for a three-year period. Applications are due April 23, 2007. For a copy of the full announcement and detailed application requirements, please visit the Federal Grants website at http://www.grants.gov and search for CDC-RFA-IP07-701. [IAC Express editor's note: You can access this information directly at
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=12712&mode=VIEW ]

To access the complete March issue from the NIP website, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/newsltrs/imwrks/2007/200703.htm

Back to top
   
7 New: Seventh edition of the Canadian Immunization Guide now in print and online

The seventh edition of the Canadian Immunization Guide has been extensively updated to include additional information on such topics as vaccine safety, effective communication, and immunization of adults and healthcare workers. Three new chapters have been added as well: principles of combination vaccines, principles of vaccine interchangeability, and immunization of persons new to Canada.

Print copies are available for $14.95, plus shipping and handling. To order on the Web, go to: http://publications.gc.ca

To order by phone, call (613) 941-5995 or (800) 635-7943. To order by fax, dial (613) 954-5779 or (800) 565-7757. Place an order by email at publications@pwgsc.gc.ca

To download the new edition, go to:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cig-gci

Back to top
   
8 WHO issues position paper on pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

The March 23 issue of the WHO periodical "Weekly Epidemiological Record" covered the latest WHO position paper on pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. To access it, go to:
http://www.who.int/wer/2007/wer8212.pdf

A collection of WHO position papers on vaccines is available in alphabetical order at
http://www.who.int/immunization/documents/positionpapers

They are available in chronological order on the IAC website at
http://www.immunize.org/who

Back to top
   
9 Measles outbreak in North Korea claims four lives; UNICEF and WHO launch nationwide vaccination campaigns

On March 15, UNICEF issued a press release, "UNICEF and WHO Respond to Measles Outbreak in DPRK." Portions of it are reprinted below.


In response to a major outbreak of measles in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), UNICEF and WHO are launching a nationwide immunization campaign from 14-16 March, to reach six million children aged six months to 15 years in its first phase.

Since the first measles cases surfaced in November of last year, 3,500 people in 30 of the DPRK's 204 counties have been diagnosed, including two adults and two infants who died. The latest data indicate that 40 percent of cases are among 11-to-19-year-olds and 9 percent among children under the age of five . . . .

The second phase, planned to start on April 10, will be funded jointly by UNICEF, WHO, and other donors and will aim to reach an additional 10.2 million people, aged 16 to 45 . . . .

To access the complete press release, go to:
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_39051.html

Back to top
   
10.  FluWorkLoss 1.0 software estimates loss of work days during an influenza pandemic

CDC published "Notice to Readers: Availability of FluWorkLoss 1.0 Software to Estimate Loss of Work Days During an Influenza Pandemic" in the March 23 issue of MMWR. A portion of the notice is reprinted below.


Illness rates during an influenza pandemic are likely to be two-to-five-times higher than during a typical influenza season. To maintain continuity of essential operations, public health officials, policy makers, healthcare facilities managers, and business leaders must plan for influenza-related work absences during an influenza pandemic. FluWorkLoss is a software program that allows estimation of the potential number of days lost from work because of an influenza pandemic. . . .


To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5611a5.htm

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5611.pdf

Back to top
   
11.  European Vaccine Forum scheduled for May 30-June 1 in Munich

The annual European Vaccine Forum, organized by Phacilitate Ltd., will be held in Munich on May 30-June 1. Among the speakers is Dr. Melinda Wharton, deputy director, NIP/CDC.

To access a comprehensive conference program, go to:
http://www.phacilitate.co.uk/pages/spring_vaccine/agenda.html

To register, go to:
http://www.phacilitate.co.uk/pages/spring_vaccine/register.html

Back to top
   

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.

IZ Express Disclaimer
ISSN 2771-8085

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

This page was updated on .