IAC Express 2007
Issue number 673: July 09, 2007
 
Contents of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article.
  1. New: 2008 edition of CDC's travel-health guide--the Yellow Book--now available online
  2. NCIRD website posts update on shortage of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMR-V) combination vaccine
  3. Online form for ordering CDC publications is up and running again
  4. Pakistani government and Measles Initiative launch largest-ever measles vaccination campaign
 
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 673: July 9, 2007
1.  New: 2008 edition of CDC's travel-health guide--the Yellow Book--now available online

The new 2008 edition of Health Information for International Travel (also known as the Yellow Book), is now available online at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentYellowBook.aspx It is published every two years by CDC as a reference for those who advise international travelers of health risks, as well as others who might find it useful.

The book offers vaccination and medication information for disease risks by destination, as well as helpful health hints for cruise ship travel, international adoptions, and a wide range of common travel problems such as motion sickness. The 2008 edition features an expanded seasonal influenza section that now includes avian and pandemic influenza.

You can also access the Yellow Book from CDC's Travelers' Health home page at http://www.cdc.gov/travel

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2 NCIRD website posts update on shortage of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMR-V) combination vaccine

On June 18, the website of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) posted updated information about the production of varicella zoster virus (VZV) bulk, which is used to produce varicella vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella and varicella combination vaccine (MMR-V), and zoster vaccine. The updated information is reprinted below in its entirety.


Production of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) bulk has been temporarily suspended due to low yields. VZV bulk is used to manufacture varicella vaccine, MMR-V vaccine, and zoster vaccine. Stocks of ProQuad (MMR-V) have been depleted as of June 15, 2007. Current projections are for adequate supply to fully implement the recommended immunization schedule for varicella vaccine for all age groups and for the recommended use of zoster vaccine. Updates will be provided when available.


To access the update, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages and scroll down to the bottom of Chart of Vaccines in Delay or Shortage.

To access an MMWR Notice to Readers on the topic (published May 11, 2007), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5618a6.htm

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3 Online form for ordering CDC publications is up and running again

An article in the June issue of CDC's Immunization Works electronic newsletter announced that the online form for ordering immunization education and training materials is now up and running again.

To access this form, go to: https://www2.cdc.gov/nchstp_od/PIWeb/niporderform.asp You may encounter a warning about the website's security clearance. If so, click on the icon titled "Continue to this website (not recommended)." You will be taken to the order form. According to CDC personnel, the form is operational, and many orders have been filled since the form resumed operation.

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4 Pakistani government and Measles Initiative launch largest-ever measles vaccination campaign

On June 28, the Red Cross, a partner in the Measles Initiative, issued a press release announcing that the Pakistani government is launching a campaign to immunize more than 63 million children with measles vaccine by March 2008. The Measles Initiative is providing technical and financial support for the campaign. To access the press release, go to: http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_6818,00.html

Formed in 2001, the Measles Initiative is a partnership among the American Red Cross, UN Foundation, CDC, WHO, and UNICEF. Its goal is a 90 percent reduction in global measles deaths by 2010 (compared with global measles deaths in 2000).

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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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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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