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IAC Express 2007 |
| Issue number 692: November 12, 2007 |
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Contents
of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article. |
- Nation's
supply of influenza vaccine at record high; CDC urges broad and continued
immunization into spring 2008
- "Read
immediately" issue of Immunization Works asks that you share your plans
for National Influenza Vaccination Week
- New: CDC
adds public service announcements to its materials for National Influenza
Vaccination Week
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Important: Be sure to administer influenza vaccine throughout the
influenza season--from fall 2007 through spring 2008
- New:
Merck reports unavailability of PedvaxHIB vaccine; CDC website posts
letter regarding status of Hib vaccine supply
- November
8 issue of IAC's Hep Express electronic newsletter now online
- New:
IAC's Declination of Influenza Vaccination form now available in Spanish
- VIS for
injectable influenza vaccine now available in Haitian Creole and
Portuguese
- CIIC
makes two resources available online--its report on childhood influenza
immunization and its influenza bulletin
- New:
2007-08 adult immunization schedule now available for Palm and Pocket PC
handhelds
- MMWR
reports on syringe exchange programs
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| Abbreviations |
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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. |
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Issue 692: November 12, 2007 |
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1. |
Nation's supply of influenza vaccine at record high; CDC urges broad and
continued immunization into spring 2008
On November 9, CDC issued a press release about
the national
supply of influenza vaccine projected for the 2007-08 influenza
season and about the need for healthcare providers to vaccinate
broadly throughout the entire season. The press release is
reprinted below in its entirety.
NATION'S INFLUENZA VACCINE SUPPLIES CONTINUE TO INCREASE;
CDC ADVISES BROADENING OF VACCINATION EFFORTS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced
today that the nation's influenza vaccine manufacturers report
that more than 103 million doses of influenza (flu) vaccine have
been distributed as of November 2--an amount that represents
more doses than had ever previously been distributed at this
date.
"This is good news. Influenza vaccine appears to be more widely
available than ever before, and we want people who should be
receiving an annual flu vaccination to be sure that they do,"
said Dr. Jeanne Santoli, deputy director of CDC's Immunization
Services Division. "Thanks to the increased production of flu
vaccine, more people than ever can get protection from a
potentially very serious disease. We are hopeful that this year
a record number of people will get vaccinated."
CDC officials believe that most influenza vaccine providers
currently have supplies sufficient for meeting demand. As many
as 132 million total doses of vaccine could be produced by the
end of the 2007-2008 flu seasons, according to manufacturers.
This record amount would be about 12 million more doses than
were produced during the 2006-2007 season. During the 2006-2007
season, manufacturers distributed 102.5 million doses to
providers. CDC officials have worked closely with flu vaccine
manufacturers, distributors, and the Food and Drug
Administration to ensure improved flu vaccine availability.
Santoli noted that some healthcare providers may not have
received their complete order of vaccine yet, as CDC has
encouraged vaccine manufacturers and major distributors to use
partial vaccine shipments to get doses to as many providers as
possible at the earliest opportunity. Flu vaccine distribution
typically continues through December and early January.
The 2007-2008 influenza season is just beginning, and
nationwide, influenza activity is currently very low. So far,
only two states are reporting local influenza activity. In the
United States, influenza activity can begin as early as October
and continues through May. Each year, on average, from five to
20 percent of the U.S. population is infected with influenza,
with influenza estimated to result in 36,000 deaths and more
than 200,000 hospitalizations from flu-related complications in
a typical year.
Santoli noted that almost 75 percent of Americans are
recommended to be vaccinated, and that healthcare providers and
people at higher risk for influenza-related medical
complications should especially make getting a flu vaccination a
high priority. While anyone can get influenza, the flu can be
particularly dangerous for certain groups of people who are at
greater risk of developing serious flu-related complications,
such as pneumonia. Groups at higher risk of flu-related
complications include infants and young children, pregnant
women, children and adults with chronic medical conditions like
asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, and people 65 years old and
older.
In addition, close contacts of high risk persons, such as other
household members, caregivers, and healthcare personnel should
also get vaccinated in order to protect their loved ones or
those they care for. Vaccination of those who live with or care
for infants is particularly important because children less than
six months of age should not get a flu vaccine. Vaccination is
also encouraged for anyone who wants to decrease his or her risk
of getting the flu.
Since the onset, duration, and severity of flu season is
unpredictable, and different types and strains of influenza
circulate throughout the flu season, CDC's Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that influenza vaccine
be offered as long as influenza viruses are continuing to
circulate in the community.
For more information about influenza and influenza vaccine visit
http://www.cdc.gov/flu
To access the press release, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/2007/r071109.htm
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2. |
"Read immediately" issue of Immunization Works asks that you share your plans
for National Influenza Vaccination Week
On November 7, NCIRD published a special "read
immediately"
issue of its electronic newsletter, Immunization Works. The
special November 7 issue contains information about National
Influenza Vaccination Week, which takes place November 26-December 2. The issue is reprinted below in its entirety.
NATIONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION WEEK (NIVW) IS NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2007
Send Us Your Plans and See What Others are Doing!
As part of our continuous effort to promote timely flu
vaccination, CDC is pleased to announce the second annual
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), taking place
November 26 to December 2, 2007. NIVW serves to remind people
who have not yet been vaccinated that the time to get a flu
vaccine continues into winter--through January or later, when
the influenza season typically peaks. Throughout the week, we
will be highlighting the importance of influenza vaccination for
those people at high risk, their close contacts, and all those
who want to be protected against influenza. CDC, Families
Fighting Flu, and other partners also have set aside Tuesday,
November 27, as Children's Flu Vaccination Day, with a focus on
vaccinating high-risk children and their close contacts.
Begun in 2006, NIVW is a joint effort of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services and CDC, the National
Influenza Vaccine Summit, and other immunization partners.
Local health departments, public health partners, and providers
are encouraged to enhance vaccine availability by scheduling
additional clinics, extending clinic hours, and facilitating
mass vaccination in retail and other locations during NIVW and
through the remainder of the influenza season.
Participating in NIVW:
The rest of our newly revised, easy-to-navigate flu website
(www.cdc.gov/flu) offers a variety of other flu-related e-tools
and information for professionals and patients alike. We hope
you will find them useful for your efforts during NIVW and
beyond.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/flu, or
call CDC at (800) CDC-INFO [(800) 232-4636] (English and
Spanish) or (888) 232-6348 (TTY).
To access the November 7 issue of Immunization Works, click
here.
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3. |
New: CDC adds public service announcements to its materials for National
Influenza Vaccination Week
CDC recently added video and audio public service
announcements
(PSAs) to the materials it has developed for National Influenza
Vaccination Week (NIVW). Some are available in Spanish as well
as English; scripts are available for all. Details follow.
VIDEO PSAs
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"National Influenza Vaccination Week," featuring Julie L.
Gerberding, MD, director, CDC. (English, video, audio)
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"Grandkids" (English, video, audio)
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"Stop" (English, Spanish, video)
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"Hazlo por ellos" (Spanish, video, audio)
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"Don't Let the Flu Ruin Your Holidays" (English, audio)
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"Cold" (English, audio)
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"Advice" (English, audio)
To access the PSAs, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/psa/index.htm and click on the
pertinent link.
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4. |
Important: Be sure to administer influenza vaccine throughout the influenza
season--from fall 2007 through spring 2008
Influenza vaccination should continue from now
into the early
months of 2008. Visit the following websites often to find the
information you need to keep vaccinating. Both are continually
updated with the latest resources.
The National Influenza Vaccine Summit website at
http://www.preventinfluenza.org
CDC's Seasonal Flu web section at http://www.cdc.gov/flu
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5. |
New: Merck reports unavailability of PedvaxHIB vaccine; CDC website posts
letter regarding status of Hib vaccine supply
On November 7, CDC announced that Merck & Co.
reported that its
PedvaxHIB vaccine is unavailable for shipment, pending
resolution of a manufacturing issue. The announcement is
reprinted below.
Also on November 7, the CDC website was updated with a link to a
letter regarding the current supply status of various vaccines
that protect against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). The
link is given at the end of this IAC Express article.
Merck & Co., Inc. has reported that PedvaxHIB is unavailable for
shipment. Based on the latest information, Merck expects
PedvaxHIB (PRP-OMP) to be available sometime in the first
quarter of 2008. Merck reports that the exact timing is
dependent upon resolution of a manufacturing issue.
To access the announcement about PedvaxHIB, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages/default.htm
Scroll down to Note 1.
To access the letter about the status of the Hib vaccine supply, click
here.
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6. |
November 8 issue of IAC's Hep Express electronic newsletter now online
The November 8 issue of Hep Express, an
electronic newsletter
published by IAC, is now available online. It is intended for
health professionals, program planners, and advocates involved
in prevention, screening, and treatment of viral hepatitis.
IAC Express has already covered some of the information
presented in the November 8 Hep Express; titles of articles we
have not yet covered follow.
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IAC updates and adds information to its hepatitis prevention
programs website
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CDC offers podcast on healthy travel for international
adoptions
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Journal articles you may have missed
To access the November 8 issue, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/issue64.asp
To sign up for a free subscription to Hep Express, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/subscribe
To access previous issues of Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress
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7. |
New: IAC's Declination of Influenza Vaccination form now available in Spanish
IAC's one-page form "Declination of Influenza
Vaccination" is
now available in Spanish. IAC gratefully acknowledges Betmar
Languages of Minneapolis for the translation.
The form is intended for the use of healthcare employers who
recommend that their employees receive annual influenza
vaccination. It succinctly states reasons for vaccinating
healthcare workers against the disease and provides space for
the employee's signature if the employee declines vaccination.
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of "Declination of
Influenza Vaccination" in Spanish, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4068-01.pdf
To access "Declination of Influenza Vaccination" in English, go
to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4068.pdf
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8. |
VIS
for injectable influenza vaccine now available in Haitian Creole and Portuguese
Dated 7/16/07, the current version of the VIS for
trivalent
inactivated influenza (TIV; injectable) vaccine is now available
on the IAC website in Haitian Creole and Portuguese. IAC
gratefully acknowledges the Massachusetts Department of Public
Health for the translations.
To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the VIS for TIV
vaccine in Haitian Creole, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ha_flu06.pdf
To obtain the VIS for TIV vaccine in Portuguese, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/pr_flu06.pdf
To obtain the VIS for TIV in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/2flu.pdf
For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in more than
30 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at
http://www.immunize.org/vis
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9. |
CIIC
makes two resources available online--its report on childhood influenza
immunization and its influenza bulletin
The website of the Childhood Influenza
Immunization Coalition
(CIIC) recently posted its six-page report, "Improving Childhood
Influenza Immunization Rates to Protect Our Nation's Children."
The report discusses the status of childhood influenza
immunization and strategies to increase the immunization rate.
To access the report, go to:
http://www.preventchildhoodinfluenza.org/resource/NFID_CIIC_Report.pdf
CIIC also recently published the first issue of its electronic
newsletter, Influenza Bulletin. The issue outlines the
organization's communications and educational initiatives for
the 2007-08 influenza season.
To access the issue, go to:
http://www.preventchildhoodinfluenza.org/member/bulletin
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10. |
New: 2007-08 adult immunization schedule now available for Palm and Pocket PC
handhelds
The Group on Immunization Education of the
Society of Teachers
of Family Medicine recently announced that it has updated its
"Shots 2007" software to reflect the Adult Immunization Schedule
for 2007-08. The software can be downloaded for FREE to Palm-OS
and Pocket-PCs handhelds. "Shots 2007 Online" software is also
available.
To access "Shots 2007" for Palm-OS handhelds and Pocket-PCs
handhelds, as well as "Shots 2007 Online," click
here.
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11. |
MMWR reports on syringe exchange programs
[The following is cross posted from the
Immunization Action
Coalition's Hep Express electronic newsletter, 11/8/07.]
CDC published "Syringe Exchange Programs--United States, 2005"
in the November 9 issue of MMWR. The first paragraph of the
article is reprinted below, excluding references.
Syringe exchange programs (SEPs) provide free sterile syringes
in exchange for used syringes to reduce transmission of
bloodborne pathogens among injection-drug users (IDUs). SEPs in
the United States began as a way to prevent the spread of human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other bloodborne infections
such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The National Institute on
Drug Abuse recommends that persons who continue to inject drugs
use a new, sterile syringe for each injection. Monitoring
syringe exchange activity is an important part of assessing HIV
prevention measures in the United States. As of November 2007, a
total of 185 SEPs were operating in 36 states, the District of
Columbia (DC), and Puerto Rico. This report summarizes a survey
of SEP activities in the United States during 2005 and compares
the findings with previous SEP surveys. The findings indicated
an increase in overall funding for SEPs, including an increase
in public funding, and a stabilization in both the number of
SEPs operating and the number of syringes exchanged since 2004.
This report also documents an expansion of services offered by
SEPs, a trend that resulted from an increase in state and local
funding. These expanded services are helping protect IDUs and
their communities from the spread of bloodborne pathogens and
are providing access to health services for a population at
high risk. Monitoring of syringe exchange activity should
continue . . . .
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete MMWR
article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5644a4.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR,
go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5644.pdf
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