IAC Express 2008
Issue number 743: July 21, 2008
 
Contents of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article.
  1. New: MMWR publishes an Early Release edition of CDC's influenza recommendations for 2008
  2. For easy access to more than 175 FREE, ready-to-print immunization resources for patients and professionals, visit IAC's redesigned Print Materials web section
  3. IAC redesigns its online Directory of Immunization Resources
  4. "Ask the Experts" panel planned for the October 1 Immunize Georgia conference in College Park
  5. Coalition University's first semester scheduled for September 24-25 in Baltimore; additional semesters planned for 2009
  6. July issue of CDC's Immunization Works electronic newsletter recently released
  7. Minnesota Viral Hepatitis Symposium to take place July 30 in Bloomington
  8. SIGN Meeting 2008 to be held in Moscow on October 13-15
  9. Correction: MMWR revises wording in a table in CDC's recommendations for prevention of shingles
 
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 743: July 21, 2008
1.  New: MMWR publishes an Early Release edition of CDC's influenza recommendations for 2008

CDC published "Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2008" in electronic format in a July 17 MMWR Early Release. The summary and two boxes are reprinted below. The boxes are titled "BOX 1. Summary of influenza vaccination recommendations, 2008: children and adolescents aged 6 months-18 years" and "BOX 2. Summary of influenza vaccination recommendations, 2008: adults."


SUMMARY
This report updates the 2007 recommendations by CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of influenza vaccine and antiviral agents (CDC. Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP]. MMWR 2007;56[No. RR-6]). The 2008 recommendations include new and updated information. Principal updates and changes include (1) a new recommendation that annual vaccination be administered to all children aged 5-18 years, beginning in the 2008-09 influenza season, if feasible, but no later than the 2009-10 influenza season; (2) a recommendation that annual vaccination of all children aged 6 months through 4 years (59 months) continue to be a primary focus of vaccination efforts because these children are at higher risk for influenza complications compared with older children; (3) a new recommendation that either trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine or live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) be used when vaccinating healthy persons aged 2 through 49 years (the previous recommendation was to administer LAIV to persons aged 5-49 years); (4) a recommendation that vaccines containing the 2008-09 trivalent vaccine virus strains A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like, and B/Florida/4/2006-like antigens be used; and (5) new information on antiviral resistance among influenza viruses in the United States. Persons for whom vaccination is recommended are listed in boxes 1 and 2. These recommendations also include a summary of safety data for U.S. licensed influenza vaccines. This report and other information are available at CDC's influenza website (http://www.cdc.gov/flu), including any updates or supplements to these recommendations that might be required during the 2008-09 influenza season. Vaccination and healthcare providers should be alert to announcements of recommendation updates and should check the CDC influenza website periodically for additional information.

BOX 1. SUMMARY OF INFLUENZA VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS, 2008: CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AGED 6 MONTHS-18 YEARS
Vaccination of all children aged 6 months-18 years should begin before or during the 2008-09 influenza season if feasible, but no later than during the 2009-10 influenza season. Vaccination of all children aged 5-18 years is a new ACIP recommendation.

Children and adolescents at high risk for influenza complications should continue to be a focus of vaccination efforts as providers and programs transition to routinely vaccinating all children and adolescents. Recommendations for these children have not changed. Children and adolescents at higher risk for influenza complications are those:
  • aged 6 months-4 years;
  • who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
  • who are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus);
  • who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration;
  • who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy who therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
  • who are residents of chronic-care facilities; and
  • who will be pregnant during the influenza season.

BOX 2. SUMMARY OF INFLUENZA VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS, 2008: ADULTS
Annual recommendations for adults have not changed. Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for any adult who wants to reduce the risk for becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting it to others. Vaccination is also recommended for all adults in the following groups, because these persons are either at high risk for influenza complications, or are close contacts of persons at higher risk:

  • persons aged >=50 years;
  • women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
  • persons who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
  • persons who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus);
  • persons who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration;
  • residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities;
  • healthcare personnel;
  • household contacts and caregivers of children aged <5 years and adults aged >=50 years, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged <6 months; and
  • household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at high risk for severe complications from influenza.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this MMWR Early Release, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr57e717.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version of this MMWR Early Release, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr57e717a1.htm

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

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2 For easy access to more than 175 FREE, ready-to-print immunization resources for patients and professionals, visit IAC's redesigned Print Materials web section

IAC's recently redesigned Print Materials web section gives users access to more than 175 FREE, reliable, ready-to-print immunization resources. Intended for use by health professionals and the public, most materials have been reviewed for technical accuracy by CDC immunization experts. All are in ready-to-print (PDF) format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.

To improve access, the Print Materials section has been reorganized. Materials are now grouped under the following headings:

Most popular print materials:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials/toppicks.asp

Print materials by topic:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials/viewall.asp

Print materials translations:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials/translations.asp

Q&As about diseases and vaccines:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials/questions.asp

Standing orders: http://www.immunize.org/standingorders

Materials organized by item number:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials/number.asp

Materials listed in alphabetical order:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials/alpha.asp

To access the entire listing of print materials, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials

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3 IAC redesigns its online Directory of Immunization Resources

IAC recently redesigned its online Directory of Immunization Resources, making it easy for users to access an array of resources from government agencies, professional associations, nonprofit organizations, private industry, and others.

The directory provides direct links to the following: books and periodicals, continuing education, email news services, government agencies, hotlines, international organizations, manufacturers, partners, photos, PowerPoint presentations, and videos.

To access the directory's homepage, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/resources

IAC Express depends on readers to help us stay informed and ensure our website contains the most current and accurate information available. If you notice outdated or incorrect information in the Directory of Resources, or if you know of a resource we should add, please email us at admin@immunize.org

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4 "Ask the Experts" panel planned for the October 1 Immunize Georgia conference in College Park

The annual Immunize Georgia conference will be held October 1 at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, GA. The conference will include an Ask the Experts panel discussion with two CDC presenters: Dr. William Atkinson and Dr. Larry Pickering.

The registration deadline is September 5. There will be no onsite registration.

To access the conference brochure, which includes a fax-in registration form, go to:
http://www.choa.org/menus/documents/cme/2008immunize.pdf

For additional information, contact Angie Matthiessen by email at angie.matthiessen@choa.org or by phone at (404) 785-7225.

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5 Coalition University's first semester scheduled for September 24-25 in Baltimore; additional semesters planned for 2009

The Maryland Partnership for Prevention recently announced the 2008-09 schedule for the Coalition University. Designed to provide the skill set necessary to create, participate in, and sustain coalitions, Coalition University includes three semesters of course work. Semester dates are September 24-25, 2008 (first semester); March 18-19, 2009 (second semester); May 13, 2009 (third semester).

For registration and information, go to:
http://edcp.org/pdf/Coalition_University_Registration_08-09.pdf

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6 July issue of CDC's Immunization Works electronic newsletter recently released

The July issue of Immunization Works, a monthly email newsletter published by CDC, will soon be available on the website of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). The newsletter offers the immunization community information about current topics. The information is in the public domain and can be reproduced and circulated widely.

Some of the information in the July issue has already appeared in previous issues of IAC Express. Following are titles of articles IAC Express has already covered:

FRONT PAGE NEWS: In the article titled "Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices June Meeting," IAC Express already covered the following topics: (1) Recommendation of Combination Vaccines; and (2) Recommendation of a Second Rotavirus Vaccine.

OTHER NEWS & SUMMARIES: IAC Express already covered the following topic: (1) Immunization Scheduler Makes It Simple for Parents and Providers to Catch-up on Kids' Immunizations.

MEETINGS, CONFERENCES & RESOURCES: IAC Express already covered the following topics: (1) Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Training Series; (2) Just Released: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases 2008; and (3) Pink Book, New Printing.

Following is the text of a part of the Front Page News section that IAC Express has not covered:


Influenza Update: ACIP members were presented with an update on influenza. It was reported that the 2007-2008 influenza season was a more severe season than had been observed since 2003-2004; there was an unexpected emergence of oseltamivir-resistant influenza A (H1N1) strains; and there was relatively poor match between the vaccine and circulating flu virus strains. However, despite a suboptimal match between two of the three vaccine strains in 2007-2008 vaccine, vaccine effectiveness was 44 percent effective.

There will be an expansion of children recommended for influenza vaccination during the 2008-2009 influenza season. Children five years of age through 18 years of age should be vaccinated, if feasible, against influenza beginning in 2008. Children six months of age to five years of age are already recommended for vaccination.

The six influenza manufacturers project about 150 million doses of vaccine will be available for the 2008-2009 influenza season. There will be an estimated 50 million doses of thimerosal- or preservative-free influenza vaccine available.

Issues of Immunization Works are posted on CDC's Vaccines & Immunizations website a few days after publication. To access the July issue, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/news/newsltrs/imwrks Click on the link titled "Jul" under the banner titled "2008 Newsletters Available Online."

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7 Minnesota Viral Hepatitis Symposium to take place July 30 in Bloomington

[The following is cross posted from IAC's Hep Express electronic newsletter, 6/18/08.]

The American Liver Foundation-Midwest Chapter and the Minnesota Department of Health will present the 2008 Minnesota Viral Hepatitis Symposium on July 30 in Bloomington, MN.

Early registration deadline is July 15. Space is limited. For more information, contact Cheri at (651) 201-4035 or cheri.booth@state.mn.us

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8 SIGN Meeting 2008 to be held in Moscow on October 13-15

The annual meeting of the Safe Injection Global Network (SIGN) is planned for October 13-15 in Moscow. For additional information, go to http://www.who.int/injection_safety/en

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9 Correction: MMWR revises wording in a table in CDC's recommendations for prevention of shingles

CDC published "Errata: Vol. 57, No. RR-5" in the July 18 MMWR. The errata concern "Prevention of Herpes Zoster: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)," which was published on June 6 as an MMWR Recommendations and Reports. The correction is reprinted below in its entirety.


In the MMWR Recommendations and Reports (Vol. 57, No. RR-5), "Prevention of Herpes Zoster: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)," two errors occurred on page 18 in Table 5. In the first subheading under "Cost-Effectiveness" in column one, the wording should read, "Outcomes prevented per million persons over remaining lifetime." The second subheading should read, "Resources averted per million persons over remaining lifetime."


To access a web-text (HTML) version of the errata, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5728a5.htm

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5728.pdf

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the ACIP recommendations "Prevention of Herpes Zoster," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5705.pdf

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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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