The 11th edition of the Pink Book, formally titled "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases," is available. It is intended for healthcare providers involved in immunization in private practices, clinics, pharmacies, medical schools, student health centers, hospitals, assisted-living facilities, and schools.

The new edition contains updated, comprehensive information on each vaccine-preventable disease, as well as the latest information on principles of vaccination, general recommendations on immunization, immunization strategies for healthcare practices and providers, and vaccine safety.

Also included are updated appendices with information on schedules and recommendations, vaccines, vaccine storage and handling, vaccine administration, vaccine information statements, and immunization resources.

The 11th edition is available until April 10 at the prepublication price of $29.75 (plus shipping and handling), which is a 15 percent savings off the $35 cover price.

For additional information about the Pink Book, or to order online, go to:
http://bookstore.phf.org/product_info.php?products_id=552

Order it by phone at (877) 252-1200 (for U.S. calls) or (301) 645-7773 (for international calls); by fax at (301) 843-0159.

On March 26, CDC issued a media advisory titled "CDC Hosts 43rd National Immunization Conference." It is reprinted below in its entirety.

To access the media advisory, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2009/a090326.htm

In the March 16 issue of IAC Express, we announced that we had updated our two checklists of vaccine supplies that are useful to bring to immunization clinics. The checklists are titled "Suggested supplies checklist for pediatric and adult immunization clinic" and "Suggested supplies checklist for adult immunization clinic." Several readers alerted us to two errors that appeared on each of the checklists. We extend our thanks to the readers who spotted the errors and notified us. We regret any inconvenience the errors have caused IAC Express readers and users of our print materials.

We have corrected the errors and posted the error-free checklists on our website:

Under the subhead titled Vaccines, we mistakenly included live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) in the group of vaccines that require freezing. LAIV does not require freezing, and we have removed it from the group of vaccines that require freezing. Under the subhead titled Vaccine Supplies, we referred to "latex" gloves. Latex gloves are no longer recommended, and we have changed the term to "medical" gloves.

To access the corrected "Suggested supplies checklist for pediatric and adult immunization clinic," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3046.pdf

To access the corrected "Suggested supplies checklist for adult immunization clinic," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3047.pdf

IAC's Print Materials web section offers healthcare professionals and the public approximately 250 FREE English-language materials (many also available in translation), which we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely. To access all of IAC's free print materials, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials

In the week of March 15-21, CDC received reports of three more U.S. children killed by complications from influenza; the total of reported pediatric influenza deaths this influenza season now stands at 35. For the second week in a row, influenza activity has decreased, with 24 states reporting widespread influenza activity during March 15-21, down from 30 reporting widespread activity during the week of March 8-14.

Yearly vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting against influenza and its complications. It is important to continue vaccinating into the spring months. The supply of influenza vaccine is robust; if you run out of vaccine in your work setting, please place another order.

Many resources regarding influenza disease and vaccination are available to healthcare professionals and the public. Following is a list of some of them.

To access the National Influenza Vaccine Summit website, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org
 
To access CDC's Seasonal Flu web section, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu

To access IAC's print piece titled "Don't take chances with your family's health--make sure you all get vaccinated against influenza every year!" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4069.pdf

On March 24, MMWR published an Early Release titled "Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents: Recommendations from CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America." The updated guidelines include information on the following vaccine-preventable diseases: bacterial pneumonia infection, influenza A and B virus infection, varicella zoster virus infection, human papillomavirus infection, hepatitis A virus infection, and hepatitis B virus infection.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the guidelines, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr58e324.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version of the guidelines, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr58e324a1.htm

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

IAC's 2009 laminated immunization schedules are a must for every immunization setting: from conventional health clinics and private practices to walk-in shot clinics in workplaces, pharmacies, schools, and other sites. We offer the laminated schedules for two age groups. The child/teen immunization schedule is for people ages 0 through 18 years; the adult schedule is for those older than 18. Though both are adapted from the immunization schedules that were posted on the CDC website in January, the laminated schedules offer these advantages over downloadable paper versions:

• Coated in thick plastic, the laminated schedules are washable and will hold up to a year's worth of use as teaching tools that providers in any immunization setting can use to give patients and parents authoritative information about the vaccines recommended for various age groups. You can also use them as a handy reference to consult at a moment's notice.
   
• For the second year in a row, IAC has added a significant feature to the two laminated schedules. Each includes a guide to contraindications and precautions for the pertinent age group (i.e., the child/teen schedule has a guide to contraindications and precautions for child/teen vaccines, and the adult schedule has a guide for adult vaccines). Healthcare professionals will find these guides extremely valuable in making an on-the-spot determination about vaccinating any patient they see in any immunization setting.

The durable laminated schedules come complete with essential footnotes and are printed in color for easy reading. Each schedule has six pages (i.e., three double-sided pages), and when folded, measures 8.5" x 11".

For specific information about the child/teen schedule, to view images of it, or to order online or download an order form, visit http://www.immunize.org/shop/schedule_child.asp

For specific information about the adult schedule, to view images of it, or to order online or download an order form, visit http://www.immunize.org/shop/schedule_adult.asp

Prices start at $10 each for 1-4 copies and drop to $6.50 each for 5-19 copies. Discount pricing is available for 20 or more copies. For quotes on customizing or placing orders in excess of 999 schedules, call (651) 647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org

To learn about other essential immunization resources available for purchase from IAC, go to: http://www.immunize.org/shop

On March 17, the National Influenza Vaccine Summit (NIVS) announced the recipients of its 2009 Immunization Excellence Awards. The awards, which are available in five categories, recognize individuals and organizations that have made contributions toward improved adult and/or childhood influenza vaccination rates within their communities. They will be presented on March 30 at CDC's National Immunization Conference and at the NIVS meeting, which will be held on May 18-20 in Dallas.

Here are the 2009 winners in the five categories:

• In the category Overall 2008-09 Season Activity, the winners are Sickness and Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration (SPARC) of Lakeville, CT and Newton, MA.
   
• In the category Healthcare Personnel Campaign, the winner is Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
   
• In the category 18 Years and Younger Campaign, the winner is The Wellness Company, Providence, RI.
   
• In the category Coalition Campaign, the winner is Maryland Partnership for Prevention, Owings Mills, MD.
   
• In the category Corporate Campaign, the winners are Minute Clinic/CVS Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN and National Women's Health Resource Center, Red Bank, NJ.

To access a news release with detailed information about the award winning campaigns, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org/2009AwardWinners.pdf

To access an array of information from the NIVS-sponsored Prevent Influenza Now! website, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org

[The following is cross posted from CDC's Immunization Works electronic newsletter, March 2009.]

GET READY FOR NATIONAL INFANT IMMUNIZATION WEEK: National Immunization Week (NIIW) will be celebrated April 25-May 2, 2009, in conjunction with Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA). The theme for NIIW is "Love them. Protect them. Immunize Them." Visit the NIIW Events Webpage (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw) for planning and evaluation resources, public relations materials, and communication campaign materials. Add your local activity to the National Calendar of NIIW Events (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/2009/09activities.htm).

The Immunization Coalitions Technical Assistance Network (IZTA) has two conference calls scheduled in April. Details on each follow.

APRIL 9 CALL ON CREATING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSAS):
Media experts Jack Trammel and Nada Ruddick will share information on creating effective messages, engaging local broadcasters, avoiding mistakes when implementing a communication campaign, evaluating a campaign's return on investment, extending the value of advertising budgets, and more. President of VNR1 Communications, Jack Trammel has led media projects for government, nonprofits, and healthcare organizations. Director of Community Affairs at Dallas's NBC affiliate, Nada Ruddick is responsible for her station's PSA placement.

The April 9 call will be held at 1PM, ET. To register, send an email to izta@aed.org Include this message in the subject line: "Sign me up for the effective PSAs call."

APRIL 28 CALL ON TELLING THE STORY OF VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES:
Hearing people's personal experiences with vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) can engage audiences, communicate a powerful immunization message, and encourage behavior change. A four-person panel will discuss how their organizations use personal stories to make the case for immunization. Panel members include IAC's Deborah Wexler, MD, who will discuss how IAC uses its database of personal narratives to educate people about VPDs; the Academy of Educational Development's Sandy Cogan, who will discuss the creation of the online video "Why Influenza Vaccination Matters"; Texas Children's Hospital's Julie Boom, MD, and Rachael Cunningham will share the new documentary photo book "Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The forgotten story."

The April 28 call will be held at 1PM, ET. As a special bonus the first 50 people to register will receive a free copy of "Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The forgotten story." To register, send an email to izta@aed.org Include this message in the subject line: "Sign me up for the telling the story of VPDs call." Include your name and mailing address in the body of your email.

IZTA is a program of the Center for Health Communication, Academy for Educational Development.

To access earlier programs, go to:
http://www.izta.org/confcall.cfm

Masspro and the Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition have organized an educational conference for healthcare providers and administrators interested in issues related to adult immunization. It will be held May 21 in Worcester.

The keynote speaker, Deborah Wexler, MD, executive director of the Immunization Action Coalition, will focus her presentation on women and immunizations. Topics at the conference will range from the current immunization budget in the state, to new advances in vaccine development, and innovative strategies in community and office practice settings.

The deadline for early registration is May 7. To download the conference brochure, which includes registration information, go to:
http://www.masspro.org/HH/AIHH/docs/newspressroom/14AnnAdultImmConf.pdf