IAC Express 2010
Issue number 859: April 5, 2010
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Contents of this Issue
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  1. New: CDC publishes new interim VISs for HPV vaccines--one VIS for Gardasil and one for Cervarix
  2. Increase in H1N1 influenza in Southeastern U.S. underscores the need to keep vaccinating against H1N1 and seasonal influenza
  3. Influenza vaccination coverage increases among U.S. healthcare personnel during August 2009-January 2010
  4. MMWR reports state-by-state H1N1 vaccination coverage during October 2009-January 2010
  5. IAC's Video of the Week focuses on the importance of adult immunization
  6. Reminder: National Infant Immunization Week is set for April 24-May 1; CDC has resources for planning and promotion
  7. March issue of CDC's Immunization Works electronic newsletter available online
  8. "CDC Features" educate the public about pertussis and mumps
  9. Reminder: the National Immunization Conference will be held April 19-22 in Atlanta
  10. Two viral hepatitis training videos now available online
 
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 859: April 5, 2010
1.  New: CDC publishes new interim VISs for HPV vaccines--one VIS for Gardasil and one for Cervarix

On March 30, CDC published two new interim VISs--one for each of the two human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines licensed for use in the United States. One VIS is intended for use when administering Gardasil (Merck) and the other when administering Cervarix (GSK). These interim VISs replace the single HPV vaccine VIS dated 2/2/07. Stocks of the 2/2/07 VIS may be used up, although the updated editions are preferred. The 2/2/07 VIS may be supplemented verbally or with written materials as appropriate to inform patients of changes (e.g., use of Gardasil in males).

To access the 3/30/10 interim VIS for Gardasil HPV vaccine from the IAC website, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis-hpv-gardasil.pdf

To access the 3/30/10 interim VIS for Cervarix HPV vaccine from the IAC website, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis-hpv-cervarix.pdf

For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in more than 35 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at http://www.immunize.org/vis

For general information about VISs from CDC's website go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis

For CDC's latest news on VISs, go to
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/vis-news.htm

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2 Increase in H1N1 influenza in Southeastern U.S. underscores the need to keep vaccinating against H1N1 and seasonal influenza

At a press briefing held on March 29, U.S. government health officials reported that three states in the Southeast--Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina--are experiencing more regional H1N1 influenza activity than they have in several months. Georgia in particular is being hit hard, with the Georgia Department of Community Health reporting an increase in influenza-related hospitalizations. Local activity is reported in Puerto Rico and eight states, mostly in the southeast--Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, as well western states--Hawaii and New Mexico. Adults with chronic illnesses and those of advanced age are more likely to become severely ill if they encounter the H1N1 virus. Minority groups are not participating in national vaccination effort at the rate other population  groups are, yet minorities experience higher rates of the chronic illnesses that put them at risk for influenza complications.

The health officials, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin and assistant U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Anne Schuchat, stated repeatedly that vaccination is the single best protection against H1N1 influenza virus. Supplies of H1N1 influenza vaccine are plentiful, the circulating virus closely matches the one in the vaccine, and the H1N1 vaccine has an excellent safety record.

IAC also encourages continued vaccination against H1N1 and seasonal influenza (as vaccine supplies permit). Remember: 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine will not protect people against seasonal influenza, and seasonal influenza vaccine will not protect against H1N1 influenza.

Providers who don't have H1N1 vaccine or seasonal influenza vaccine can direct patients to the Google Flu Shot Finder at
http://www.google.com/flushot

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3 Influenza vaccination coverage increases among U.S. healthcare personnel during August 2009-January 2010

CDC published "Interim Results: Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent and Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel--United States, August 2009-January 2010" in the April 2 issue of MMWR. The first paragraph is reprinted below.


Since 1986, the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have recommended that all healthcare personnel (HCP) be vaccinated annually for influenza. Since 1989, overall influenza vaccination coverage among HCP has never exceeded 49% in any season, according to estimates from the National Health Interview Survey. In August 2009, ACIP recommended that HCP be one of five initial target groups to receive the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine when it first became available. This report summarizes results of a population-based panel survey administered via the Internet during January 2010 to a nationally representative sample of 1,417 HCP to assess vaccination coverage. By mid-January 2010, estimated vaccination coverage among HCP was 37.1% for 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) and 61.9% for seasonal influenza. Overall, 64.3% received either of these influenza vaccines, higher coverage than any previous season, but only 34.7% of HCP reported receiving both vaccines. The existence of an employer requirement for vaccination at the facility where the respondent was employed was associated with an eightfold greater likelihood of 2009 H1N1 vaccination compared with respondents employed by facilities with neither requirement nor recommendations; likewise, the existence of a recommendation for vaccination was associated with a fourfold greater probability of 2009 H1N1 vaccination. Healthcare administrators should consider influenza vaccination coverage among employees an important measure of patient safety and make appropriate efforts to increase coverage in future seasons.

To access the full article in web-text (HTML) format, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5912a1.htm

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4 MMWR reports state-by-state H1N1 vaccination coverage during October 2009-January 2010

CDC published "Interim Results: State-Specific Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccination Coverage--United States, October 2009-January 2010" in the April 2 issue of MMWR. The first paragraph is reprinted below.


In July 2009, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issued recommendations for the use of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine. Distribution of 2009 H1N1 vaccine in the United States began on October 5, using a system that allocated available vaccine to states proportional to their populations. By the end of 2009, approximately 61 million persons had been vaccinated. By January 29, 2010, approximately 124 million doses had been distributed. To provide preliminary state-specific estimates of 2009 H1N1 vaccination coverage as of the end of January, CDC analyzed results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the National 2009 H1N1 Flu Survey (NHFS), using data collected during November 2009-February 2010. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which found that, by state, estimated 2009 H1N1 vaccination coverage as of the end of January among persons aged >=6 months ranged from 12.9% to 38.8% (median: 23.9%). Median coverage was 36.8% for children aged 6 months-17 years, 20.1% for adults aged >=18 years, and 33.2% for persons in the ACIP initial target group. The wide variation in 2009 H1N1 vaccination rates among states suggests opportunities for improvement in future seasons, such as maintaining and increasing the reach of networks of private providers as vaccinators and distributing more vaccine through public venues (e.g., schools).

To access the full article in web-text (HTML) format, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5912a2.htm

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5 IAC's Video of the Week focuses on the importance of adult immunization

IAC encourages IAC Express readers to view a video set from the Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition depicting four real-life scenarios that illustrate the importance of adult vaccination for people of various ages, from young adults preparing for college to older adults. The video is available in two formats--a 2-minute public service announcement and a 17-minute video. The presenter is Paul Offit, MD, of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The PSA and video will be available on the home page of IAC's website through April 11. To access them, go to: http://www.immunize.org and click on the image under the words Video of the Week. It may take a few moments for your video selection to begin playing; please be patient!

Remember to bookmark IAC's home page to view a new video every Monday. To view an IAC Video of the Week from the past, go to the video archive at http://www.immunize.org/votw

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6 Reminder: National Infant Immunization Week is set for April 24-May 1; CDC has resources for planning and promotion

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases. This year NIIW will be held April 24-May 1 and will coincide with Vaccination Week in the Americas.

Any health department or immunization coalition interested in promoting infant immunization within their community will find abundant useful information on the CDC's NIIW website. Resources include tools for planning events and promoting them through the media; listings of NIIW activities and events planned across the nation; and educational materials for providers and parents.

To access these NIIW resources, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw

CDC encourages all organizations that are planning an NIIW activity to fill out a form to share information about their activity with others. To access the form, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/2010/activity-form.htm

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7 March issue of CDC's Immunization Works electronic newsletter available online

CDC recently released the March issue of its monthly newsletter Immunization Works and posted it 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 March issue has already appeared in previous issues of IAC Express. Following is the text of some articles we have not covered.


INFLUENZA UPDATE: Stay Informed! Information is updated frequently. Please visit the following websites for the latest updates:

Seasonal Flu Home Page
http://www.cdc.gov/flu

H1N1 Flu home page
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

CDC Free Flu Resources
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources


NEWS AND SUMMARIES
SAVE THE DATE: April 24, 2010, is World Meningitis Day, which seeks to raise awareness about meningitis and the importance of being vaccinated. World Meningitis Day is organized by The Confederation of Meningitis Organizations (CoMO), which was formed in 2004 and whose members include organizations and individuals in 19 countries across Europe, North and South America, Australia, the Philippines, and Africa. In addition to encouraging participation in local events, CoMO invites all to log on to the CoMO Meningitis website (http://www.comoonline.org) during April and join hands against meningitis in a global virtual community.


MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND RESOURCES
THE 59TH ANNUAL EPIDEMIC INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (EIS) CONFERENCE will be held April 19-23, 2010, at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta-Ravinia, 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30346, (770) 395-7700. Conference registration, hotel information, the annual EIS Prediction Run, and other conference events can be found at the EIS Conference website (http://www.cdc.gov/eis/conference.html). Conference registration is free. The deadline for online registration is Monday, April 5, 2010. After this date, registration will be available on-site at the conference hotel from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. The annual EIS Prediction Run will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2010, at 6:00 pm at Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody, GA. If you have conference registration questions, please contact Ron Edwards by telephone (404) 498-6110 or e-mail (RedwardsSR@cdc.gov).


2010 NATIONAL COALITION CONFERENCE: Please mark your calendars for the 9th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions "Strengthening Our Connections" (http://www.ilmaternal.org/ncihc2010.html). The conference, which will take place May 26-28, 2010, in Chicago, Illinois, will showcase successful ways in which health coalitions can improve immunization protection, prevent disease, improve access to care and health outcomes for underserved populations, reduce racial, ethnic, and geographic health disparities, educate new populations, and build community health infrastructures.


INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES:
The International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID) will be held July 11-14, 2010, in Atlanta, GA. The conference brings together public health professionals to encourage the exchange of scientific and public health information on global emerging infectious disease issues. ICEID 2010 will focus on the impact of various intervention and preventive strategies that have been implemented to address emerging infectious disease threats. Registration is now open. For more information, visit the ICEID website (http://www.iceid.org).

To access the complete March issue of Immunization Works, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/news/newsltrs/imwrks/2010/201003.htm

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8 "CDC Features" educate the public about pertussis and mumps

The "CDC Features" web section now includes information for the public on two immunization topics: pertussis and mumps.

(1) "Pertussis (Whooping Cough)--What You Need to Know" informs parents that pertussis is highly contagious and can cause serious illness, especially in infants too young to be vaccinated. It encourages childhood vaccination with the full 5-dose series and underscores that adolescent and adult vaccination is particularly important for families with new infants.

To access "Pertussis (Whooping Cough)--What You Need to Know," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pertussis

(2) "MMR Vaccine: The Best Protection against Mumps" discusses the current mumps outbreak that has infected 2,500 people in the Northeastern U.S., lists mumps complications, encourages parents to verify that their child has received 2 doses of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and warns that some adults need MMR vaccination.

To access "MMR Vaccine: The Best Protection against Mumps," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Mumps

To access an index of all "CDC Features," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/features

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9 Reminder: the National Immunization Conference will be held April 19-22 in Atlanta

The National Immunization Conference is scheduled for April 19-22 in Atlanta. Only on-site registration is available.

For comprehensive information, including the conference agenda (with online access to abstracts) and accommodations, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/nic

For additional information, contact the Conference Planning Team at (404) 639-8225 or at nipnic@cdc.gov

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10.  Two viral hepatitis training videos now available online

The National Training Center (NTC) for Integrated Hepatitis HIV/STD Prevention Services provides training to frontline workers in community-based organizations and clinics on hepatitis prevention, diagnosis, management, treatment, and integration. NTC has posted two viral hepatitis training videos; both require Windows Media Player.

The video "ABC's of Hepatitis--Information for the Front Line Worker" has a run time of 45 minutes and comes with 16 pages of downloadable handouts. The presenter is Laura Bachmann, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. To access the video, go to: http://www.knowhepatitis.org/abcstraining?skipped=1

The video "Institute of Medicine Report: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C" has a run time of 40 minutes. The presenter is John W. Ward, MD, director, Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC. To access the video, go to: http://www.knowhepatitis.org/iomtraining?skipped=1

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Editorial Information

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    Courtnay Londo, MA
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