IAC Express 2010
Issue number 875: June 28, 2010
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Contents of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article.
  1. New: June 2010 issue of Vaccinate Adults is now online
  2. Reminder: June 2010 issue of Needle Tips available online
  3. California's pertussis epidemic claims the lives of five infants
  4. IAC updates three handouts, including "Screening Questionnaire for Child and Teen Immunization"
  5. IAC updates online "Ask the Experts" Q&A section related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and disease
  6. IAC's Video of the Week presents an overview of the immune system
  7. For coalitions: 182 immunization coalitions have posted information on www.izcoalitions.org--is yours one of them?
  8. MMRV vaccine VIS now available in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese
  9. Real Guys Immunize campaign spurs dads on to protect themselves and their families against VPDs
  10. "CDC Features" discusses the importance of vaccination to protect children and families against tetanus
  11. CDC issues "Summary of Notifiable Diseases--United States, 2008"
  12. Minutes of the February 2010 ACIP meeting now online
  13. PKIDs' June 29 webinar to outline how ImmunizeBC uses traditional and new media to teach the merits of immunization
  14. Immunotherapeutics and Vaccine Summit scheduled for August 17-19 in Cambridge, MA
 
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 875: June 28, 2010
1.  New: June 2010 issue of Vaccinate Adults is now online

The June 2010 issue of Vaccinate Adults has just been placed online at http://www.immunize.org/va/va28.pdf

This issue emphasizes the importance of vaccinating healthcare personnel against influenza. Note: Vaccinate Adults shares identical content with Needle Tips (which was published one week earlier) except that the pediatric information has been removed.

Here are some of the features included in the issue:

  • Ask the Experts: CDC Immunization Experts Answer Your Questions
  • Vaccine Highlights: Recommendations, Schedules, and More
  • Vaccinations for Adults--You're NEVER Too Old to Get Immunized!
  • Vaccine Refrigerator Setup, a resource from the California Department of Public Health
  • Monthly Care of Vaccine Storage Units, a resource from the California Department of Public Health
  • First Do No Harm--Protect Patients by Making Sure All Staff Receive Yearly Influenza Vaccine
  • Honor Roll for Patient Safety (institutions that mandate influenza vaccination for healthcare workers)

To access the Vaccinate Adults web page, go to: http://www.immunize.org/va There you will find a table of contents for viewing and printing individual sections of the June issue. Back issues are accessible from this page as well.

To download a PDF of the entire 10-page June issue right now, go to: http://www.immunize.org/va/va28.pdf

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2 Reminder: June 2010 issue of Needle Tips available online

The June 2010 issue of Needle Tips is available online for viewing, downloading, and printing. The issue emphasizes the importance of vaccinating healthcare personnel against influenza.

To download the entire issue right now, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n45/n45.pdf

Complete information about this issue of Needle Tips is available at http://www.immunize.org/nt There you will find a link for displaying and printing the entire 14-page PDF of the issue, along with a table of contents for viewing and printing individual sections of Needle Tips.

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3 California's pertussis epidemic claims the lives of five infants

On June 23, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a press release titled "Whooping Cough Epidemic May Be Worst in 50 Years." A portion of it is reprinted below. (Note: At the end of this IAC Express article you will find links to pertussis resources posted on the websites of the California Department of Public Health and Immunization Action Coalition.)


Urging Californians to get vaccinated now, Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), warned today that the state is on pace to suffer the most illnesses and deaths due to pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in 50 years.

"Whooping cough is now an epidemic in California," Horton said. "Children should be vaccinated against the disease, and parents, family members, and caregivers of infants need a booster shot."

As of June 15, California had recorded 910 cases of pertussis, a four-fold increase from the same period last year when 219 cases were recorded. Five infants--all under three months of age--have died from the disease this year. In addition, 600 more possible cases of pertussis are being investigated by local health departments.

Pertussis is cyclical. Cases tend to peak every two-to-five years. In 2005, California recorded 3,182 cases and eight deaths.

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease. Unimmunized or incompletely immunized young infants are particularly vulnerable. Since 1998, more than 80 percent of the infants in California who have died from pertussis have been Hispanic. . . .


To access the entire press release, go to:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR10-041.aspx

Resources from the California Department of Public Health: To access newly posted pertussis resources (e.g., an advisory for providers, information for pregnant women), go to the What's New section of http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Pages/Default.aspx

Resources from the Immunization Action Coalition: To access a range of pertussis-related resources (e.g., VISs, standing orders), go to: http://www.immunize.org/handouts/pertussis-vaccines.asp

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4 IAC updates three handouts, including "Screening Questionnaire for Child and Teen Immunization"

IAC recently revised the following three handouts for healthcare professionals and their patients.

(1) The popular "Screening Questionnaire for Child and Teen Immunization" makes it easy for healthcare professionals to screen for vaccine contraindications. It was updated to reflect recent changes in recommendations regarding contraindications. Go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4060.pdf

(2) IAC made minor changes to the professional handout "Hepatitis B Facts: Testing and Vaccination." Go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2110.pdf

(3) IAC added a resource to "If You Have Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection." This handout gives patients basic information on taking care of themselves and protecting others from becoming infected. Go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4120.pdf

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

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5 IAC updates online "Ask the Experts" Q&A section related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and disease

IAC's online "Ask the Experts" Q&A section about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and disease was recently updated with input from vaccination experts at CDC. IAC's "Ask the Experts" Q&As are reviewed and updated annually. The process is ongoing; IAC Express will inform readers as sections are reviewed and revised.

To access the revised HPV Q&As, go to: http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_hpv.asp

To access the index page of "Ask the Experts" Q&As for all other vaccines, go to: http://www.immunize.org/askexperts

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6 IAC's Video of the Week presents an overview of the immune system

IAC encourages readers to watch a 2-minute animated video from the National Institutes of Health that presents an overview of the immune system. It includes an explanation of the role of lymphocytes, specialized white blood cells that adapt themselves to fight specific foreign invaders.

The video will be available on the home page of IAC's website through July 4. To access it, go to: http://www.immunize.org and click on the image under the words Video of the Week.

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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7 For coalitions: 182 immunization coalitions have posted information on www.izcoalitions.org--is yours one of them?

Since its 2002 launch date, IAC's Directory of Immunization Coalitions website (http://www.izcoalitions.org) has posted information from 182 immunization coalitions. The site includes data from coalitions at all levels (local, state, regional, and national) and of all types, vaccine-specific as well as age-specific (childhood, adult, senior).

This online database allows health professionals, immunization advocates, parents, and others to contact specific coalitions to find resources, share ideas, and form strategic partnerships. Searches can be done by coalition name or geographic area.

Be sure your coalition is part of this powerful web-based networking tool by checking for your coalition's listing. If your coalition is not listed, sign up today. If your coalition is already displayed but information about your coalition has changed, be sure to update your listing to help us keep izcoalitions.org current and accurate.

To look for your coalition on the Directory of Immunization Coalitions website, go to: http://www.izcoalitions.org

If you have questions or difficulties updating your coalition's information, send an email to Janelle at janelle@immunize.org or call her at (651) 647-9009.

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8 MMRV vaccine VIS now available in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese

Dated 5/21/10, the VIS for the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine is now available in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. IAC gratefully acknowledges the California Department of Public Health, Immunization Branch, for the translations.

To access the new translations of the VIS for MMRV vaccine, as well as the MMRV vaccine VIS in English and other translations, go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_mmrv.asp

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

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9 Real Guys Immunize campaign spurs dads on to protect themselves and their families against VPDs

Launched in mid-June, the Real Guys Immunize Campaign gives dads the impetus and tools they need to take action to protect themselves and their families from vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). The U.S. is seeing a level of VPDs that we haven't seen in decades--the pertussis epidemic in California is proof of that (see article #3 in this IAC Express issue). That's why it's so important for dads to play their part in making sure they and their family are fully immunized.

The Real Guys Immunize website includes these web sections:

  • iHerd--counters common myths dads may have heard about vaccines
     
  • Captain's Corner--lets dads share how they or men they know have turned to vaccines to protect those they love
     
  • Resources--gives dads access to immunization information that has appeared in the popular media

Website visitors are encouraged to view the video on the Real Guys Immunize home page and to follow Real Guys Immunize on Facebook and Twitter.

To access the home page, go to: http://www.vaccinatenow.org/realguysimmunize

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10.  "CDC Features" discusses the importance of vaccination to protect children and families against tetanus

The "CDC Features" web section includes "Tetanus: Make Sure You and Your Child Are Fully Immunized." It gives parents information about tetanus, the vaccine that protects against it, and the need for lifetime booster doses.

To access "Tetanus: Make Sure You and Your Child Are Fully Immunized," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Tetanus

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

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11.  CDC issues "Summary of Notifiable Diseases--United States, 2008"

CDC published "Summary of Notifiable Diseases--United States, 2008" in the June 25 issue of MMWR Summary of Notifiable Diseases.

The 100-page summary has three primary sections. They are Part 1: Summaries of Notifiable Diseases in the United States, 2008; Part 2: Graphs and Maps for Selected Notifiable Diseases in the United States, 2008; and Part 3: Historical Summaries of Notifiable Diseases in the United States, 1975-2008.

The opening paragraph of the preface follows.


The "Summary of Notifiable Diseases--United States, 2008" contains the official statistics, in tabular and graphic form, for the reported occurrence of nationally notifiable infectious diseases in the United States for 2008. Unless otherwise noted, the data are final totals for 2008 reported as of June 30, 2009. These statistics are collected and compiled from reports sent by state and territorial health departments to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), which is operated by CDC in collaboration with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). The Summary is available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwr_nd/ This site also includes publications from previous years.


To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the summary, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm5754.pdf

To access the complete summary in web-text (HTML) format, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5754a1.htm

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12.  Minutes of the February 2010 ACIP meeting now online

The CDC website recently posted the minutes of ACIP's February 24-25 meeting. To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the minutes, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/downloads/min-feb10.pdf

To access information on past and upcoming ACIP meetings, including meeting agendas, minutes, registration, presentation slides, and meeting dates, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/meetings.htm

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13.  PKIDs' June 29 webinar to outline how ImmunizeBC uses traditional and new media to teach the merits of immunization

PKIDs (Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases) has scheduled a one-hour webinar for June 29. Titled "Time to Get Wet: How to make a splash for public health using 'old' and 'new' media," the webinar will outline how British Columbia's ImmunizeBC group has used traditional and new media in several immunization education campaigns. The webinar is part of Communications Made Easy, a PKIDS' program intended to help immunization educators learn the ropes of social marketing and traditional and social media.

"Time to Get Wet" is scheduled for June 29 at 9AM Pacific Time (noon Eastern Time). Space is limited and pre-registration is recommended. To register, go to: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=yfmr7qbpwpg8

For more information on the Communications Made Easy program, go to: http://www.pkids.org/cme

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14.  Immunotherapeutics and Vaccine Summit scheduled for August 17-19 in Cambridge, MA

Organized by Cambridge Healthtech Institute, the Immunotherapeutics & Vaccine Summit will take place on August 17-19 in Cambridge, MA. For comprehensive information on the summit, go to: http://www.healthtech.com/imt/overview.aspx

For online registration, go to: https://chidb.com/register/2010/imt/reg.asp

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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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