Issue Number 487            October 25, 2004

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

  1. New: CDC issues a patient-screening questionnaire to determine who is eligible for injectable influenza vaccine
  2. Updated: IAC's professional piece "Give these people influenza vaccine" now reflects interim CDC recommendations
  3. DHHS/CDC issue press releases about the influenza vaccine shortage
  4. New: October issue of "Vaccinate Adults" is in the mail and on the Web
  5. CDC reports on Iowa's efforts to interrupt measles transmission in spring 2004
  6. New: NIP makes audio versions of almost all VISs available on its website
  7. CDC notifies readers about the availability of a 24-hour clinician information line
  8. Job opening: AAP seeks manager for its national infectious diseases committee and section
  9. December 1 is the date for CDLHN's free satellite broadcast, Quality Assurance in Vaccine Handling and Storage
  10. NIP updates the address for its web-based interactive "Vaccine Quiz"
  11. Louisiana's "Shots for Tots" state immunization conference is scheduled for December 16-17 in New Orleans

----------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

---------------------------------------------------------------

ABBREVIATIONS: AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics; ACIP, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; IAC, Immunization Action Coalition; MMWR, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; NIP, National Immunization Program; VIS, Vaccine Information Statement; VPD, vaccine-preventable disease; WHO, World Health Organization.
---------------------------------------------------------------

(1 of 11)
October 25, 2004
NEW: CDC ISSUES A PATIENT-SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE TO DETERMINE WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR INJECTABLE INFLUENZA VACCINE

On October 22, CDC issued a patient self-screening questionnaire, "Who should and who should not get a flu shot?" Based on the most current CDC influenza vaccine recommendations, the questionnaire will allow patients visiting health care providers to screen themselves about their eligibility to receive injectable trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV).

The questionnaire should be especially useful in influenza vaccination clinics, where it may help reduce long lines by enabling the early identification of those who should NOT be vaccinated during the 2004-05 influenza season.

PLEASE NOTE: The questionnaire has the word "revised" in the upper right corner. If you have questionnaires that do not have "revised" on them, please discard them; they are outdated.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the most current questionnaire, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/pdf/vaccinescreeningform.pdf
----------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(2 of 11)
October 25, 2004
UPDATED: IAC'S PROFESSIONAL PIECE "GIVE THESE PEOPLE INFLUENZA VACCINE" NOW REFLECTS INTERIM CDC RECOMMENDATIONS

IAC updated its professional-education piece "Give these people influenza vaccine" to reflect CDC's interim recommendations on the priority groups for receiving trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV). CDC issued the interim recommendations on October 5 in response to the U.S. influenza vaccine shortage.

IAC's updated piece is now titled "Revised! Give these people influenza vaccine." The title of the older piece did not contain "Revised!" If you have copies of the older piece, please discard them.

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the revised piece, go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/2013flu.pdf

To obtain a web-text (HTML) version of it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/2013flu.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(3 of 11)
October 25, 2004
DHHS/CDC ISSUE PRESS RELEASES ABOUT THE INFLUENZA VACCINE SHORTAGE

In the past several days, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and CDC have issued two press releases about the influenza vaccine shortage. Following are links to the press releases:

(1) On October 21, DHHS issued a press release announcing that an additional one million doses of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) will be available in the U.S. for the 2004-05 influenza season. To access the press release, go to:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20041021.html

(2) On October 22, CDC issued a press release announcing that during the week of October 18-22, more than 3.2 million doses of influenza vaccine were shipped to health care providers serving high-priority groups. To access the press release, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r041022.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(4 of 11)
October 25, 2004
NEW: OCTOBER ISSUE OF "VACCINATE ADULTS" IS IN THE MAIL AND ON
THE WEB

IAC recently mailed the latest issue of "VACCINATE ADULTS" (October 2004) to 100,000 health professionals and others who work in the field of immunization. Packed with immunization resources for health professionals and patients, the 12-page issue is well worth downloading. All articles and education pieces, except editorials, have been thoroughly reviewed by immunization and hepatitis experts at CDC.

PLEASE NOTE: Current as of September 2004, the resources in the October "VACCINATE ADULTS" do not contain the most recent information on influenza vaccine and vaccine supply. On October 5, ACIP developed interim influenza vaccine recommendations in response to Chiron Corporation's announcement that its trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine will not be available in the United States for the 2004-05 influenza season. The information in the interim recommendations is not reflected in any of the influenza information published in the October "VACCINATE ADULTS."

HOW TO READ "VACCINATE ADULTS" ON THE WEB
You can view selected articles from the table of contents below or download the entire issue from the Web.

To view the table of contents with links to individual articles, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va

The PDF file of the entire issue, linked below, is large at 608,197 bytes. Some printers cannot print such a large file. For tips on downloading and printing PDF files, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/tips.htm

To download a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of the October issue, go to: http://www.immunize.org/va/va14.pdf

Below are descriptions of articles in the October issue, followed by links:

(1) In "Ask the Experts," CDC specialists answer questions about influenza immunization, vaccine storage and handling, hepatitis B vaccine administration, and hepatitis A vaccination for travelers.

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va/va14exprt.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/va/va14exprt.htm

(2) Educate your adult patients about their lifelong need for vaccinations with the one-page patient-education piece "Vaccinations for Adults: You're NEVER too old to get immunized!" (updated in August).

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4030a.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n18/p4030new.htm

(3) Updated in July, the two-page professional-education piece "Summary of Recommendations for Adult Immunization" distills hundreds of pages of ACIP recommendations for adult immunization into a document that can be printed on one double-sided sheet of 8-1/2" x 11" paper.

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2011b.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2011b.htm

(4) A patient's answers to "Screening Questionnaire for Adult Immunization" will give health professionals the information they need to assess whether the patient has contraindications to vaccination on the day of the visit; one page, updated in April.

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4065scr.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4065scr.htm

(5) Updated in June, the one-page professional-education piece "Standing Orders for Administering Influenza Vaccine to Adults" provides a protocol that clinics and practices can use to implement standing orders.

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3074.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3074.htm

(6) Updated in September, the two-page patient education brochure "Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease: Vaccination can protect you" succinctly explains the disease and vaccine.

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4080a.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4080a.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(5 of 11)
October 25, 2004
CDC REPORTS ON IOWA'S EFFORTS TO INTERRUPT MEASLES TRANSMISSION IN SPRING 2004

CDC published "Postexposure Prophylaxis, Isolation, and Quarantine to Control an Import-Associated Measles Outbreak--Iowa, 2004" in MMWR on October 22. The article presents the measures the Iowa Department of Public Health took to control the outbreak, distinguishes quarantine from isolation, and discusses the role quarantine has in safeguarding the public's health. It concludes by encouraging state governments and state and local public health officials to review state and local quarantine laws. It presents two boxes of information that can assist in this review; they are "Ten principles of modern quarantine" and "Essential questions to review regarding quarantine authority."

The first paragraph of the article is reprinted below.

***********************

On March 12, 2004, a college student infectious with measles returned to Iowa from India by a commercial airliner; the case was subsequently linked to two other measles cases. This report updates information about this outbreak and provides details regarding vaccination, quarantine, and other measures used by Iowa public health authorities to interrupt disease transmission in a vulnerable population. The effective uses of quarantine and isolation during the outbreak underscore the utility of these public health tools in halting communicable disease transmission.

***********************

To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5341a3.htm

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5341.pdf

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

Back to Top

(6 of 11)
October 25, 2004
NEW: NIP MAKES AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALMOST ALL VISs AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE

On October 5, NIP added audio versions of most Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) to its VIS web section. The audio versions are intended for use with blind patients and patients with limited or no literacy.

Audio VISs are unavailable for anthrax and smallpox vaccines.
Audio VISs are available for the following vaccines:

  • Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP)
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
  • Trivalent inactivated influenza (TIV)
  • Live attenuated influenza (LAIV)
  • Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
  • Meningococcal
  • Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPV)
  • Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)
  • Polio (IPV)
  • Rabies
  • Tetanus, diphtheria (Td)
  • Typhoid
  • Varicella
  • Yellow fever

To access available audio VISs, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/default.htm#audio

Audio VISs require the use of Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/default.aspx

A CD-ROM of the audio files is available. To get one, email NIPINFO@cdc.gov
---------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(7 of 11)
October 25, 2004
CDC NOTIFIES READERS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF A 24-HOUR CLINICIAN INFORMATION LINE

CDC published "Notice to Readers: Availability of 24-Hour Clinician Line and Addition of Topics" in MMWR on October 22. The notice is reprinted below in its entirety.

***********************

CDC's Clinician Information Line (CIL) announces the addition of three topics--mass trauma, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)/variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), and viral hemorrhagic fevers--to its expanding list of disease topics. The line now covers 16 topics: smallpox, influenza/avian influenza, ricin, severe acute respiratory syndrome, radiation, West Nile virus, chlorine, anthrax, botulism, plague, nerve agents, tularemia, viral hemorrhagic fevers, hurricane recovery, mass trauma, and BSE/vCJD. Clinicians with questions relating to any of these topics can reach CIL at telephone (877) 554-4625 (toll-free).

CIL was established by CDC in 2003 to rapidly disseminate information to clinicians. The hotline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is staffed by registered nurses who have access to the latest CDC guidelines and information. The nurses use these guidelines to address emergency preparedness concerns and answer specific questions about emerging diseases. In addition, CIL nurses can connect callers to their local and state public health departments in real time. CIL nurses interact with CDC staff and subject matter specialists to obtain the most up-to-date information. Additional information is available at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/coca

***********************

To access a web-text (HTML) version of the notice, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5341a5.htm

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5341.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(8 of 11)
October 25, 2004
JOB OPENING: AAP SEEKS MANAGER FOR ITS NATIONAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES COMMITTEE AND SECTION

The American Academy of Pediatrics has requested IAC to notify readers about a job opening for the position of manager of AAP's national Committee on Infectious Diseases and Section on Infectious Diseases. The job description is reprinted below.

**********************

Manager, Committees & Sections

The American Academy of Pediatrics has an exciting opportunity for an energetic professional to manage the activities of its national Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID) and Section on Infectious Diseases (SOID).

In this key position, the Manager will support the clinical policy and program activities of the COID and SOID, oversee production of the Academy's Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases (Red Book), serve as a technical resource on vaccines and other infectious diseases-related issues, identify  and assess opportunities that advance the advocacy and professional/public education agenda of the AAP, and implement all governance, reporting, and communication requirements. Other core duties include developing member alerts, Q and A information, and critical guidance pertaining to immunization practice; organizing and staffing national committee meetings; managing value-added member programs/projects; and responding to external and internal inquiries. The Manager will engage in a high level of interaction with AAP members/volunteers, government agencies, industry, and selected professional societies.

Qualified candidates will possess a Masters degree in Public Health or Health Sciences with a working knowledge of immunization practice and its relationship to the management of infectious diseases in children. Previous experience working with the CDC and FDA, and private sector advocacy groups a plus. A minimum of three years progressively responsible experience managing health care programs, projects and/or campaigns. Excellent communication, technical writing, time management, and medical editing skills essential. Ability to work independently and within a team environment. Demonstrated ability to undertake and complete multiple assignments simultaneously. Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications. Some travel and weekend work also required. Previous association and policy experience preferred.

We offer an excellent work environment, competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package. If interested, please reference HR/W/420 and visit our How To Apply page at http://www.aap.org/visit/apply.htm Or send cover letter, resume, and salary history to

American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Blvd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Fax: (847) 228-5099
Email: resumes@aap.org

**********************

To access the job description on the AAP website, go to: http://www.aap.org/visit/jobopen.cfm#eg Scroll down to the subhead titled Manager, Committees & Sections.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(9 of 11)
October 25, 2004
DECEMBER 1 IS THE DATE FOR CDLHN'S FREE SATELLITE BROADCAST, QUALITY ASSURANCE IN VACCINE HANDLING AND STORAGE

In partnership with CDC, California Distance Learning Health Network (CDLHN) and the California Department of Health Services have scheduled a free satellite broadcast on December 1 from 10AM to 11:30AM PT. Titled Quality Assurance in Vaccine Handling and Storage, the broadcast will present essential information for program and field staff who provide advice and training on vaccine storage in physician offices and clinics.

The broadcast will include a live Q&A segment and real-life scenarios that health care workers face every day. It will offer information on vaccine storage equipment, temperature logging, and protecting vaccines in the event of storage problems or an emergency. The intended audience includes public health nurses and site coordinators, immunization coordinators, and health department personnel in California and other states.

For additional information, contact Kate Spilis at (619) 594-5912 (phone), (619) 594-7427 (fax), info@cdlhn.com (email), or http://cdlhn.com/default.htm (Web).
---------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(10 of 11)
October 25, 2004
NIP UPDATES THE ADDRESS FOR ITS WEB-BASED INTERACTIVE "VACCINE QUIZ"

NIP has updated the address for its web-based interactive "Vaccine Quiz" to ensure it will work for the greatest number of users. The new address is http://www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultImmSched

For complete information on the "Vaccine Quiz," see article #4 in the "IAC EXPRESS" for September 20 at http://www.immunize.org/genr.d/issue480.htm#n4
---------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(11 of 11)
October 25, 2004
LOUISIANA'S "SHOTS FOR TOTS" STATE IMMUNIZATION CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 16-17 IN NEW ORLEANS

The Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, New Orleans, is the site for the 13th annual "Shots for Tots" State Immunization Conference. To take advantage of the early-bird registration rate of $35, make sure your registration is postmarked before November 1.

For a registration form and information about the conference program, go to: http://www.shotsfortots.com/html/11th_annual.html or call Gina Deris at (504) 483-1900.

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.

IZ Express Disclaimer
ISSN 2771-8085

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

This page was updated on .