Issue Number 612            July 31, 2006

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

  1. ACIP's influenza recommendations now finalized in MMWR Recommendations and Reports; correction is included
  2. "Ask the Experts" hepatitis B: New and revised questions on IAC website!
  3. Interim VIS for Tdap vaccine in Spanish and Chinese; interim VIS for meningococcal vaccine in Chinese
  4. Updated: IAC revises its "Screening questionnaire for child and teen immunization"
  5. 2005-06 U.S. Influenza Season Summary available online
  6. CDC website posts presentation slides from the June 2006 ACIP meeting
  7. Free: Two pads each of VEC's information sheets on thimerosal, hepatitis A, and pandemic influenza
  8. July issue of the Pandemic Influenza Update now on the IAC website
  9. July 27 issue of Hep Express electronic newsletter now online
  10. 146 immunization coalitions have posted information on IAC's izcoalitions.org website--is yours one of them?

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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.
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July 31, 2006
ACIP'S INFLUENZA RECOMMENDATIONS NOW FINALIZED IN MMWR RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS; CORRECTION IS INCLUDED

CDC published "Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)" in the July 28 MMWR Recommendations and Reports. Previously, the recommendations were available in electronic format as an MMWR Early Release.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the influenza recommendations, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5510.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version of them, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5510a1.htm

CORRECTION TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
Also on July 28, CDC published "Erratum: Vol. 55, No. RR-10" in the weekly MMWR. The erratum is reprinted below in its entirety.

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In the MMWR Recommendations and Reports, "Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)," in Table 4, on page 15, the mercury content (mcg Hg/0.5-mL dose) for FLUARIX should read <1.0.

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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5529a4.htm

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5529.pdf

To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which includes new ACIP statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html
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July 31, 2006
"ASK THE EXPERTS" HEPATITIS B: NEW AND REVISED QUESTIONS ON IAC WEBSITE!

[The following is cross-posted from IAC's Hep Express electronic newsletter, 7/27/06.]

Read the recently revised, updated, and reformatted questions on hepatitis B available on the IAC website at http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2021b.htm The information in this revised section has been reviewed by CDC for accuracy and will be reviewed and updated every six months.

The question and answer format covers information on prenatal, perinatal, infant, childhood, adolescent, and adult hepatitis B issues. There is an extensive section on hepatitis B and the healthcare worker, as well as a section on chronic hepatitis B. Six tables are included in this material. These include: (1) an explanation of the various hepatitis serology tests and what the results of those tests indicate; (2) information on how to interpret the results of the various serology tests; (3) hepatitis B vaccine guidelines used for newborns based on the mother's HBsAg status; (4) hepatitis B immunization management of preterm infants weighing less than 2000 grams; (5) recommended doses of currently licensed hepatitis B vaccines by age group; and (6) information on hepatitis B postexposure prophylaxis.

This extensive document contains answers to many questions that have been asked frequently by our readers. It is IAC's hope that this information will assist you in your work to eliminate transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in the United States. Review the IAC "Ask the Experts" web section for other diseases at: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2021.htm
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July 31, 2006
INTERIM VIS FOR Tdap VACCINE IN SPANISH AND CHINESE; INTERIM VIS FOR MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINE IN CHINESE

The current version of the interim VISs for tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap; dated 7/12/06) is now available in Spanish, and a slightly older version (dated 5/31/06) is available in Chinese. The 7/12/06 version is identical to the 5/31/06 version except for minor changes in Section 3 that reflect ACIP's evolving recommendations regarding use of Tdap during pregnancy. In addition, the interim VIS for meningococcal vaccine (dated 10/7/05) is now available in Chinese.

IAC gratefully acknowledges the California Department of Health Services for the Spanish translation and the San Francisco Department of Public Health for both Chinese translations.

INTERIM VISs FOR Tdap VACCINE
To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the interim VIS for Tdap vaccine (dated 7/12/06) in Spanish, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/sp_tdap.pdf

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the interim VIS for Tdap vaccine (dated 5/31/06) in Chinese, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ch_tdap.pdf

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the interim VIS for Tdap vaccine (dated 7/12/06) in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/tdap.pdf

INTERIM VISs FOR MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINE
To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the interim VIS for meningococcal vaccine (dated 10/7/05) in Chinese, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ch_men05.pdf

To obtain it English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/menin05.pdf

For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in more than 30 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at http://www.immunize.org/vis
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July 31, 2006
UPDATED: IAC REVISES ITS "SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE FOR CHILD AND TEEN IMMUNIZATION"

In July, IAC revised its "Screening questionnaire for child and teen immunization." The main change was to add information about Guillain-Barre syndrome for health professionals to consider before administering the following vaccines: pertussis-containing tetanus-diphtheria (DTaP, Tdap), inactivated influenza (TIV), live attenuated influenza (LAIV), and meningococcal conjugate (MCV4).

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the revised sheet, go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4060scr.pdf

To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4060scr.htm
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July 31, 2006
2005-06 U.S. INFLUENZA SEASON SUMMARY AVAILABLE ONLINE

The CDC's influenza web section recently posted the 2005-06 U.S. Influenza Season Summary. To access it, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2005-2006/05-06summary.htm
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July 31, 2006
CDC WEBSITE POSTS PRESENTATION SLIDES FROM THE JUNE 2006 ACIP MEETING

The CDC website recently posted the PowerPoint slides presented at the June 29–30 ACIP meeting. Slides are available on the following:

  • Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV)
  • Varicella vaccine
  • Influenza vaccine
  • Immunization safety
  • Menactra meningococcal vaccine
  • Use of Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis) vaccine in pregnant women
  • Adult immunization schedule
  • Pneumococcal vaccine
  • Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine
  • Childhood and adolescent immunization schedule
  • Multi-state mumps outbreak, December 2005–June 2006
  • Rotavirus vaccine
  • Pandemic influenza vaccine

To access the slides, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ACIP/slides/mtg-slides-jun06.htm
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July 31, 2006
FREE: TWO PADS EACH OF VEC'S INFORMATION SHEETS ON THIMEROSAL, HEPATITIS A, AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

In May, the Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia published three education sheets: "Thimerosal: What you should know," "Hepatitis A: What you should know," and "Pandemic flu: What you should know." Intended for patients, the sheet answers the most frequently asked questions about the topics. English- and Spanish-language versions are available.

Health professionals can order two 50-sheet pads of each title in each language at no charge. Additional pads are available for $3, plus shipping.

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of the thimerosal sheet in English,  click here.

To access it in Spanish, click here.

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of the hepatitis A sheet in English, click here

To access it in Spanish, click here.

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of the pandemic influenza sheet in English, go to:
http://www.chop.edu/vaccine/images/vec_pandemicflu.pdf

To access it in Spanish, go to:
http://www.chop.edu/vaccine/images/vec_pandemicflu_esp.pdf

To order online, go to:
https://www.chop.edu/vaccine/vec/vecprof_order.cfm

Order by email at vaccines@email.chop.edu or by phone at (215) 590-9990.

For additional ordering information, go to:
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=75982
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July 31, 2006
JULY ISSUE OF THE PANDEMIC INFLUENZA UPDATE NOW ON THE IAC WEBSITE

CDC recently issued the July issue of the email newsletter Pandemic Influenza Update. To access it, go to: http://www.immunize.org/pandemic/panflu706.pdf

To access a range of pandemic influenza resources on the IAC website, go to http://www.immunize.org/pandemic
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July 31, 2006
JULY 27 ISSUE OF HEP EXPRESS ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER NOW ONLINE

The July 27 issue of Hep Express, an electronic newsletter published by IAC, is now available online. It is intended for health professionals, program planners, and advocates involved in prevention, screening, and treatment of viral hepatitis.

IAC Express has already covered some of the information presented in the July 27 Hep Express; titles of articles we have not yet covered follow.

  • Read SIGNPOST to keep up to date on global injection safety
  • Senator Rick Santorum introduces National Hepatitis B Act in United States Senate
  • B Informed Patient Conference 2006 summary and slides now available
  • Abbott Laboratories Inc. has won FDA approval for the first test that both screens for and confirms hepatitis B virus infections
  • Updated information on the hepatitis C awareness event (Hep Fest) to be held in Florida on September 3
  • Coming! AAPI Health Summit 2006—September 14–16

To access the July 27 issue, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/issue46.asp

To sign up for a free subscription to Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/signup.asp

To access previous issues of Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress
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July 31, 2006
146 IMMUNIZATION COALITIONS HAVE POSTED INFORMATION ON IAC'S izcoalitions.org WEBSITE--IS YOURS ONE OF THEM?

Since launching its izcoalitions.org website in 2002, IAC has posted information from 146 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 logging on and checking for your coalition's listing. If your coalition is not listed, sign up today. If you're already signed up, and information about your coalition has changed recently, be sure to update your listing to help us keep izcoalitions.org current and accurate.

To search the izcoalitions.org website, go to:
http://www.izcoalitions.org

If you have questions or difficulties using the website, send an email to Janelle at janelle@immunize.org or call her at (651) 647-9009.

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

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