| Issue 1018: October 2, 2012 TOP STORIES
IAC HANDOUTS OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FEATURED RESOURCES TOP STORIES CDC publishes report on influenza vaccination of U.S. healthcare personnel during the 2011–12 influenza season CDC published Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health-Care Personnel—2011–12 Influenza Season, United States in the September 28 issue of MMWR (pages 753–757). The first paragraph is reprinted below. Influenza vaccination of health-care personnel (HCP) is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Vaccination of HCP can reduce morbidity and mortality from influenza and its potentially serious consequences among HCP, their family members, and their patients. To provide timely estimates of influenza vaccination coverage and related data among HCP for the 2011–12 influenza season, CDC conducted an Internet panel survey with 2,348 HCP during April 2–20, 2012. This report summarizes the results of that survey, which found that, overall, 66.9% of HCP reported having had an influenza vaccination for the 2011–12 season. By occupation, vaccination coverage was 85.6% among physicians, 77.9% among nurses, and 62.8% among all other HCP participating in the survey. Vaccination coverage was 76.9% among HCP working in hospitals, 67.7% among those in physician offices, and 52.4% among those in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Among HCP working in hospitals that required influenza vaccination, coverage was 95.2%; among HCP in hospitals not requiring vaccination, coverage was 68.2%. Widespread implementation of comprehensive HCP influenza vaccination strategies is needed, particularly among those who are not physicians or nurses and who work in LTCFs, to increase HCP vaccination coverage and minimize the risk for medical-care–acquired influenza illnesses. Back to top Spotlight on immunize.org: eight more healthcare organizations join IAC's Honor Roll for Patient Safety IAC urges qualifying healthcare organizations to apply for its Honor Roll for Patient Safety. The honor roll recognizes hospitals, medical practices, professional organizations, and government entities that have taken a stand for patient safety by implementing mandatory influenza vaccination policies for healthcare workers. More than 200 organizations are now enrolled. Since September 4, when IAC Express last reported on the Honor Roll for Patient Safety, the following eight healthcare organizations have been enrolled. Newly added healthcare organizations Oroville Hospital, Oroville, CA; Manchester Memorial Hospital, Manchester, CT; Topeka Pediatrics, PA, Topeka, KS; Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, New Bedford, MA; McLaren Central Michigan, Mount Pleasant, MI; Hanover Hospital, Hanover, PA; Avera St. Benedict Health Center, Parkston, SD; and Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD. Related links
CDC publishes report on influenza vaccination of pregnant women during the 2011–12 influenza season CDC published Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women—2011–12 Influenza Season, United States in the September 28 issue of MMWR (pages 758–763). The first paragraph is reprinted below. Pregnant women and their newborns are at elevated risk for influenza-associated hospitalization and death. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have recommended influenza vaccination for all women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season, regardless of trimester. To estimate influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women for the 2011–12 influenza season, CDC analyzed data from an Internet panel survey conducted April 3–17, 2012, among women pregnant at any time during the 4-month period October 2011–January 2012. Among 1,660 survey respondents, 47.0% reported they had received influenza vaccination; 9.9% were vaccinated before pregnancy, 36.5% during pregnancy, and <1.0% after pregnancy. Overall, 43.7% of women reported receipt of both a health-care provider recommendation and offer of influenza vaccination; these women had higher vaccination coverage (73.6%) than women who received only a recommendation but no offer of vaccination (47.9%) and women who received neither a recommendation nor an offer (11.1%). Continued efforts are needed to encourage providers of medical care to routinely recommend and offer influenza vaccination to women who are pregnant or who might become pregnant. Back to top Press release and video of NFID's September 27 influenza press conference now online The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has posted a comprehensive press release detailing the information presented at its September 27 influenza news conference. Titled What the Public Needs to Know This Influenza Season, the conference was held at the National Press Club, Washington, DC. A video of the news conference is also available. Online help is provided for those who have difficulty accessing the video or its sound. Back to top CDC publishes report on hospitalizations related to influenza A (H3N2)v in Ohio in 2012 CDC published Influenza A (H3N2) Variant Virus-Related Hospitalizations—Ohio, 2012 in the September 28 issue of MMWR (pages 764–767). The first paragraph is reprinted below. Since July 2012, 305 cases of infection with influenza A (H3N2) variant (H3N2v) virus containing the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 M gene have occurred in multiple U.S. states, primarily associated with swine exposure at agricultural fairs. In Ohio, from July 28 to September 25, 2012, a total of 106 confirmed H3N2v cases were identified through enhanced surveillance. Whereas most H3N2v patients experienced mild, self-limited influenza-like illness (ILI), 11 of the Ohio patients were hospitalized, representing 69% of all H3N2v hospitalizations in the United States. Of these hospitalized H3N2v patients, six were at increased risk for influenza complications because of age or underlying medical conditions, including the only H3N2v-associated fatality reported in the United States to date. This report summarizes the epidemiology and clinical features of the 11 hospitalized H3N2v patients in Ohio. These findings reinforce the recommendation for persons at high risk for influenza complications to avoid swine exposure at agricultural fairs this fall. In addition, persons not at high risk for influenza complications who wish to reduce their risk for infection with influenza viruses circulating among pigs also should avoid swine and swine barns at agricultural fairs this fall. Back to top CDC's final state-level 2011–12 influenza vaccination coverage estimates are now online CDC published Announcements: Final State-Level 2011–12 Influenza Vaccination Coverage Estimates Available Online in the September 28 issue of MMWR (page 772). The article is reprinted below. Final state-specific influenza vaccination coverage estimates for the 2011–12 influenza season are now available online at FluVaxView. Included are estimates of the cumulative percentage of persons vaccinated by the end of each month, during August 2011–May 2012, for each state and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services region, and the United States overall. Analyses were conducted using National Immunization Survey data for children aged 6 months–17 years and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for adults aged ≥18 years. Estimates are provided by age group and race/ethnicity. These estimates are presented using an interactive feature [the interactive feature is a U.S. map; it takes a few seconds to appear] and complemented by an online summary report. The data update the national preliminary estimates from the March 2012 National Immunization Survey and National Flu Survey. Back to top CDC publishes report on postvaccination serologic test results of infants exposed to hepatitis B virus at birth IAC HANDOUTS Updated "Vaccinations for Adults: You’re never too old to get immunized!" now available in seven languages Updated in August, IAC's patient-education handout Vaccinations for Adults: You’re never too old to get immunized! is now available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese. IAC's Handouts for Patients and Staff web section offers healthcare professionals and the public more than 250 FREE English-language handouts (many also available in translation), which we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely. Back to top OFFICIAL RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS CDC's Travelers' Health web section reports thousands of cases of measles in Europe A recently posted Outbreak Notice: Measles Update on CDC's Travelers' Health web section catalogs an alarming number of measles cases in several European countries.
Talk to your doctor to see if you need a measles vaccination before you travel. People who cannot show that they were vaccinated as children and who have never had measles should probably be vaccinated. The first dose of measles vaccine is routinely recommended at age 12–15 months in the United States. However, children traveling outside the United States are recommended to get the vaccine starting at age 6 months. If your child is aged 6–11 months and will be traveling internationally, talk to a doctor about getting the measles vaccine. Updated daily, the Travelers' Heath outbreak notice has information for the traveling public and healthcare providers, as well as links to numerous measles-related CDC resources. Back to top FEATURED RESOURCES 2012 Red Book mobile download available for Apple and Android users as part of Red Book Online subscription The 2012 Red Book mobile download is now a standard part of individual Red Book Online subscriptions. Subscribers can download the free Red Book app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, and then access it using the American Academy of Pediatrics' log-in and password they use to access Red Book Online. Related Link
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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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ISSN 2771-8085
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ISSN 2771-8085
Editorial Information
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Editor-in-ChiefKelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
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Managing EditorJohn D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
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Associate EditorSharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
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Writer/Publication CoordinatorTaryn Chapman, MS
Courtnay Londo, MA -
Style and Copy EditorMarian Deegan, JD
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Web Edition ManagersArkady Shakhnovich
Jermaine Royes -
Contributing WriterLaurel H. Wood, MPA
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Technical ReviewerKayla Ohlde