On October 23, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued a press release reporting the death of a Minnesota man from rabies on October 20. The death underscores the importance of healthcare professionals educating patients about (1) the danger bats pose as rabies carriers and (2) the efficacy of rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), when initiated immediately after bat contact or suspected bat contact.

Portions of the MDH press release are reprinted below.

The CDC website recently posted 2006 National Immunization Survey (NIS) data tables and maps that show estimated immunization rates by state for various childhood vaccines and vaccine series. The data tables present data in two ways for each state and local area--in the aggregate and by race and ethnicity. Maps are color coded, with each state's color indicating the immunization rate the state has achieved for a given vaccine or vaccine series.

To access the data tables and maps, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/stats-surv/nis/figures/2006_map.htm Click on the vaccine or vaccine series to be taken to the pertinent data table; click on the word "map" to be taken to the pertinent U.S. map.

The current version (dated 7/16/07) of the VIS for trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV; injectable) is now available on the IAC website in Hmong, Russian, and Somali. Dated 7/12/06, the current VIS for tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is now available in Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, and Urdu. IAC gratefully acknowledges the Minnesota Department of Health for the TIV translations and the New York City Department of Education and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for the Tdap translations.

VISs FOR TIV VACCINE

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the VIS for TIV vaccine in Hmong, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/hm_flu04.pdf

To obtain the VIS for TIV in Russian, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ru_flu05.pdf

To obtain the VIS for TIV in Somali, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/so_flu05.pdf

To obtain the VIS for TIV in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/2flu.pdf


VISs FOR Tdap VACCINE
To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the VIS for Tdap vaccine in Bengali, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/be_tdap.pdf

To obtain the VIS for Tdap vaccine in Chinese, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ch_tdap.pdf

To obtain the VIS for Tdap vaccine in Haitian Creole, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ha_tdap.pdf

To obtain the VIS for Tdap vaccine in Korean, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ko_tdap.pdf

To obtain the VIS for Tdap vaccine in Russian, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ru_tdap.pdf

To obtain the VIS for Tdap vaccine in Urdu, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ur_tdap.pdf

To obtain the VIS for Tdap vaccine in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/tdap.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

CDC published "Erratum: Vol. 55, No. RR-16" in the October 26 issue of MMWR. It concerns an error that appeared in the MMWR Recommendations and Reports titled "A Comprehensive Immunization Strategy to Eliminate Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Part II: Immunization of Adults," which was published December 8, 2006. The erratum is reprinted below in its entirety.

On October 19, CDC announced the launch of its redesigned Spanish-language website, "CDC en Espanol." As was done with CDC's English-language website, the Spanish website was redesigned with a more user-friendly layout and a more powerful search engine.

"CDC en Espanol" provides Hispanic communities with information on a range of health promotion and disease prevention topics, including immunization. The site receives more than 6 million visitors a year, and its weekly distribution list has grown to almost 6,000 members in over 40 countries around the world.

To access "CDC en Espanol," go to: http://www.cdc.gov/spanish

The October 25 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 October 25 Hep Express; titles of articles we have not yet covered follow.

• CDC posts hepatitis A Q&As for healthcare professionals
• CDC releases National Immunization Survey data on hepatitis B birth dose
• HBF [Hepatitis B Foundation] posts fall 2007 issue of "B Informed" newsletter on its website
• Journal articles you may have missed

To access the October 25 issue, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/issue63.asp

To sign up for a free subscription to Hep Express, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/subscribe

To access previous issues of Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress

The October issue of Immunization Works, a monthly email newsletter published by CDC, is available on the website of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). The newsletter offers members of the immunization community non-proprietary information about current topics. CDC encourages its wide dissemination.

Some of the information in the October issue has already appeared in previous issues of IAC Express. Following is the text of four articles we have not covered.

CDC recently updated these materials on its Seasonal Flu web section:

• "Antiviral Drugs and Influenza" (10/19/07)
• "Key Facts About Influenza and Influenza Vaccine" (10/19/07)
• "Influenza Symptoms, Protection, and What to Do if You Get Sick" (10/19/07)
• "Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine" (10/19/07)

To access these resources, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm#updated and click on the pertinent link.

To access a broad range of continually updated information on seasonal influenza, avian influenza, pandemic influenza, and swine influenza, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu

On October 23, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a press release announcing that the projection for pandemic influenza vaccine production has been revised upward. Portions of the press release are reprinted below.

FDA, in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization, is holding a public workshop, "Immune Correlates of Protection Against Influenza A Viruses in Support of Pandemic Vaccine Development." It is planned for December 10-11 in Bethesda, MD.

The workshop will include discussions on (1) current knowledge regarding correlates of protection against seasonal influenza, (2) immune responses to avian influenza infections and vaccines for novel influenza viruses in humans, (3) assays to evaluate vaccine immunogenicity, and (4) evaluation of avian influenza vaccine efficacy.

The registration deadline is November 19. Early registration is recommended because seating is limited. There will be no on-site registration. For a registration form, go to: http://www.fda.gov/cber/meetings/panflu121007reg.pdf

For additional information, contact Maureen Hess by phone at (301) 827-5113 or by email at maureen.hess@fda.hhs.gov

On October 23, the federal government posted "Draft Guidance on Allocating and Targeting Pandemic Influenza Vaccine" on the PandemicFlu website. To access the document, go to: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/vaccine/prioritization.pdf

Comments on the draft will be sought through public meetings, stakeholder meetings, web-based public dialog, and requests for comment posted at the PandemicFlu website [http://www.pandemicflu.gov] and in the Federal Register.