| IAC Express 2009 |
| Issue number 779: February 9, 2009 |
|
| Please click here to subscribe to IAC Express as well as other FREE IAC periodicals. |
|
Contents
of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article. |
- New: CDC
issues recommendations for preventing rotavirus gastroenteritis among
infants and children
- IAC's
Video of the Week educates parents and students about meningococcal
disease, symptoms, and prevention
- FDA posts
a notification that Novartis requests customers to discontinue use of five
lots of Fluvirin vaccine and return remaining doses
- IAC
updates two popular vaccine administration print pieces
- Information about the safety of HPV vaccine is available to healthcare
professionals and the public on CDC's website
- Important: Be sure to give influenza vaccine throughout the influenza
season--through spring 2009
- CDC posts
a Q&A to answer parents' questions during current shortage of monovalent
measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines
- The "CDC
Features" web section presents basic rubella information for the public
- Institute
of Medicine's Committee on Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis
Infections plans public meeting for March 3
|
| |
| 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 779: February 9, 2009 |
|
|
| 1. |
New: CDC issues recommendations for preventing rotavirus gastroenteritis
among infants and children
CDC published "Prevention of Rotavirus
Gastroenteritis Among
Infants and Children: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices (ACIP)" on February 6 in MMWR
Recommendations and Reports. The summary is reprinted below.
Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in
infants and young children worldwide. Before initiation of the
rotavirus vaccination program in the United States in 2006,
approximately 80% of U.S. children had rotavirus gastroenteritis
by age 5 years. Each year during the 1990s and early 2000s,
rotavirus resulted in approximately 410,000 physician visits,
205,000-272,000 emergency department visits, and 55,000-70,000
hospitalizations among U.S. infants and children, with total
annual direct and indirect costs of approximately $1 billion. In
February 2006, a live, oral, human-bovine reassortant rotavirus
vaccine (RotaTeq [RV5]) was licensed as a 3-dose series for use
among U.S. infants for the prevention of rotavirus
gastroenteritis, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP) recommended routine use of RV5 among U.S.
infants (CDC. Prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis among
infants and children: recommendations of the Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices [ACIP]. MMWR 2006;55[No. RR-12]). In
April 2008, a live, oral, human attenuated rotavirus vaccine
(Rotarix [RV1]) was licensed as a 2-dose series for use among
U.S. infants, and in June 2008, ACIP updated its rotavirus
vaccine recommendations to include use of RV1. This report
updates and replaces the 2006 ACIP statement for prevention of
rotavirus gastroenteritis. ACIP recommends routine vaccination
of U.S. infants with rotavirus vaccine. RV5 and RV1 differ in
composition and schedule of administration. RV5 is to be
administered orally in a 3-dose series, with doses administered
at ages 2, 4, and 6 months. RV1 is to be administered orally in
a 2-dose series, with doses administered at ages 2 and 4 months.
ACIP does not express a preference for either RV5 or RV1. The
recommendations in this report also address the maximum ages for
doses, contraindications, precautions, and special situations
for the administration of rotavirus vaccine.
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of the
recommendations, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5802.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the recommendations, go
to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5802a1.htm
To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which
includes new ACIP recommendations), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html
Back to top |
| |
|
| 2. |
IAC's Video of the Week educates parents and students about meningococcal
disease, symptoms, and prevention
IAC encourages IAC Express readers to watch a
powerful 25-minute
video about meningococcal disease. Narrated by actress Glenn
Close, "Getting It--A Disease, a Vaccine," features stories
about meningococcal disease survivors and families affected by
the disease. The video was developed by the National Meningitis
Association (NMA). A one-minute preview clip is also available.
The video and clip will be available on the home page of IAC's
website through February 15. To access them, go to: http://www.immunize.org and click on the image under the words
Video of the Week, which you'll find toward the top of the page.
It may take a few moments for the video or clip to begin
playing; please be patient!
Remember to bookmark IAC's home page to view a new video every
Monday. While you're at our home page, we encourage you to
browse around--you're sure to find resources and information
that will enhance your practice's immunization delivery.
To view IAC's video collection, go to:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/video
To access material related to the video and clip on the NMA
website, go to:
http://www.nmaus.org/programs/education_initiative
Back to top |
| |
|
| 3. |
FDA posts a notification that Novartis requests customers to discontinue use
of five lots of Fluvirin vaccine and return remaining doses
On February 4, FDA posted a notification that
Novartis Vaccines
and Diagnostics Limited has requested customers to discontinue
use of five lots of Fluvirin trivalent inactivated influenza
vaccine and to return remaining doses. The notification is
reprinted below in its entirety.
FLUVIRIN (Influenza Virus Vaccine) Luer-Lok pre-filled syringes
DATE NOTIFICATION INITIATED: February 4, 2009
LOT NUMBER/EXPIRATION DATE:
| Lot Number |
|
Expiration Date |
| 878771P |
|
05/2009 |
| 878772P |
|
05/2009 |
| 878773P |
|
05/2009 |
| 878775P |
|
05/2009 |
| 878776P |
|
05/2009 |
MANUFACTURER:
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited
Liverpool, United Kingdom
REASON:
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Inc. has requested their
customers to immediately discontinue use of and return any
remaining doses they may have from five lots of FLUVIRIN
Influenza vaccine Luer-Lok pre-filled syringes.
Routine stability testing of FLUVIRIN in prefilled Luer-Lok
syringes revealed a minor deviation in the potency of the
A/Brisbane (H1N1) component of the vaccine. The vaccine met all
required specifications at the time of release and has been
monitored in monthly time intervals during its shelf life; it
has consistently met specification until the most recent test
point in early January 2009 that identified a minimal decrease
in H1N1 antigen content.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), and Novartis Vaccines have agreed
that no public health impact is expected because (1) all of the
affected vaccine was shipped when the vaccine met potency
requirements, (2) most influenza vaccine in the U.S. is
administered during October and November, months when the
vaccine met potency requirements, and (3) the decrease in
antigen content is small and would have a negligible if any
effect on immune response to vaccination. Revaccination of
patients that have been vaccinated with the affected lots is not
necessary.
To access the notification from the FDA website, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/cber/recalls/novflu020409.htm
Back to top |
| |
|
| 4. |
IAC updates two popular vaccine administration print pieces
IAC recently updated its information sheet "How
to Administer IM
and SC Injections to Adults" and its reference table
"Administering Vaccines: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size." On
"How to Administer IM and SC Injections to Adults," information
in the sections on needle length and combination vaccines was
revised. On "Administering Vaccines: Dose, Route, Site, and
Needle Size," a note was added about needle length. Other minor
revisions were made to both pieces.
To access the revised "How to Administer IM and SC Injections to
Adults," go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2020a.pdf
To access the revised "Administering Vaccines: Dose, Route,
Site, and Needle Size," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3085.pdf
IAC's Print Materials web section offers healthcare
professionals and the public approximately 250 FREE English-language materials (many also available in translation), which
we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute
widely. To access all of IAC's free print materials, go to: http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials
Back to top |
| |
|
| 5. |
Information about the safety of HPV vaccine is available to healthcare
professionals and the public on CDC's website
On February 6, CBS Evening News aired a story on
the safety of
human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Healthcare providers may
receive inquiries as a result. CDC offers providers and the
general public several online resources about the HPV vaccine
and the safety studies conducted on it. To access these
resources, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/human_papillomavirus_vaccine.htm
Back to top |
| |
|
| 6. |
Important: Be sure to give influenza vaccine throughout the influenza
season--through spring 2009
Influenza activity is increasing, and yearly
vaccination is the
first and most important step in protecting against influenza
and its complications. It is important to continue vaccinating
into the spring months. The supply of influenza vaccine is
robust; if you run out of vaccine in your work setting, please
place another order.
For abundant information about influenza vaccination, visit the
following two websites often. They are continually updated with
the latest resources:
The National Influenza Vaccine Summit website at
http://www.preventinfluenza.org
CDC's Seasonal Flu web section at http://www.cdc.gov/flu
Back to top |
| |
|
| 7. |
CDC posts a Q&A to answer parents' questions during current shortage of
monovalent measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines
Healthcare providers who see the parents of young
children will
appreciate the information contained in a Q&A posted on the CDC
website on February 4. Titled "Q&A about Monovalent M-M-R
Vaccine During Supply Shortages," the document answers questions
parents might have during the current shortage of single-antigen
measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines. The shortage was announced
on December 15, 2008.
To access the Q&A, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages/mmr-faq-12-17-08.htm
Back to top |
| |
|
| 8. |
The
"CDC Features" web section presents basic rubella information for the public
The CDC web section titled "CDC Features"
recently posted
information about rubella for the public. Titled "Rubella: Make
Sure Your Child Is Fully Immunized," it covers rubella symptoms,
possible health consequences of getting the disease, and the
importance of MMR vaccination. It also presents links to
additional sources of online information.
To access this feature, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Rubella
To access an alphabetical index of archived "CDC Features," go
to: http://www.cdc.gov/Features
Back to top |
| |
|
| 9. |
Institute of Medicine's Committee on Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis
Infections plans public meeting for March 3
The Institute of Medicine's Committee on
Prevention and Control
of Viral Hepatitis Infections will hold a public meeting on
March 3. For details, directions, and online registration, go
to: http://iom.edu/CMS/3793/59310/61701.aspx
Back to top |
| |
|
|
