On November 27, FDA approved Agriflu (Novartis), an inactivated seasonal influenza virus vaccine indicated for immunization of adults age 18 years and older against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and B contained in the vaccine. Links to the approval letter, package insert, and a related press release are given below.

Approval letter: click here.

Package insert: click here.

Press release: click here.

CDC recently updated its H1N1 web section with these three tables of information for healthcare professionals:

(1) New: 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine--Administration with Seasonal Influenza and Other Vaccines
This table for healthcare providers and planners provides information related to administration of 2009 H1N1 vaccine with seasonal influenza and other vaccines.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_admin.html

(2) New: 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine--Dose Spacing for Children 6 Months through 9 Years of Age
This table for healthcare providers and planners provides information related to spacing between the two doses of 2009 H1N1 Vaccine for children 6 months through 9 years of age.
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/dosespacing.html

(3) New: 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Dose Spacing and Administration with Seasonal Influenza and Other Vaccines
This table for healthcare providers and planners provides information related to spacing between the two doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine for children 6 months through 9 years of age and for administration of 2009 H1N1 vaccine with seasonal influenza and other vaccines.
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/dosespacing_admin.html

CDC recently updated its H1N1 web section with the following information for healthcare professionals:

2009 H1N1 Monovalent Influenza Vaccine Dosage, Administration, and Storage
This document has been revised to include updated information related to FDA approval of the GSK 2009 H1N1 monovalent influenza vaccine to be used in persons ages 18 years old and older and the expanded use of CSL 2009 H1N1 monovalent influenza vaccine to younger age groups.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/dosage.htm

Information about the 2009 H1N1 Virus (a page of links to information about the 2009 H1N1 virus)
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/information_h1n1_virus.htm

CDC's H1N1 Flu web section contains hundreds of documents for healthcare professionals and the public. To access the web section's home page, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

To make it easy for you to keep up to date with developments, IAC has gathered important information related to H1N1 influenza into a single web section. To access this resource, go to: http://www.immunize.org/h1n1

First broadcast on November 13, the NCIRD audio presentation titled "Fundamentals of Vaccine Administration, Storage, and Handling" is now available online. The presentation is packed with practical, timely information about H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines. The presenters are NCIRD's William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH, and Donna Weaver RN, MN.

Online materials include a 59-minute audio recast of the presentation, PowerPoint slides used during the presentation, a print version of the slide text, and a chart showing needle length and injection site for inactivated influenza vaccine.

To access these materials, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/ciinc/specialtopics/2009_flu.htm

The adult immunization web section of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides information and resources related to the coverage of seasonal and H1N1 influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccinations. Resources include a link to the comprehensive 57-page "2009-2010 Immunizers' Q&A Guide to Medicare Coverage of Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccinations" and a colorful 1-page poster, "Get a flu shot, not the flu," that providers can print and hang in waiting rooms and exam rooms.

To access these and other resources, go to:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/AdultImmunizations

Please continue to vaccinate patients against seasonal influenza. Remember: 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine will not protect people against seasonal influenza, and seasonal influenza vaccine will not protect against H1N1 influenza.

Providers who don't have seasonal influenza vaccine or H1N1 influenza vaccine can direct patients to the new Google Flu Shot Finder at http://www.google.com/flushot

Providers who are looking for seasonal influenza vaccine available for purchase, can check with IVATS (Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System). IVATS provides information about vaccine manufacturers and distributors with vaccine available for purchase. To access this information in Excel spreadsheet format, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org/ivats/ivats_09_10.xls

Following is a list of resources related to influenza disease and vaccination for healthcare professionals and the public.

The National Influenza Vaccine Summit website:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org

IAC's Seasonal Influenza web section:
http://www.immunize.org/influenza

IAC's H1N1 Influenza web section:
http://www.immunize.org/h1n1

CDC's Seasonal Flu web section:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu

CDC's Novel H1N1 Flu web section:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

To access IAC's print pieces related to influenza, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials/dis_inf.asp

Vaccination experts at CDC recently reviewed and updated information on IAC's online "Ask the Experts" Q&A section about meningococcal disease and vaccination. All of IAC's "Ask the Experts" Q&As are reviewed and updated annually. The process is ongoing; IAC Express will inform readers as sections are reviewed and revised.

To access the revised meningococcal Q&As, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_men.asp

To access the index page of "Ask the Experts" Q&As for all other vaccines, go to: http://www.immunize.org/askexperts

IAC encourages IAC Express readers to watch a 2.5-minute video titled "H1N1 Flu and You." It features children ages 11 months to 13 years sharing tips on how to prevent the spread of germs this influenza season.

The link to the video will be available on the home page of IAC's website through December 6. To access it, go to: http://www.immunize.org and click on the image under the words Video of the Week.

Remember to bookmark IAC's home page to view a new video every Monday. To view an IAC Video of the Week from the past, go to the video archive at http://www.immunize.org/votw

With vaccination against 2009 H1N1 influenza now underway, it is important to remember that seasonal influenza vaccination efforts must continue. To aid in these efforts, the Immunization Action Coalition is inviting IAC Express readers to place orders now for the National Influenza Vaccine Summit's laminated 2009-10 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Pocket Information Guides. The pocket guides are the perfect size to fit in a lab coat pocket. And best of all--they're free!

See an image of the laminated seasonal influenza vaccine pocket guide at
http://www.preventinfluenza.org/fluguide/pocketguide_flu.pdf

For description of the content of the pocket guides and information on their background, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/express/issue833.asp#n16

The Summit is also pleased to be able to offer a companion piece to the laminated influenza pocket guides--free laminated pocket guides for the administration of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV). See an image of the PPSV pocket guide at
http://www.immunize.org/ppvguide/pocketguide.pdf

HOW TO ORDER
Each order must be for a minimum of 100 pocket guides. Place your order at http://www.preventinfluenza.org/pocketguides There is no cost for the pocket guides, shipping, or handling within the U.S.

If you have questions, email admininfo@immunize.org

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) recently developed a 2-page brochure titled "Vaccinations: Keeping Children Healthy for a Lifetime!" It is intended to educate parents, caregivers, and families about the importance of pediatric vaccines and of keeping their child's vaccination record up to date. Available in English and Spanish, the brochure also gives families a listing of trusted and informative websites to consult for additional information.

To access the English-language version of "Vaccinations: Keeping Children Healthy for a Lifetime," go to:
http://www.napnap.org/Files/NAPNAP%20Vac%20Brochure.pdf

To access the Spanish-language version of "Vaccinations: Keeping Children Healthy for a Lifetime," go to:
http://www.napnap.org/Files/NAPNAP%20Vac%20Brochure%20Espanol.pdf

Dated 10/2/09, the VISs for 2009 H1N1 inactivated influenza vaccine (injectable) and 2009 H1N1 live attenuated influenza vaccine (nasal spray) are now available in Hindi (spoken in India, Guyana, and the United Arab Emirates), Karen (spoken in Burma and Thailand), Kurdish (spoken in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey), Laotian, Marshallese (spoken in the Marshall Islands), Nepali, and Swahili (spoken in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda).

IAC gratefully acknowledges the California Department of Public Health, Immunization Branch, for the Hindi, Kurdish, Laotian, and Nepali translations; the Minnesota Department of Health for the Karen translations; the Arkansas Department of Health for the Marshallese translations; and the Vermont Department of Health for the Swahili translations.

VISs FOR THE INJECTABLE 2009 H1N1 INFLUENZA VACCINE

To access the new translations (Hindi, Karen, Kurdish, Laotian, Marshallese, Nepali, and Swahili), of the VIS for the injectable 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, as well as this VIS in English and other translations, go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_h1n1_inactive.asp Click on the pertinent languages.

VISs FOR THE NASAL-SPRAY 2009 H1N1 INFLUENZA VACCINE

To access the new translations (Hindi, Karen, Kurdish, Laotian, Marshallese, Nepali, and Swahili), of the VIS for the nasal-spray 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, as well as this VIS in English and other translations, go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_h1n1_live.asp Click on the pertinent languages.

For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in more than 35 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at http://www.immunize.org/vis

For general information about VISs from CDC's website go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis

Dated 8/11/09, the VISs for seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine (injectable) and seasonal live attenuated influenza vaccine (nasal spray) are now available in Marshallese (spoken in the Marshall Islands), Thai, and Turkish. IAC gratefully acknowledges the Arkansas Department of Health for the Marshallese translations; the Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc., for the Thai translations; and Mustafa Kozanoglu, MD, for the Turkish translations.

VISs FOR THE INJECTABLE SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINE

To access the new translations (Marshallese, Thai, and Turkish), of the VIS for the injectable seasonal influenza vaccine, as well as this VIS in English and other translations, go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_flu_inactive.asp Click on the pertinent languages.

VISs FOR THE NASAL-SPRAY SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINE

To access the new translations (Marshallese, Thai, and Turkish), of the VIS for the nasal-spray seasonal influenza vaccine, as well as this VIS in English and other translations, go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_flu_live.asp Click on the pertinent languages.

For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in more than 35 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at http://www.immunize.org/vis

The 2010 International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections is planned for March 18-22 in Atlanta. The deadline for early registration is January 15.

For comprehensive information, go to: http://www.decennial2010.com Click on the words on the bar toward the top of the page for information on registration, agenda, and more.

The GAVI Alliance recently issued a press release announcing that it has given awards to 15 low-income countries for their outstanding performance in improving child health and immunization. The countries are Vietnam, Nepal, Congo, Djibouti, Gambia, Bhutan, Eritrea, Bangladesh, Malawi, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Liberia, Guyana, and Togo.

To access the press release, click here.

The GAVI Alliance is an organization that aligns public and private resources in a global effort to increase immunization. For information, go to: http://www.gavialliance.org