IAC encourages qualifying healthcare organizations to apply for its Honor Roll for Patient Safety. Since December 21, when IAC Express last reported on the Honor Roll for Patient Safety, two hospitals and a medical practice have enrolled. The honor roll recognizes medical practices, hospitals, professional organizations, and government entities that have taken a stand for patient safety by strengthening mandatory influenza vaccination policies for healthcare workers.

The hospitals and medical practices that have joined since December 21 are Capital Region Medical Center, Jefferson City, MO; HCA--Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, Fort Walton Beach, FL; and Saltzer Medical Group, Nampa, ID. The addition of these three healthcare organizations brings the total number of enrolled institutions and medical practices to 40.

To be included in the honor roll, an organization's mandate must require influenza vaccination for employees and must include serious measures to prevent transmission of influenza from unvaccinated workers to patients. Such measures might include a mask requirement, reassignment to non-patient-care duties, or dismissal of the employee.

To find out specific information on the mandates of the enrolled organizations, go to: http://www.immunize.org/laws/influenzahcw.asp This web page also includes information about how to apply to be included on the honor roll.

IAC recently revised the following four print resources.

"Do I need any vaccinations today?" is a screening tool for patients to fill out before seeing their healthcare provider. This piece was updated to include new recommendations related to meningococcal, hepatitis A, influenza, pneumococcal, and HPV vaccines.

To access the revised ready-to-print (PDF) print piece "Do I need any vaccinations today?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4036.pdf

"When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?" is a handy one-page chart for parents, illustrating all vaccines recommended for children and teens ages 0-18 years. The piece was revised to include information about HPV vaccination in males as well as some other minor edits.

To access the revised ready-to-print (PDF) print piece "When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050.pdf

"Are you 11-19 years old? Then you need to be vaccinated against these serious diseases!" was revised to include information about HPV vaccination in males.

To access the revised ready-to-print (PDF) print piece "Are you 11-19 years old?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4020.pdf

"It's federal law! You must give your patients current Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)" was updated to include the dates of newly released VISs.

To access the revised ready-to-print (PDF) print piece "It's federal law!" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2027.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

IAC encourages IAC Express readers to watch a one-hour PBS NewsProgram episode that discusses the science and policy issues related to this year's H1N1 influenza epidemic. Host Ray Suarez also explores how the government is preparing for the next big threat.

The video will be available on the home page of IAC's website through January 31. To access "Anatomy of a Pandemic," go to: http://www.immunize.org and click on the image under the words Video of the Week. It may take a few moments for the video to begin playing; please be patient!

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

Please continue to vaccinate patients against seasonal and H1N1 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, go to:
http://www.preventinfluenza.org/ivats/ivats_09_10.pdf

If you have high-risk patients who have not been vaccinated against seasonal influenza (e.g., residents in long-term care facilities), there is now more vaccine supply to fill those needs.

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 2009 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

CDC published "Update: Influenza Activity--United States, August 30, 2009-January 9, 2010" in the January 22 issue of MMWR. A summary made available to the press is reprinted below.

To access the full article in web-text (HTML) format, go
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5902a3.htm

CDC published "Transfusion-Related Transmission of Yellow Fever Vaccine Virus--California, 2009" in the January 22 issue of MMWR. A summary made available to the press is reprinted below.

To access the full article in web-text (HTML) format, go
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5902a2.htm

PKIDS (Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases) invites colleagues to a one-hour webinar that will provide an overview of its Communications Made Easy program. Communications Made Easy is intended to help immunization educators learn the ropes of social marketing and traditional and social media.

The introductory webinar is scheduled for January 28, at 9:00 AM Pacific Time. Space is limited and pre-registration is recommended. To register, go to: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/it6cmguiiewg

For more information on the Communications Made Easy program, go to: http://www.pkids.org/cme

PKIDS supports those whose children have been affected by viral hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic, viral infectious diseases, and educates the public about effective disease prevention practices. To visit its website, go to: http://www.pkids.org

The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has launched a new HPV campaign titled "Be Confident!" The campaign seeks to educate adolescents and parents about human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer prevention, as well as encourage open discussions with each other and with healthcare providers.

Produced in both English and Spanish, the materials include a comic book-style brochure and poster, articles, and a public service announcement. All the materials are available online at no cost at http://www.awhonn.org/hpv

CDC published "Interim Results: Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccination Coverage--United States, October-December 2009" in the January 22 issue of MMWR. This report was previously published as an MMWR Early Release on January 15, and was previously covered in IAC Express on January 19.

To access the full article in web-text (HTML) format, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5902a4.htm

The International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID) is scheduled to take place in Atlanta on July 11-14. The conference brings together public health professionals to encourage the exchange of scientific and public health information on global emerging infectious disease issues. ICEID 2010 will focus on the impact of various intervention and preventive strategies that have been implemented to address emerging infectious disease threats.

Registration for the conference will open February 11. The deadline for abstract submission is March 1.

For comprehensive information on ICEID, go to:
http://www.iceid.org

The first International Neonatal & Maternal Immunization Symposium will be held March 26-28 in Antalya, Turkey. For more information, go to: http://www.inmis2010.org