IAC Express 2010 |
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Issue number 894: October 18, 2010 |
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Contents
of this Issue
Select a title to jump to the article. |
- AAP
publishes recommendation for mandatory influenza immunization of all
healthcare personnel
- Reminder:
All doses of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine have expired
- Honor
Roll updated with an AAP policy statement, NFID statement, healthcare
institutions' mandatory influenza vaccination policies, and related
editorials
- 2010-11
influenza vaccine pocket guides--FREE!--from the National Influenza
Vaccine Summit
- MMWR
publishes report on U.S. tetanus and pertussis vaccination coverage among
adults in 1999 and 2008
- Spotlight
on immunize.org: easy-to-access vaccine package inserts and contact
information for vaccine manufacturers
- IAC's
Video of the Week is a selection of videos of parents' accounts of losing
a child to influenza
- New DVD
for 2010! "Immunization Techniques: Best Practices with Infants, Children,
and Adults"--from the California Department of Public Health, Immunization
Branch
- MMWR
publishes report on progress made worldwide toward controlling rubella and
congenital rubella syndrome in 2009
- HHS
presents panel discussion on pregnant women and influenza vaccination as
part of its "Know What to Do About the Flu" webcast series
- MMWR
announces the final vaccination coverage estimates for the 2009-10
influenza season
- IAC
updates the patient screening questionnaire "Should You Be Tested for
Hepatitis C?"
- PKIDs
offers webinar on using social media to help educate the public, build
community, and promote better health
-
Influenza vaccine VISs now available in Amharic
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| Abbreviations |
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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. |
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Issue 894: October 18, 2010 |
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1. |
AAP publishes recommendation for mandatory influenza immunization of all
healthcare personnel
The October issue of Pediatrics, the journal of
the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), includes "Policy Statement--Recommendation for Mandatory Influenza Immunization of All
Health Care Personnel." A portion of the recommendation's
introduction is reprinted below.
Health care-associated influenza outbreaks are a common and
serious public health problem that contributes significantly
to patient morbidity and mortality and creates a financial
burden on health care systems. Annual immunization of health
care personnel (HCP) is a matter of patient safety and
necessary to significantly reduce health care-associated
influenza infections. Immunization rates of 80% or higher
are essential for providing the "herd immunity" needed to
have a significant impact on transmission of influenza by
HCP in medical settings, but overall immunization rates for
HCP remain near 40%.
Mandatory immunization is not a novel concept. Many health
care facilities currently require specific vaccines and a
tuberculin skin test as conditions for working in specific
areas of the institution or for employment. Despite the
sustained efforts of many organizations to improve influenza
immunization rates with the use of voluntary campaigns,
influenza coverage among HCP in the United States remains
unacceptably low.
Mandatory programs for all HCP should be implemented
nationwide. Mandating influenza vaccine for all HCP is
ethically justified, necessary, and long overdue. Employees
of health care institutions have both ethical and
professional obligation to act in the best interests of the
health of their patients. . . .
To access the complete recommendation, go to:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/126/4/809
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2. |
Reminder: All doses of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine have expired
All doses of monovalent 2009 H1N1 influenza
vaccine expired
on or before September 15, 2010, regardless of the date on
the label, and should no longer be administered.
Patients should now be receiving 2010-11 seasonal influenza
vaccine, which protects against the pandemic 2009 H1N1
strain as well as two additional strains of influenza.
For more information, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/QA_Central_Vacc_Rcvry_Prog.htm
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3. |
Honor Roll updated with an AAP policy statement, NFID statement, healthcare
institutions' mandatory influenza vaccination policies, and related
editorials
IAC encourages 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 strengthening mandatory
influenza vaccination policies for healthcare workers.
More than 80 organizations are now enrolled.
Since September 7, when IAC Express last reported on the
Honor Roll for Patient Safety, a number of new entries have
been made.
First, the following two organizations' position statements
were added: (1) AAP's policy statement "Recommendation for
Mandatory Influenza Immunization of All Health Care
Personnel," which was published in the October issue of
Pediatrics; and (2) National Foundation for Infectious
Diseases' (NFID's) statement in support of mandatory
influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel.
Second, nine institutions and two medical practices have
enrolled. The latest additions to the honor roll are AnMed
Health, Anderson, SC; Atlantic Health Hospitals, Morristown,
NJ; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH;
Garland Health Department, TX; Grady Health System, Atlanta,
GA; Family HealthCare Center, Fargo, ND; Charleston Area
Medical Center, WV; Medical University of South Carolina
Medical Center, Charleston, SC; Northern Michigan Regional
Health System, Petoskey, MI; Pacific Medical Centers,
Seattle, WA; and St. Joseph's Hospital and Health Center,
Dickinson, ND.
Third, two editorials were added to the News and Articles
section of the honor roll: (1) "Mandate Flu Shots for Health
Workers; Ill-informed Objections Shouldn't Trump Patient
Safety," Minneapolis StarTribune, September 19, 2010; and
(2) "Mandating Influenza Vaccination for Health Care
Workers: Putting patients and professional ethics over
personal preference" by Gregory A. Poland, MD, MACP, FIDSA,
Mayo Clinic; Vaccine, August 16, 2010.
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 or to submit your organization's
application for the honor roll, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/honor-roll
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4. |
2010-11 influenza vaccine pocket guides--FREE!--from the National Influenza
Vaccine Summit
To aid in efforts to vaccinate against influenza,
the
Immunization Action Coalition is inviting IAC Express
readers to place orders now for the National Influenza
Vaccine Summit's 2010-11 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination
Pocket Information Guides. They're free!
These laminated, 3.75 x 6.75-inch, 2-color cards serve as a
convenient reference for front-line healthcare professionals
who vaccinate patients. The cards provide the following
information:
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Indications, contraindications, and precautions for the
injectable and intranasal seasonal influenza vaccines
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Clear direction regarding which children need 2 doses of
influenza vaccine this year
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Dosage, route of administration, and indicated age group
for all the various seasonal influenza vaccine products
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Talking points for discussing seasonal influenza
vaccination with patients
See an image of the seasonal influenza vaccine pocket guide
at http://www.preventinfluenza.org/fluguide/pocketguide_flu.pdf
These pocket guides also serve as a reminder to keep giving
seasonal influenza vaccine throughout influenza season
(through the spring months).
The Summit is also pleased to be able to offer 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
Each of these pocket guides is designed to be used by
healthcare professionals only; THEY ARE NOT PATIENT
HANDOUTS.
HOW TO ORDER
Place your order at http://www.preventinfluenza.org/pocketguides There is no
cost for the pocket guides, shipping, or handling within the
U.S. Quantities are limited, so to avoid disappointment,
place your order today!
If you have questions, email admininfo@immunize.org
BACKGROUND
These pocket guides were developed by, and are being
provided under the sponsorship of the National Influenza
Vaccine Summit, http://www.preventinfluenza.org The Summit
brings together public and private stakeholders to
facilitate and promote influenza vaccination. The pocket
guides are also distributed by many major medical, nursing,
and pharmacist organizations, specialty societies, state
health departments, Indian Health Service Area facilities,
Quality Improvement Organizations, Visiting Nurse
Associations, community vaccinators, and many others.
Thanks for your dedication to immunization, and don't forget
to keep vaccinating against seasonal influenza through the
spring months!
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5. |
MMWR publishes report on U.S. tetanus and pertussis vaccination coverage
among adults in 1999 and 2008
CDC published "Tetanus and Pertussis Vaccination
Coverage
Among Adults Aged >=18 Years--United States, 1999 and 2008"
in the October 15 issue of MMWR. The first paragraph is
reprinted below.
In 2005, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) recommended that the newly licensed tetanus,
diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine replace a
single decennial dose of tetanus diphtheria (Td) vaccine for
persons aged 10-64 years. According to these
recommendations, Tdap may be used to protect against
pertussis even when <10 years have passed since the most
recent tetanus vaccination. For adults with infant contact
and healthcare personnel (HCP) with direct patient contact
(two groups at increased risk for transmitting pertussis to
those who are most susceptible), the single recommended Tdap
dose is suggested to be administered as soon as 2 years
after the last tetanus vaccination. To assess changes in
tetanus vaccination coverage and the use of Tdap among U.S.
adults, CDC analyzed data from the National Health Interview
Survey (NHIS) for 1999 and 2008. This report summarizes the
results of that analysis, which indicated that self-reported
tetanus vaccination coverage (vaccination within the
preceding 10 years) was 60.4% in 1999 and 61.6% in 2008.
Among adults aged 18-64 years, Tdap coverage was estimated
to be 5.9% in 2008. Of those who reported receiving a
tetanus vaccination during 2005-2008, 52.0% reported
receiving Tdap. Tdap vaccination coverage among adults with
infant contact was 5.0% and among HCP was 15.9%. Of those
adults with infant contact and HCP who had received a
tetanus vaccination during 2005-2008, 60.0% and 60.3%
reported receiving Tdap, respectively. Healthcare providers
should recommend Tdap vaccination to adults aged 18-64 years
whose most recent tetanus vaccination was >=10 years prior;
the interval for HCP and persons with infant contact can be
as short as 2 years.
To access the full article in web-text (HTML) format, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5940a3.htm
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6. |
Spotlight on immunize.org: easy-to-access vaccine package inserts and contact
information for vaccine manufacturers
Looking for vaccine product information? IAC's
Package
Inserts and Manufacturers web sections make it easy to find
all package insert information for vaccines licensed for use
in the United States. In addition, the Manufacturers section
provides website links, contact information, and product
listings for vaccine and immune globulin manufacturers.
For links to package inserts for all U.S.-licensed vaccines,
visit: http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts
For the listings of U.S. vaccine product manufacturers,
visit: http://www.immunize.org/resources/manufact_vax.asp
In addition to the listings of vaccine package inserts and
vaccine manufacturers, IAC's online compendium of
immunization resources includes descriptions and links for
the following sections: Books and Periodicals, CDC
Materials, Continuing Education Opportunities, Email News
Services, Government Agencies, Hotlines, International
Organizations, Partners, and more. To access these sections,
go to http://www.immunize.org/resources
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7. |
IAC's Video of the Week is a selection of videos of parents' accounts of
losing a child to influenza
IAC encourages IAC Express readers to watch a
selection of
eight videos recently posted by Families Fighting Flu. In
each video, a parent who has lost a child to influenza talks
about their child's life, influenza illness, and death.
Their message to other parents is clear: Vaccinate your
children against influenza.
Each video has a run time of approximately 2 minutes. The
video selection will be available on the home page of IAC's
website through October 24. To access it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org and click on the image under the
words Video of the Week. Scroll down and click on an image
next to a title that begins "The Story of . . . ."
After October 24, the videos will be available on the
website of Families Fighting Flu at
http://www.familiesfightingflu.org/?page_id=9 To learn more
about Families Fighting Flu, go to:
http://www.familiesfightingflu.org
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
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8. |
New
DVD for 2010! "Immunization Techniques: Best Practices with Infants, Children,
and Adults"--from the California Department of Public Health, Immunization
Branch
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH),
Immunization Branch, recently updated its award-winning
training video, "Immunization Techniques: Best Practices
with Infants, Children, and Adults." The 25-minute program
can be used to train new employees and to refresh the skills
of experienced staff. The video demonstrates the skills and
techniques needed to administer vaccines to patients of all
ages. It includes instruction on the following:
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Selecting, preparing, and administering injectable, oral,
and nasal vaccines
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Documenting immunizations
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Making patients comfortable and educating them
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Facilitating staff and patient communication
Prices start at $17 each for 1-9 copies and are greatly
reduced for large orders, dropping to $4.25 each for 1,000-1,500 copies.
To learn more about the DVD, and find out how to order it,
go to: http://www.immunize.org/shop/toolkit_iztechdvd.asp
For quotes on larger quantities, call (651) 647-9009 or
email admininfo@immunize.org
The Immunization Action Coalition is the only nationwide
vendor of this new DVD.
Note for healthcare settings located in California: Contact
your local health department immunization program for a free
copy.
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9. |
MMWR
publishes report on progress made worldwide toward controlling rubella and
congenital rubella syndrome in 2009
CDC published "Progress Toward Control of Rubella
and
Prevention of Congenital Rubella Syndrome--Worldwide, 2009"
in the October 15 issue of MMWR. A summary made available to
the press is reprinted below in its entirety.
Rubella is usually a mild, febrile rash illness in children
and adults; however, infection early in a woman's pregnancy,
particularly during the first 16 weeks, can result in
miscarriage, fetal death, or an infant born with birth
defects, referred to as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
Progress has been made globally in rubella control and CRS
prevention, with two-thirds of all countries using rubella
vaccine in their national routine vaccination programs. As
of December 2009, a total of 130 World Health Organization
(WHO) member states have introduced rubella-containing
vaccine (RCV), a 57 percent increase from 83 member states
in 1996. Two of six WHO regions (the Americas, European)
have established goals for the elimination of rubella by
2010 and 2015, respectively. During 2009, a total of 121,344
rubella cases were reported from 167 member states to WHO,
an 82 percent decrease from the 670,894 cases reported in
2000 from 102 member states. With the significant morbidity
and cost resulting from infants born with CRS and the ease
of introduction of RCV into the routine vaccination program,
member states and regions that have not introduced RCV are
encouraged to assess their burden of CRS and rubella and to
determine whether introduction of RCV is appropriate.
To access the full article in web-text (HTML) format, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5940a4.htm
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10. |
HHS presents panel discussion on pregnant women and influenza vaccination as
part of its "Know What to Do About the Flu" webcast series
On October 13, a panel of four physicians was
featured on a
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) "Know What to
Do About the Flu" webcast that focused on the importance of
influenza vaccination for pregnant women. Members of the
panel were Dr. Howard Koh (HHS); Dr. Denise Jamieson (CDC);
Dr. Laura Riley (American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists); and Dr. Siobhan Dolan (March of Dimes).
The webcast has a run time of 23 minutes. To view it, go to
http://www.flu.gov/video/webcasts/pregnant_women_flu_season.html
To access archived "Know What to Do About the Flu" videos,
go to: http://www.flu.gov/video/webcasts
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11. |
MMWR announces the final vaccination coverage estimates for the 2009-10
influenza season
CDC published "Announcement: Final 2009-10
Influenza Season
Vaccination Coverage Estimates" in the October 15 issue of
MMWR. A portion of the announcement is reprinted below.
The final national vaccination coverage estimates for the
influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine and the 2009-10
seasonal influenza vaccine (overall and for selected
population subgroups) are available online at
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/coverage_0910estimates.htm
These estimates update the interim estimates published on
April 2 and April 30, 2010. . . . Final estimates are similar
to interim estimates.
To access the announcement in web-text (HTML) format, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5940a5.htm
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12. |
IAC updates the patient screening questionnaire "Should You Be Tested for
Hepatitis C?"
IAC made minor revisions to its patient screening
questionnaire "Should you be tested for hepatitis C?" Go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2192.pdf
IAC's Handouts for Patients and Staff web section offers
healthcare professionals and the public approximately 250
FREE English-language handouts (many also available in
translation), which we encourage website users to print out,
copy, and distribute widely. To access all of IAC's free
handouts, go to: http://www.immunize.org/handouts
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13. |
PKIDs offers webinar on using social media to help educate the public, build
community, and promote better health
PKIDs (Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases)
has
recently scheduled a new webinar. Titled "Communication Made
Easy--Social Media-A Fresh Perspective," the webinar is
intended to help immunization educators learn how to use
social media to educate the public, build community, and
promote better health.
It is scheduled for October 19 at 9AM Pacific time/noon
Eastern time. For more information, or to pre-register, go
to: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/euyw1c0r9z4o
For more information on the PKIDs' Communications Made Easy
program, go to: http://www.pkids.org/cme
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14. |
Influenza vaccine VISs now available in Amharic
The 2010-11 VISs for trivalent inactivated
influenza vaccine
(TIV; injectable) and live attenuated intranasal influenza
vaccine (LAIV; nasal spray) are now available in Amharic
(spoken in Ethiopia). IAC gratefully acknowledges the Parish
Nursing Program of the DSMA Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo
Church, Minneapolis, in collaboration with the Minnesota
Department of Health, for the translations.
To access the Amharic translation of the VIS for injectable
influenza vaccine, as well as the injectable influenza
vaccine VIS in English and other translations, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_flu_inactive.asp
To access the Amharic translation of the VIS for nasal-spray
influenza vaccine, as well as the nasal-spray influenza
vaccine VIS in English and other translations, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_flu_live.asp
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
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