Issue 989: April 17, 2012

TOP STORIES

IAC HANDOUTS

VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS

FEATURED RESOURCES

JOURNAL ARTICLES AND NEWSLETTERS

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS



TOP STORIES

National Infant Immunization Week is on its way—April 21 through April 28
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) will be observed during April 21–28. This year, CDC will launch new childhood immunization resources for programs and partners, highlight Provider Resources for Vaccine Conversations with Parents, and recognize the recipients of the inaugural CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award.

NIIW is an annual observance that highlights the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrates the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities. Since 1994, NIIW has served as a call to action for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to ensure that infants are fully immunized against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases.

This year, NIIW will be celebrated as part of the first World Immunization Week, an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in which all six WHO regions—including more than 180 member states, territories, and areas—will simultaneously promote immunization, advance equity in the use of vaccines and in universal access to vaccination services, and enable cooperation on cross-border immunization activities.

If your organization is planning an event for NIIW, be sure to include it on CDC's website using the online form. You can also find out what others are doing to educate and inspire parents and providers to protect infants and toddlers from vaccine-preventable diseases.

[Portions of this article are cross posted from the March 2012 issue of CDC's Immunization Works electronic newsletter.]

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Spotlight on immunize.org: handouts for parents of infants
According to the CDC, one of the key messages of the National Infant Immunization Week campaign is healthcare professionals remain parents’ most trusted source of information about vaccines for their children. You play a critical role in supporting parents in understanding and choosing vaccinations. If you’re looking for helpful vaccination-related handouts for parents, look no further. IAC’s Parent Handouts web page features more than a dozen pieces about immunization for the parents of infants.

Two of IAC’s popular handouts for parents of infants, Immunizations for Babies and Questions Parents Ask about Baby Shots, are also available in more than 7 languages, including Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese. Be sure to check out Dr. Ari Brown's recently updated handout, Clear Answers & Smart Advice About Your Baby’s Shots.

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CDC publishes report on rabies risk assessment after exposure to a bat on an airplane
CDC published Rabies Risk Assessment of Exposures to a Bat on a Commercial Airliner—United States, August 2011 in the April 13 issue of MMWR (pages 242–244). A press summary of the article is reprinted below.

Public transit, such as commercial airliners, can serve as a site of exposure to zoonotic pathogens, such as rabies. A bat flew through a commercial airplane carrying 50 passengers and 3 flight crew, potentially exposing them to rabies virus. Public health investigations included risk assessments of passengers and crew associated with the airplane and an environmental assessment of the airport or origin. This investigation highlighted the difficulty that arises when exposures of relatively short duration occur in populations originating and traveling to different locations and contact information is limited. Preventing these mass exposures and increasing public and employee awareness of public health risks of exposures should be emphasized. Detailed record keeping can promote successful public health response to such events.

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IAC HANDOUTS

Updated "Screening Questionnaire for Child and Teen Immunization" now available in seven languages
Updated in February, IAC's healthcare professional handout Screening Questionnaire for Child and Teen Immunization is now available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese.

IAC's Handouts for Patients and Staff web section offers healthcare professionals and the public more than 250 FREE English-language handouts (many also available in translation), which we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely.

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VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS

IAC posts Thai translation of the VIS for Td/Tdap vaccines
IAC recently posted the VIS for Td/Tdap vaccines in Thai; we thank Asian Pacific Health Care Venture for the translation.
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FEATURED RESOURCES

If you vaccinate children and teens, be sure to download AAP's immunization training guide and procedure manual
AAP's new Immunization Training Guide & Practice Procedure Manual is designed to assist pediatric office staff in all aspects of immunizing patients. Intended to be used by physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants, and office managers, the guide covers an array of topics, which are summarized on AAP's Immunization web page

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AAP posts videos to help providers talk with parents about vaccine safety concerns
Understanding risk communication theory and using tools such as the CASE model can help providers talk with parents about vaccine safety concerns such as autism and the childhood immunization schedule. AAP has posted a series of videos that introduce providers to risk communication and the CASE model and let them observe actors role-playing the CASE model in action.

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CDC launches two user-friendly websites—one on meningococcal disease and one on meningitis
CDC recently launched two new websites, one on meningococcal disease and one on meningitis. Both are intended to provide user-friendly information on these topics. 

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Influenza vaccination is recommended for almost everyone, so please keep vaccinating
Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older, so please keep vaccinating your patients.

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

CDC publishes report on antibodies cross-reactive to influenza A(H3N2) variant virus and impact of 2010–11 seasonal influenza vaccine on cross-reactive antibodies
CDC published Antibodies Cross-Reactive to Influenza A (H3N2) Variant Virus and Impact of 2010–11 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine on Cross-Reactive Antibodies—United States in the April 13 issue of MMWR (pages 237–241). A press summary of the article is reprinted below.

The increase in the number of human cases of H3N2v virus infection identified in the United States in 2011 prompted CDC to better understand the risk for human infection with H3N2v viruses and to determine if current seasonal influenza vaccines protect against them. In this study, CDC researchers investigated whether antibodies reactive with H3N2v virus were present in human populations or whether the seasonal flu shot caused people to develop such antibodies in addition to antibodies against the seasonal H3N2 viruses the vaccine is intended to protect people against. Such antibodies are called “cross-reactive antibodies.” Three different age groups were studied (pediatric 6–35 months, adults 18–49 years old, and older adults >65 years old), to see if there were any differences in their ability to make “cross-reactive antibodies” after vaccination. The results of this study suggest that young children are the most susceptible to infection with H3N2v influenza viruses and that seasonal influenza vaccination would not be expected to provide full protection against H3N2v virus infection in all age groups.

Related Links

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March issue of CDC's Immunization Works newsletter now available
CDC recently released the March issue of its monthly newsletter Immunization Works and posted it on the website of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). The newsletter is provided to national healthcare provider and consumer groups for distribution to their members and constituencies. The immunization information provided is non-proprietary and is encouraged to be widely disseminated and shared.

The March issue includes information about what has been going on in immunization in the past month. Much of it has already been covered in previous issues of IAC Express.

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EDUCATION AND TRAINING

CDC, IAC, ANA, and NNINA present series of netconferences developed for nurses and others who provide immunizations
CDC, IAC, the American Nurses Association (ANA), and the National Network of Immunization Nurses and Associates (NNINA) have collaborated to create a series of three netconferences developed specifically for nurses by nurses. The information presented in the series is also of value to anyone who provides immunizations. Presenters include experts from CDC, as well as expert immunization nurses from across the nation who offer practical tips and insights gained from their own experiences delivering vaccines.

Each netconference is structured in two parts. First, participants go online at a time of their choosing to view a prerecorded webcast. Second, they can join a live call-in discussion with CDC and other nurse immunization experts. Attendance at the live telephone sessions is limited to the first 1,000 people who dial in.

Following are the netconference topics and schedule:

Talking with Patients about Vaccines
    Webcast: available on March 21 (click here to download
    webcast [69 MB])
    Live Call-in Seminar: occurred on April 4
    Discussion Guide: Talking with Patients about Vaccines

Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel: Educated Decisions, Caring Choices
    Webcast: available on  April 12 (click here to download
    webcast [279 MB])
    Live Call-in Seminar: April 25 at 2 PM ET
    Discussion Guide: Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel:
    Educated Decisions, Caring Choices


Reducing Vaccine Administration Errors
    Webcast: available online after April 18
    Live Call-in Seminar: May 2 at 2 PM ET
    Discussion Guide: Reducing Vaccine Administration Errors

More information is available via these links: Back to top


CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS

Reminder: National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions planned for May 23–25 in New Orleans
The 10th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions (NCIHC) will take place in New Orleans on May 23–25. NCIHC is the only conference solely dedicated to collaboration and partnership as a way to improve the health status of communities. It offers skills-building, tools, and practical examples to help local, state, and national organizations build and sustain successful partnerships.

Related Links
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Texas plans perinatal hepatitis B prevention conference for May 15–16 in Austin; free CE credit available
The Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention program of the Texas Department of State Health Services has scheduled the 3rd Biannual Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program State Conference for May 15–16 in Austin. Registration and attendance are free, as is CE credit for multiple disciplines.

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ACIP posts live archive of its February 22–23 meeting
ACIP recently posted the live archive of its February 22–23 meeting.

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CDC hosts 61st Annual Epidemic Intelligence Services Conference on April 16–20 in Atlanta
CDC is hosting the 61st Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Conference on April 16–20 in Atlanta. The conference is designed to present findings of EIS officers' investigations and to discuss current topics in the field of epidemiology. CDC’s Disease Detectives will present research findings from investigations conducted over the past year.

The EIS program is a two-year postgraduate training program of service and training for health professionals interested in epidemiology.

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Vaccines to take center stage at the New York Academy of Sciences' May 11 symposium on HIV/AIDS
The New York Academy of Sciences has scheduled a one-day symposium, HIV/AIDS Update: Prevention, Treatment and Beyond, for May 11. The symposium will cover a broad spectrum of the latest developments in the prevention of HIV transmission and in finding a cure for AIDS.

Vaccines will take the center stage with talks focusing on the design of improved immunogens, which build on the results of the latest clinical trials and new information on the structure of the viral envelope protein.

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Vaccines Discovery and Development conference planned for San Francisco on July 9–10
Sponsored by Global Technology Community, the 10th Annual Vaccines Discovery and Development: All Things Considered conference will be held in San Francisco on July 9–10. The conference is intended to present updates and exposure to all aspects of vaccine development, including research, manufacturing, regulations, investment, and policy.

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About IZ Express

IZ Express is supported in part by Grant No. 1NH23IP922654 from CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Its contents are solely the responsibility of Immunize.org and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.

IZ Express Disclaimer
ISSN 2771-8085

Editorial Information

  • Editor-in-Chief
    Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
  • Managing Editor
    John D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
  • Associate Editor
    Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
  • Writer/Publication Coordinator
    Taryn Chapman, MS
    Courtnay Londo, MA
  • Style and Copy Editor
    Marian Deegan, JD
  • Web Edition Managers
    Arkady Shakhnovich
    Jermaine Royes
  • Contributing Writer
    Laurel H. Wood, MPA
  • Technical Reviewer
    Kayla Ohlde

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