Issue Number 259            July 11, 2001

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

  1. CDC's National Immunization Program releases Influenza Vaccine Bulletin #3
  2. National Immunization Conference online continuing education credit deadline extended to July 15
  3. CDC reports on the first fatal cases of adenovirus-related illness among military recruits since vaccine became unavailable
  4. APHA annual meeting is October 21-25 in Atlanta

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(1)
July 11, 2001
CDC'S NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM RELEASES INFLUENZA VACCINE BULLETIN #3

On July 6, 2001, the National Immunization Program issued the third in a series of influenza vaccine bulletins designed to update health professionals on the production, distribution, and administration of influenza vaccine for the 2001-2002 influenza season. The bulletin is reprinted below in its entirety.

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INFLUENZA VACCINE BULLETIN #3
July 6, 2001

The National Immunization Program (NIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is publishing and distributing a periodic bulletin to update partners about recent developments related to the production, distribution and administration of influenza vaccine for the 2001-2002 influenza season. All recipients of this bulletin are encouraged to distribute each issue widely to colleagues, members and constituents. 

INFLUENZA VACCINE SUPPLY AND PRODUCTION

The CDC expects some delays in availability of influenza vaccine supplies this season. However, the vaccine manufacturers project that the total influenza vaccine supply will be greater than in the last few years.

  • Projected distribution of influenza vaccine for 2001, based on aggregate manufacturers' estimates as of June 15, is 83.7 million doses, which would exceed actual distribution in 1999 and 2000. By the end of October 2001, 53.5 million doses (64 percent of the total) are projected to be distributed and 30.2 million doses (36 percent of the total) are projected to be available in November and December. By comparison, in 1999 when there was no delay, 75.8 million doses or 99 percent of the total vaccine supply was available by the end of October. Expected delays this year are not anticipated to be as great as those experienced last season. Nevertheless, officials at FDA and CDC stress that these are early projections from manufacturers and could change as the season progresses. CDC will keep you updated.

INFLUENZA VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

Supplemental influenza recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will be published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) dated July 13, 2001.

  • On the basis of current projections, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has made supplemental influenza recommendations. Emphasis will be placed on making the initial supply of influenza vaccine available to health care providers who serve persons in high-risk categories. (See Influenza Bulletin #2 [http://www.immunize.org/genr.d/issue255.htm#n2] for summary). When published, these recommendations, as well as the original ACIP influenza recommendations (MMWR dated April 20, 2001), can be found at CDC's influenza vaccine website at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/flu

State-specific levels of influenza vaccination coverage among persons aged 65 years of age and older were published in the June 29, 2001 MMWR (vol. 50, no. 25).

  • In 1998-99, influenza vaccination levels among older persons in each state exceeded or were close to the 60 percent national 2000 objective. Coverage for persons greater than or equal to 65 years was 67 percent. However,
    influenza vaccination levels may have reached a plateau which is well below the 90 percent national objective for 2010. Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in influenza vaccination coverage continued.

The vaccination rate among high-risk children recommended for annual influenza vaccination is very low.

  • Health care providers should make sure that children at high risk of developing complications from influenza receive influenza vaccine annually. Depending on the manufacturer, influenza vaccines are approved for use in different pediatric age groups. Influenza vaccines from Wyeth Laboratories, Inc. (Flushield) and Aventis Pasteur, Inc. (Fluzone 7, split) are approved for use among persons aged 6 months and older. Fluvirin7, produced by Evans Vaccine, Ltd. and distributed by GIV is labeled in the United States for use only among persons aged 4 years and older.

High-risk children who are eligible for vaccines under the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program can receive the vaccine at no cost, though providers may be able to bill Medicaid for administrative costs or charge these fees to the parents of VFC-eligible children not enrolled in Medicaid.

  • Providers can obtain influenza vaccine through the VFC Program for their patients who qualify. VFC-eligible children can receive influenza vaccine from providers who are part of the VFC program, local health departments or community health centers. Providers interested in enrolling in the VFC Program should contact their state health department.

INFLUENZA VACCINE COMMUNICATIONS

As the season progresses and more information is obtained regarding influenza vaccine issues, CDC will provide that information at its website: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/flu

  • CDC is updating the influenza website on a frequent basis. A newly designed website should be completed in early July and will have sections for the public, providers and the media. The website will include new information for this season, ACIP recommendations and links to other sources of information on influenza.

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(2)
July 11, 2001
NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION CONFERENCE ONLINE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 15

The National Immunization Conference (NIC) has extended the deadline to July 15 to obtain online continuing education (CE) credits for attending the 2001 NIC in Atlanta in May. If you have not yet registered for CE, don't miss this opportunity.

To obtain CE credit, visit http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtnonline/index.asp

Once you have registered and logged in to the system, you can search for the conference. Select "Search and Register," select the "Calendar" view, and then set the search date for May 1, 2001.

If you experience any problems in completing the online CE process, call (800) 41-TRAIN (800-418-7246).
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(3)
July 11, 2001
CDC REPORTS ON THE FIRST FATAL CASES OF ADENOVIRUS-RELATED ILLNESS AMONG MILITARY RECRUITS SINCE VACCINE BECAME UNAVAILABLE

CDC published an article titled, "Two Fatal Cases of Adenovirus-Related Illness in Previously Healthy Young Adults--Illinois, 2000," in the July 6, 2001, issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

According to the report, "Beginning in 1971, all military recruits received oral, live, enteric-coated vaccines that were licensed by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective in preventing illness from adenovirus serotypes 4 and 7. In 1996, the sole manufacturer ceased production of adenoviral vaccines and, as supplies dwindled during the next few years, outbreaks of adenoviral respiratory illness reemerged in military settings. Since 1999, approximately 10%-12% of all recruits have become ill with adenovirus infection in basic training, similar to the prevaccine era. This report describes the first two deaths probably associated with adenovirus infection identified in military recruits since the vaccines became unavailable. The military has requested proposals for a new adenovirus vaccine manufacturer; however, these deaths suggest that efforts by policymakers and pharmaceutical companies to reestablish adenoviral vaccine production should be intensified."

To read the complete text of this article online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5026a1.htm

To obtain the complete issue of the MMWR in camera-ready (PDF) format, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5025.pdf

HOW TO OBTAIN A FREE ELECTRONIC SUBSCRIPTION TO THE MMWR: To obtain a free electronic subscription to MMWR, visit CDC's MMWR website at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr Select "Free MMWR Subscription" from the menu at the left of the screen. Once you have submitted the required information, weekly issues of the MMWR and all new ACIP statements (published as MMWR's "Recommendations and Reports") will arrive automatically by e-mail.
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(4)
July 11, 2001
APHA ANNUAL MEETING IS OCTOBER 21-25 IN ATLANTA

Register by August 17, 2001, to receive an early-bird registration discount for the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting on October 21-25 in Atlanta.

Featured speakers include Dr. Gro Harlem Brundland, Director-General of the World Health Organization; Rosalyn Carter, former First Lady; and Dr. Louis Sullivan, former Secretary of Health and Human Services.

For registration materials or further information, call (514) 228-3009, email APHA@laser-registration.com or visit the APHA website at http://www.apha.org/meetings

For a detailed list of additional upcoming immunization and hepatitis conferences and events, visit IAC's "Calendar of Events" at: http://www.immunize.org/calendar/

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