Issue
Number 587
March 13, 2006
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- New: Laminated U.S. childhood and adult immunization
schedules are a must for every exam room
- New: Current U.S. childhood and adult immunization
schedules now available for PDAs
- NIP schedules March 14–15 teleconference on promoting
infant immunization through Spanish-language media outlets
- March issue of CDC's Immunization Works electronic
newsletter now available on the NIP website
- MMWR focuses on public health response to Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita in states other than Louisiana
- Erratum: MMWR corrects storage information for live
attenuated influenza vaccine
- CDC website posts presentation slides from ACIP's
February 21–22 meeting
- CDC updates its Influenza web section with news about
the geographic spread of avian influenza
- Pandemic influenza: new Update newsletter and checklists
for school districts and home healthcare providers now available
- NFID issues Call to Action on immunizing children with
asthma against influenza
- CDC issues update on U.S. influenza activity during
February 19–25
- New: FDA issues draft guidelines for accelerated
development of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines
- CDC reports that during 1999–2004 global measles deaths
were reduced 48 percent to 454,000
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ABBREVIATIONS: AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; AAP, American
Academy of Pediatrics; ACIP, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices;
CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FDA, Food and Drug
Administration; IAC, Immunization Action Coalition; MMWR, Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report; NIP, National Immunization Program; VIS, Vaccine
Information Statement; VPD, vaccine-preventable disease; WHO, World Health
Organization.
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March 13, 2006
NEW: LAMINATED U.S. CHILDHOOD AND ADULT IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULES ARE A MUST
FOR EVERY EXAM ROOM
A set of laminated immunization schedules will be a useful and welcome
addition to every exam room at your practice site. IAC adapted the schedules
from the ones posted on NIP's website. Each is coated in durable plastic for
heavy-duty use, complete with essential footnotes, and printed in color for
easy comprehension. Following is information on the schedules, including
their prices and ordering options.
Childhood schedule. Based on the ACIP/AAP/AAFP-approved Recommended
Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, 2006, this 2-page, 8.5" x
11" schedule is printed back-to-back. To view it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/immschedules/immschedule_child.pdf
Note: The laminated childhood schedule does not include information about
administering the newly licensed rotavirus vaccine because rotavirus vaccine
is not on the official 2006 childhood schedule on which the laminated
schedule is based.
Prices for the childhood schedule are $4 each for 1–4 copies and $3 each for
5–19 copies. Discount pricing is available for larger quantities.
Adult schedule. Based on the ACIP/AAFP/ACOG-approved Recommended Adult
Immunization Schedule, Oct. 2005–Sept. 2006, this 4-page, 11" x 17" schedule
is printed back-to-back and folded to 8.5" x 11". To view it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/immschedules/immschedule_adult.pdf
Prices for the adult schedule are $5 each for 1–4 copies and $4 each for
5–19 copies. Discount pricing is available for larger quantities.
Ordering options. Order online with a credit card, or order by mail or fax,
using a credit card, check, or purchase order. Shipping is free within the
United States.
For more ordering information, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/immschedules Questions? Email
admin@immunize.org or call (651)
647-9009.
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March 13, 2006
NEW: CURRENT U.S. CHILDHOOD AND ADULT IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULES NOW AVAILABLE
FOR PDAs
The current childhood and adult immunization schedules are now available for
Palm OS and Pocket PC hand-held devices. Called Shots 2006, the freeware is
available on the website of the Group on Immunization Education of the
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. In addition, online versions of both
schedules are available.
For a product description, system requirements, downloading and installation
information for the hand-held devices and to access the online schedules, go
to: http://www.immunizationed.org
Click on the option you want.
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March 13, 2006
NIP SCHEDULES MARCH 14–15 TELECONFERENCE ON PROMOTING INFANT IMMUNIZATION
THROUGH SPANISH-LANGUAGE MEDIA OUTLETS
NIP will conduct a one-hour technical assistance teleconference to help
communities promote infant immunization through Spanish-language media
outlets during National Infant Immunization Week and Vaccination Week in the
Americas (NIIW–VWA). Teleconference participants can choose to join the call
on either March 14 from noon to 1PM ET or March 15 from 3PM to 4PM ET.
The teleconference is intended for program coordinators, health departments,
and immunization coalitions. Its goal is to inform participants about NIP's
2006 Spanish-language infant immunization campaign materials, television and
radio Public Service Announcement (PSA), and tips for local placement of the
campaign, especially through minority media outlets.
HMA Associates, Inc., NIP's childhood campaign contractor, will lead the
call. HMA is a nationally recognized, multicultural marketing firm.
To register and receive connection information and materials, email your
name, organization, city, state, and preferred call date to Cindy Alvarez at
ctg7@cdc.gov Put "Registration for Infant
Immunization Campaign Technical Assistance Teleconference" in the subject
line of the email.
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March 13, 2006
MARCH ISSUE OF CDC'S IMMUNIZATION WORKS ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE
ON THE NIP WEBSITE
The March issue of Immunization Works, a monthly email newsletter published
by CDC, is available on NIP's website. The newsletter offers members of the
immunization community non-proprietary information about current topics. CDC
encourages its wide dissemination.
Some of the information in the March issue has already appeared in previous
issues of IAC Express. Following is the text of three articles we have not
covered.
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NEW ACIP RECOMMENDATIONS
[Note: The February 27 issue of IAC Express covered most of the key votes
ACIP members took at the February 21-22 meeting. Following is information on
one vote we did not report on.]
PERTUSSIS: The ACIP voted to recommend the administration of Tetanus and
Diphtheria Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) to protect healthcare
personnel (HCP) from pertussis and to reduce transmission in healthcare
facilities. The ACIP recommendation is for HCP who work in hospitals or
ambulatory care settings and have direct patient contact to receive a single
dose of Tdap as soon as feasible, at an interval as short as 2 years from
the last dose of Td. Priority should be given to the vaccination of HCP who
have direct contact with infants less than 12 months of age. Hospitals and
ambulatory care facilities should provide Tdap for HCP, using approaches
that will maximize vaccination rates.
Tdap is not licensed for use among adults 65 years and older, and ACIP does
not recommend Tdap for this age group. Recommendations for the use of Tdap
in adults 65 years and older will be updated as new data become available.
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MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND RESOURCES
JOBS TELECONFERENCE: NIP's Global Immunization Division (GID) and the
National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention's Global AIDS Program (GAP)
are hosting a WEB/NET Recruitment Conference on Thursday, March 30, 2006, at
1:30PM ET. The conference can be accessed via the Internet from any
computer.
Participants will learn about opportunities for CDC employment and placement
for medical officers, epidemiologists, public health advisors, behavioral
scientists, and other health professionals with public health experience.
Permanent positions and term appointments are available in a variety of
international locations and with partner organizations, including WHO and
UNICEF. During the WEBMET Recruitment Conference, participants will have the
opportunity to ask questions of program leaders. For more information,
please visit
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/webutil/about/menu-about.htm and click on
"employment."
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NIP NEEDS PILOT TESTERS: The National Immunization Program (NIP) has an
ongoing need for volunteers to pilot test immunization training courses.
Volunteers are particularly needed in the following occupations: physicians,
pharmacists, health educators, medical assistants, and nurses. To learn more
about becoming a pilot tester, please send an email to
nippilot@cdc.gov
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To access the complete March issue from the NIP website, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/newsltrs/imwrks/2006/200603.htm
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March 13, 2006
MMWR FOCUSES ON PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA IN
STATES OTHER THAN LOUISIANA
The March 10 issue of MMWR focuses on public heath activities in states
other than Louisiana that were directly or indirectly affected by Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita. MMWR focused on activities in Louisiana in its January 20
issue.
The lead article in the March 10 issue, "Public Health Response to
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita—United States, 2005," provides context for the
2005 Atlantic hurricane season by presenting an historical overview of
Atlantic hurricane activity in the past several decades.
Another article, "Surveillance for Illness and Injury After Hurricane
Katrina—Three Counties, Mississippi, September 5–October 11, 2005," includes
information about the need to increase pre-hurricane tetanus booster
vaccination to reduce the burden on the healthcare system after hurricanes.
Portions of the article's Editorial Note are reprinted below.
*******************
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, visits to hospital EDs
[emergency departments] in the three southernmost counties of Mississippi
likely increased; at the one facility with available pre-hurricane data,
visits increased approximately twofold. This burden on a damaged healthcare
infrastructure was partially shifted to DMATs [federal Disaster Medical
Assistance Teams], which were able to fill the role of certain facilities
rendered inoperable by the storm. The most common healthcare visits to EDs
and DMATs in the immediate post-hurricane period were for minor injuries,
primarily puncture wounds, lacerations, strains, and sprains. . . . Many
persons visited healthcare facilities for tetanus vaccination, and records
did not always indicate whether associated injuries were present. . . .
Pre-hurricane preparations might reduce the post-hurricane burden on
healthcare systems by (1) improving tetanus booster vaccination coverage,
(2) communicating to residents that tetanus vaccination is not required
after disasters . . . .
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5509a2.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5509.pdf
To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which includes new ACIP
statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html
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March 13, 2006
ERRATUM: MMWR CORRECTS STORAGE INFORMATION FOR LIVE ATTENUATED INFLUENZA
VACCINE
CDC published "Erratum: Vol. 55, No. RR-2" in the March 10 issue of MMWR. It
is reprinted below in its entirety.
***********************
In the MMWR Recommendations and Reports, "Influenza Vaccination of
Health-Care Personnel: Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control
Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP)," an error occurred on page 9 in the section
on LAIV [live attenuated influenza vaccine] storage. The first sentence of
the paragraph should read, "LAIV must be stored at 5 degrees F (-15 degrees
C) or colder."
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5509a13.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5509.pdf
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March 13, 2006
CDC WEBSITE POSTS PRESENTATION SLIDES FROM ACIP'S FEBRUARY 21–22 MEETING
The CDC website recently posted the PowerPoint slides presented at the
February 21–22 ACIP meeting. Slides are available on the following:
-
Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV)
-
Rotavirus vaccine (RV)
-
General recommendations on immunizations
-
Varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG)
-
Influenza
-
Tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)
-
Herpes zoster vaccine
-
Evidence-based ACIP recommendations
To access the slides, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ACIP/mtg-slides-feb06.htm
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March 13, 2006
CDC UPDATES ITS INFLUENZA WEB SECTION WITH NEWS ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHIC
SPREAD OF AVIAN INFLUENZA
CDC recently updated its Influenza web section with information that the
following were added to a list of countries reporting animal cases of
avian influenza: Albania and Poland (posted 3/9/06); and Pakistan (posted
3/3/06).
To access these resources, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm#updated and click on the pertinent
link(s).
To access a broad range of continually updated information on seasonal
influenza, avian influenza, and pandemic influenza, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu
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March 13, 2006
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA: NEW UPDATE NEWSLETTER AND CHECKLISTS FOR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND HOME HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS NOW AVAILABLE
The federal government has recently issued three Pandemic influenza
resources:
(1) The March 9 issue of the email newsletter Pandemic Influenza Update is
now available on the IAC website. To access it, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/pandemic/panflu030906.pdf
To access a range of pandemic influenza resources on the IAC website, go
to:
http://www.immunize.org/pandemic
(2) School District (K-12) Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist was added
to the Planning & Response Activities section of the federal government's
pandemic and avian influenza website.
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the checklist, go to:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/schoolchecklist.html
A ready-to-print (PDF) version is also available. To access it, click on
the link above, scroll down to the hypertext phrase Printer Friendly
Version of Checklist, and click on it.
(3) Home Health Care Services Pandemic Influenza Checklist was added to
the Planning & Response Activities section of the federal government's
pandemic and avian influenza website.
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/HealthCareChecklist.pdf
To access a web-text (HTML) version, go to:
http://pandemicflu.gov/plan/healthcare.html
To access an array of pandemic and avian influenza resources on the
federal government website, go to:
http://www.pandemicflu.gov
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March 13, 2006
NFID ISSUES CALL TO ACTION ON IMMUNIZING CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA AGAINST
INFLUENZA
Citing statistics indicating that only one-third of children with asthma
receive influenza vaccine in a given year, the National Foundation for
Infectious Diseases (NFID) issued a Call to Action. The document was
developed from the proceedings of an expert roundtable meeting NFID held
in November 2005. Participants included representatives from leading
medical associations.
Titled Influenza and Children with Asthma, the Call to Action is the
critical first step of a new initiative to address low influenza rates in
children with asthma. The initiative will include a monograph, to be
published later in 2006, that will provide a comprehensive look at
existing barriers to pediatric influenza immunization in this high-risk
population.
To access the Call to Action, as well as a press release about the
initiative, go to:
http://www.nfid.org/docs/asthma.html Click on the pertinent link(s).
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March 13, 2006
CDC ISSUES UPDATE ON U.S. INFLUENZA ACTIVITY DURING FEBRUARY 19-25
CDC published "Update: Influenza Activity—United States, February 19–25,
2006" in the March 10 issue of MMWR. The opening paragraph is reprinted
below.
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During February 19–25, 2006, the number of states reporting widespread
influenza activity increased to 21. Fourteen states reported regional
activity, 10 reported local activity, and five reported sporadic activity.
. . .
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5509a9.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5509.pdf
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March 13, 2006
NEW: FDA ISSUES DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT OF SEASONAL
AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA VACCINES
On March 2, FDA issued a press release announcing the availability of two
draft guidelines for accelerated development of influenza vaccine. One
guideline pertains to development of vaccine against seasonal influenza,
the other to development of vaccine against pandemic influenza. Portions
of the press release are reprinted below.
******************
For immediate release
March 2, 2006
FDA INITIATIVE HELPS EXPEDITE DEVELOPMENT OF SEASONAL AND PANDEMIC FLU
VACCINES
In two guidance documents released today, one for seasonal, and the other
for pandemic influenza vaccines, the FDA provides manufacturers with clear
guidance on developing and submitting clinical data to show safety and
effectiveness for new vaccines. Consistent with the aims of FDA's Critical
Path Initiative to get products to market more quickly and to advance the
development and use of new technologies, these documents outline specific
approaches that vaccine developers may follow. . . .
A copy of the guidance, "Draft Guidance for Industry, Clinical Data Needed
to Support the Licensure of Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccines," is
available at:
http://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/trifluvac.pdf
A copy of the guidance, "Draft Guidance for Industry, Clinical Data Needed
to Support the Licensure of Pandemic Influenza Vaccines," is available at:
http://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/panfluvac.pdf
The public has 90 days to comment on the drafts. When finalized, the
guidances will represent the FDA's current thinking on these topics.
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To access the complete press release, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01330.html
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March 13, 2006
CDC REPORTS THAT DURING 1999–2004 GLOBAL MEASLES DEATHS WERE REDUCED 48
PERCENT TO 454,000
CDC published "Progress in Reducing Global Measles Deaths, 1999–2004" in
the March 10 issue of MMWR. Portions of the article are reprinted below.
***********************
Measles remains a substantial cause of global childhood mortality,
particularly in developing countries. In their joint strategic plan for
Measles Mortality Reduction, 2001–2005, the World Health Organization
(WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) targeted 45 priority
countries with the highest measles mortality for implementation of a
comprehensive strategy for accelerated and sustained measles mortality
reduction. Components of this strategy include achieving high routine
vaccination coverage ([greater than] 90%) in every district and ensuring
that all children receive a second opportunity for measles vaccination. In
May 2003, the World Health Assembly endorsed a resolution urging member
countries to achieve a goal (adopted in 2002 by the United Nations General
Assembly Special Session on Children) to reduce 1999 deaths resulting from
measles by half by the end of 2005. This report updates progress toward
this goal and introduces a new goal for measles mortality reduction by
2010. . . .
Results from surveillance data combined with the natural history model
indicate that overall global measles mortality decreased 48%, from 871,000
deaths (uncertainty bounds: 633,000–1,139,000) in 1999 to 454,000 deaths
(uncertainty bounds: 329,000–596,000) in 2004. The largest percentage
reduction during this period (59%) was in Sub-Saharan Africa, followed by
East Asia and the Pacific (52%) and the Middle East and North Africa
(50%). . . .
Because the 2005 measles mortality reduction goal likely was met on
schedule (final 2005 data will not be available until 2007), a more
ambitious goal has been proposed in the Global Immunization Vision and
Strategy (GIVS). The new goal calls for a 90% reduction in measles
mortality by 2010 compared with the 2000 level. However, major challenges
exist to achieving this new goal. First, measles mortality reduction
activities need to be successfully implemented in several large countries
with high measles burden (e.g., India, Nigeria, and Pakistan). Second, to
sustain the gains in reduced measles deaths in the 45 priority countries,
vaccination systems need to be improved to ensure that 90% [or more] of
infants are vaccinated against measles through routine health services
before their first birthday. Third, priority countries will need to
conduct follow-up SIAs [supplementary immunization activities] every 3–4
years until their routine vaccination systems are capable of providing two
opportunities for measles vaccination to [more than] 90% of every birth
cohort. Fourth, disease surveillance systems at district, provincial, and
national levels need to be strengthened to enable case-based surveillance
with testing of clinical specimens from suspected cases in laboratories
participating in the global measles and rubella laboratory network.
Finally, measles case management, including appropriate vitamin A
supplementation, should be strengthened.
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5509a8.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5509.pdf |
