News and Media Resources:
Immunization Works! May 2008 issue
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Immunization Works Monthly Immunization Update is provided to professional organization partners for broad distribution to their members and constituencies. The information provided is non-proprietary.
Front Page News
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) Recommendations on Prevention of Herpes Zoster Released:
This week, CDC published the ACIP Recommendations on the Prevention of Herpes Zoster in an early release of the MMWR. These recommendations provide information on herpes zoster and on the use of a live attenuated vaccine for the prevention of herpes zoster (also called shingles) and its sequelae. This vaccine was licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2006 and recommended by ACIP in October 2006.
Infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV), which infects approximately 95% of the adult population in the United States, causes two distinct clinical conditions. Primary VZV infection causes varicella (chickenpox), a contagious rash illness that typically occurs among children. VZV can reactivate decades after initial infection to cause shingles, a localized and generally painful skin eruption usually involving clusters of blisters on one side of the body. Adults over 50 and people with weak immune systems are at increased risk of developing shingles. Approximately 1 million new cases of shingles occur in the United States annually.The availability of a safe and effective vaccine for herpes zoster offers an opportunity to decrease the burden of this disease and its complications among persons with high levels of risk. Reasons for these recommendations include that herpes zoster causes substantial morbidity in the United States, especially among older adults, and approximately one in 5 cases results in debilitating pain, which can last for months or even years, or other severe complications. Although effective antiviral medications to treat symptoms of herpes zoster are available, the medication must be initiated within 72 hours of rash onset for maximum benefit. Such rapid diagnosis and treatment may not be available for all patients, and antiviral treatment may be only partially effective.
ACIP recommends all persons aged 60 and older with no contraindications be routinely vaccinated with 1 dose of zoster vaccine. Persons who report a previous episode of zoster and persons with chronic medical conditions can be vaccinated unless those conditions are contraindications or precautions to vaccination.
Access the MMWR website for the full text of the ACIP recommendations
To promote the availability and need for the vaccine among appropriate populations, CDC has developed resources to assist providers and consumers. The resources include questions and answers about shingles and shingles vaccine, fact sheets about shingles and other vaccines recommended for older adults, and a personal story describing one couple's experience with shingles. These materials can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles.
Other News & Summaries
ACIP Recommendations on Prevention of Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Their Infants:
In 2005, two tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines were licensed and recommended for use in adults and adolescents in the United States. Both Tdap vaccines are licensed for single-dose use to add protection against pertussis and to replace the next dose of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids vaccine (Td) for all adults and adolescents, including women of childbearing age. However, the safety and efficacy of Tdap in pregnant women has not been demonstrated. The ACIP recommends Tdap for postpartum women at delivery before leaving the hospital or birthing center to boost their protection for pertussis and to reduce the risk of transmitting pertussis to the infant, if they have not previously had a dose of Tdap. Some pregnant women due for a Td booster will have sufficient tetanus and diphtheria protection to allow the Td during pregnancy to be deferred to substitute Tdap at delivery. However, until additional information is available, the ACIP has reaffirmed its current recommendation to use Td (rather than Tdap) in pregnant women if they are due for vaccination to prevent maternal or neonatal tetanus, or to prevent diphtheria and do not have sufficient protection until delivery. The ACIP continues to encourage adults and adolescents, who might come in contact with an infant (e.g., fathers, grandparents, child care providers) to have the Tdap dose before the usual 10 years between Td boosters, to decrease their chance of getting pertussis and transmitting it to the infant. The recommendations released in the MMWR this week further addresses these issues.
New Records at 2008 National Influenza Vaccine Summit:
The 2008 National Influenza Vaccine Summit was held in Atlanta at the J.W. Marriott on May 12 and 13, 2008. A record number of 230 participants representing 132 organizations registered for this meeting, at which speakers and meeting participants presented and discussed new information and ideas on how to better reach people recommended for influenza vaccine. Dr. Eddy A. Bresnitz of the New Jersey State Health Department highlighted New Jersey’s experience with the first mandatory requirements for day - care influenza immunization in the country. Paul V. Effler of the Hawaii Department of Public Health presented the results of school based influenza immunization efforts that were undertaken last year. Other sessions included ideas on how to better target specific age groups, ways to increase coverage, increasing healthcare worker immunization, and overcoming vaccine myths and misunderstandings.
A new record amount of influenza vaccine is likely to be available for next season. An update on influenza vaccine production was presented in an evening session, with an overall estimate of as many as 143-146 million doses that could be available for the upcoming season, depending upon production yields, lot releases, and demand for doses. Manufacturers reported release dates ranging from late August to early September to begin shipping flu vaccine.Presentations given at the Influenza Summit will be available shortly at www.preventioninfluenza.org (exit).
Reports Show Gardasil Vaccine Is Safe:
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national program of CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that monitors the safety of vaccines after they are licensed. VAERS receives reports of adverse events (possible side effects) that occur after people receive vaccines. A recent summary of VAERS reports related to Gardasil® vaccination provides reassuring information about safety.
FDA first licensed Gardasil® on June 8, 2006 as the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer caused by certain kinds of human papillomavirus (HPV). Since then, more than 12 million doses of Gardasil vaccine have been distributed. VAERS received 5,070 reports after Gardasil vaccination in the U.S. between June 8, 2006 and January 31, 2008. Less than 7% reported serious side effects, about half of the average for vaccines overall. For more information, please visit Gardasil Vaccine Reports to VAERS.
CDC Plans Studies on Fainting After Vaccination:
Occasionally, people faint after receiving a vaccine. This event, called syncope, can lead to serious injuries. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that vaccine providers should observe patients for 15 minutes after they are vaccinated. If syncope develops, patients should be observed until the symptoms resolve.
Very little is known about syncope after vaccination, including how common it is, or whether certain vaccines cause it more than others. However, it does seem to occur more frequently among teenagers. Studies are planned to address syncope incidence through CDC's Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) project. For more information, please visit Fainting (Syncope) After Vaccination.
Mark Pallansch Receives Ed Nowakoski Senior Memorial Clinical Virology Award:
Mark Pallansch, Chief of the Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory Branch within the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases’ Division of Viral Diseases, was chosen to receive the 2008 Ed Nowakoski Senior Memorial Clinical Virology Award by the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology. This award, presented at the Clinical Virology Symposium in April, acknowledges an individual whose contributions to clinical virology have had a major impact on the epidemiology, treatment or understanding of the pathogenesis of viral diseases.
Dr. Pallansch joined CDC’s Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases in 1984, where he became Chief of the Enterovirus Section. He built this Section into a universally recognized Global Center of Excellence in Enterovirus Diagnostics and Research. In this role, Dr. Pallansch has played a key part in CDC’s support of WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative. He helped WHO build the Global Polio Laboratory Network, the first network of public health laboratories with a comprehensive global reach. His laboratory helped bring the best state-of-the-art diagnostic and characterization methods as well as excellent data management and analysis systems to the Network.Dr. Pallansch has been a pioneer in implementing high-resolution molecular epidemiology at CDC. Starting with poliovirus, he helped develop methods that are now routinely used by WHO to track the pathways of poliovirus transmission, identify endemic reservoirs, reveal gaps in surveillance, recognize poliovirus importations, and monitor the progress of control activities. He serves on numerous high-level technical advisory groups and commissions, not only for WHO, but also for the broader scientific community. His judgment is sought by virologists and epidemiologists within the Division of Viral Diseases and the Global Immunization Division, as well as by virologists and epidemiologists in WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative in Geneva and in the WHO Regions.
Meetings, Conferences & Resources
Pink Book, New Printing:
The second printing of the 10th Edition of CDC’s immunization textbook, Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, “The Pink Book,” has been completed and is now available online “The Pink Book” provides comprehensive information about routinely recommended vaccines, vaccine-preventable diseases and much more. A hard copy of the “Pink Book” can be purchased for $35 by contacting www.bookstore.phf.org (exit).
IIS Data Interactive Query Tool:
CDC has launched a new tool for research concerning Immunization Information Systems (IIS) called the IIS Data Interactive Query Tool. The searchable database contains detailed calendar year 2004-2006 data -- previously unavailable to the public -- from the Immunization Information Systems Annual Report (IISAR). IISAR is an annual assessment of IIS activity among the 64 immunization program grantees that receive funding under section 317b of the Public Health Service Act.
IIS Searchable Publications Database:
CDC has launched a new tool for searching Immunization Information Systems (IIS) publications called the IIS Publications Searchable Database. The database contains references for IIS-related articles published in peer-reviewed journals, IIS guidance documents and CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs) from 2000 to the present. This database will be updated as new articles and guidance documents are published.
Provisional Influenza Recommendations Available Now:
At its February meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for provisional recommendations for the prevention and control of influenza. They are now posted and will be in place until the final recommendations are published later this year in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
CDC Training Opportunities:
Through established programs, CDC offers many unique training opportunities in infectious disease, including international opportunities. For a current listing of CDC training opportunities, please visit the CDC Public Health Training website.
CDC Job Openings:
CDC is committed to recruiting and hiring qualified candidates for a wide range of immunization positions. Researchers, Medical Officers and Epidemiologists and other specialties are often needed to fill positions within CDC. For a current listing of positions available at CDC, including international opportunities, please visit the CDC Employment website.
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Content last reviewed on May 19, 2008
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
