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Immunization Works! September 2006 issue
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Immunization Works Monthly Update is provided to national health care 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.
100 Million Doses of Influenza Vaccine Expected This Year
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced this week that influenza vaccine manufacturers are expecting to produce and distribute more than 100 million doses of influenza vaccines in the United States between now and early January, 2007. Manufacturers have already begun to ship this season’s influenza vaccine, with almost all of the vaccine expected to be shipped and distributed in October and November. The influenza manufacturers and major distributors are implementing policies designed to provide some influenza vaccine by the end of October to all providers who ordered it.
The more than 100 million doses is at least 17 million more doses of influenza vaccine than has ever been distributed in the past and about 19 million more doses than were distributed last year. According to the information from manufacturers, about 75 million doses will be distributed by the end of October.
CDC encourages anyone who wants to be protected against influenza to seek vaccination, especially those at increased risk for influenza-related complications as well as those who live with or care for people at high risk – including health care providers, children between 6 months and up to 5 years of age and people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease, as well as people 50 years old and older.
While the best time for vaccination is October and November before the influenza season typically begins, vaccination can still provide protection in December and later because during most years influenza does not peak until February or later. Since influenza is unpredictable, and different types and strains of influenza circulate throughout the flu season, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that influenza vaccine be offered throughout the influenza season – even after influenza has appeared or begun appearing in a community.
To assist in the promotion of the flu vaccine, CDC’s Flu Gallery contains educational materials for use during the influenza immunization season. These materials reflect CDC’s vaccination recommendations and highlight the benefits of influenza vaccination. The Gallery contains print materials such as flyers, posters and brochures, in color and black and white, English and Spanish. Many of the materials can be reproduced on an office printer. You can also have the materials printed by a professional (offset) printer.
More information about influenza and influenza vaccine can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu and the Flu Gallery can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu/gallery
Other Immunization News
Influenza Vaccine Distribution Data is Being Made Available to State and Local Public Health Officials
To aid the visibility of influenza vaccine distribution, the CDC is making available jurisdiction-specific summary reports of influenza vaccine distribution data to state and local public health officials. The CDC is working closely with the licensed manufacturers of influenza vaccine and seven major influenza vaccine distributors to provide distribution information on a weekly basis throughout the influenza season, beginning this month. Distribution data elements will include the zip code of end recipient, product type, number of doses and provider type. A limited amount of jurisdiction-specific order information (“pre-booking” data) will be available as well.
Kenyan Study Confirms Plummeting Rates of Hib Disease
The Journal of American Association (JAMA) published research (Effectiveness of Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) Conjugate Vaccine Introduction into Routine Childhood Immunization in Kenya) in August, showing three years after introduction, routine vaccination of infants in Kenya against H influenzae Type b (Hib) significantly reduced invasive Hib disease rates by 88%; preventing an estimated 3,370 hospitalizations in Kenya in 2005. Worldwide, Hib disease is estimated to cause 3 million episodes of serious disease each year, leading to 400,000 childhood deaths. Yet, despite the overwhelming evidence and support in favor of these vaccines, fewer than 40% of African countries have been able to implement the Hib vaccine.
Meetings, Conferences, and Resources
Next ACIP Meeting
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will hold its next meeting on October, 25-26, 2006 at the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. The draft agenda will be available in early October on ACIP’s meetings page. Participants can also register for the October meeting at ACIP’s website. This meeting is open to the general public, but advanced registration is required.
Promote HCW Vaccination
CDC has recently updated posters and flyers for healthcare worker (HCW) vaccinations, “Healthcare Workers! Are your vaccinations up-to-date?” The updated materials reflect the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP’s) new pertussis vaccine recommendations. They can be downloaded and printed in black and white or commercial quality color from www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/flyers-brochures.htm
MMWR Needs Pilot Testers
CDC’s MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) has a need for volunteers to pilot test upcoming articles that are to be published in this journal. MMWR will soon publish articles on the new General Recommendations and on Tdap vaccination for adults. If you are interested in pilot testing these articles, contact Barbara Stallworth at BStallworth@cdc.gov. Volunteers are particularly needed in the following occupations: physicians, pharmacists, health educators, medical assistants and nurses. For those who are already on NIP’s pilot testing list: Please note that this is a separate pool of volunteers. You can volunteer to be included in both groups if you wish.
CDC Job Openings
CDC is committed to recruiting and hiring qualified candidates for a wide range of immunization positions. Researchers, Medical Officers and Epidemiologists as well as other specialties are often needed to fill positions within CDC. For a current listing of positions available at CDC, please visit www.cdc.gov/hrmo/hrmo.htm
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Content last reviewed on September 11, 2006
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
