News and Media Resources:
Immunization Works! May 2005 issue
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.
FDA Approves Boostrix®
On May 3, 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first combination vaccine that provides a booster immunization against pertussis (whooping cough) in combination with tetanus and diphtheria for adolescents. The vaccine will be marketed as Boostrix by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Philadelphia, Pa.
Pertussis is a highly communicable disease of the respiratory tract that can be especially serious for infants less than one year old, and may even be fatal. Pertussis can cause spells of coughing and choking that make breathing difficult. The disease is generally less severe in adolescents, but it is thought that they might transmit the disease to susceptible infants and other family members. In the last 20 years, rates of pertussis infection have been increasing in very young infants who have not received all their immunizations and in adolescents and adults.
Although booster vaccines for adolescents containing tetanus and diptheria are currently licensed and marketed for use in this age group, none contain a pertussis component. Boostrix has the same components as Infanrix, a DTaP vaccine for infants and young children, but in reduced quantities. Boostrix is indicated for use as a single booster dose to adolescents 10-18 years of age.
For more information visit the FDA’s website on Boostrix®:
www.fda.gov/cber/products/tdapgla050305.htm
Other Immunization News
2005 National Influenza Vaccine Summit
The National Influenza Vaccine Summit, sponsored by CDC and the American Medical Association (AMA), was held on May 10-11, 2005 at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago, IL. The National Influenza Summit is a partnership of stakeholders that addresses issues of influenza vaccination all year round. Attendees participate by invitation only. Throughout the year, the Summit participants collaborate to lend their efforts to address barriers that may reduce influenza vaccinations. These range from addressing uncertainties of the vaccine supply, communicating nationally on the benefits of influenza vaccination, and creating tools to facilitate the provision of vaccine. Nine working groups currently exist within the Summit. Additionally, the Summit stands ready to add new working groups in response to new issues that may arise for the 2005-2006 influenza season.
Meetings, Conferences, and Resources
New Immunization Funding Opportunities
CDC is seeking applicants for several new immunization funding opportunities. The projects vary and will target a range of audiences including older adults, children, and healthcare workers. All letters of intent are due in early to mid-June. For more information, please visit www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/ and enter this exact search string, including the quotes: "national immunization program" AND "funding".
The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC)
NVAC will hold its next meeting on June 7-8, 2005 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, DC. The meeting is open to the general public. For more information please visit www.hhs.gov/nvpo/nvac
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
ACIP will hold its next meeting June 29-30, 2005 at the Marriott Century Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The meeting is open to the general public. For more information please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/
New Meningococcal Disease and Vaccine Fact Sheet
A new fact sheet on meningococcal disease and meningococcal vaccines is now available. This document seeks to familiarize vaccination providers, partners, and the public with the epidemiology and clinical features of meningococcal disease, with the new conjugate meningococcal vaccine (MCV4), and the previously licensed polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine (MPSV4). The fact sheet can be located at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mening/vac-mening-fs.htm
NIP Annual Report Available on Web
The 2005 NIP Annual Report: Immunization for the 21st Century can now be accessed on-line. Visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/annual-rpts/ to download a copy of the report.
New Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) WEB Address
Please update your bookmarks to reflect the new web address for VAERS: www.vaers.hhs.gov. VAERS, the nation’s vaccine safety passive surveillance system, is jointly administered by CDC and FDA. In order to better reflect the collaboration between these two HHS agencies, the web address (URL) for VAERS has changed. During the transition, the previous URL will automatically link to the new web site. CDC and FDA will incorporate the new URL into documents over time. The VAERS mailing address (P.O.Box 1100, Rockville, MD 20849-1100) and toll free number (800-822-7967) will not change.
Immunization - You Call the Shots
The first module of a new training program, Immunization – You Call the Shots, is now available. The module entitled, Understanding the Basics: General Recommendations on Immunization, provides an overview of the basic concepts of immunity, the general rules of immunization, and contraindications and precautions. It is the first module in a 13-module, interactive series covering all aspects of immunization, for new and experienced immunization providers. The module can be found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/youcalltheshots.htm
New Satellite Broadcast
Immunization Update 2005: Please mark your calendar for NIP’s Immunization Update 2005 on July 28, 2005. Immunization Update 2005 will cover new recommendations for influenza vaccine and an update of the influenza vaccine supply, meningococcal conjugate vaccine, acellular pertussis vaccine for adolescents, and revised varicella vaccine recommendations. The 2.5-hour broadcast will occur live on July 28th from 9:00 am to 11:30 am and will be re-broadcast that day from 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm. Both broadcasts will feature a live question-and-answer session in which participants nationwide can interact with the course instructors via toll-free telephone lines. The program will also be available as a live webcast which can be accessed through the internet. For more information, visit www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/immup2005/default.asp
Lunch Netconference in July
NIP will host the next lunch netconference, Current Issues in Immunization on July 14, 2005. Quarterly NetConferences are live, 1-hour presentations combining an online visual presentation with simultaneous audio via telephone conference call. Participants can interact with the presenters through a live question and answer segment at the end of the program. Each Netconference focuses on one or two late-breaking issues in immunization. To learn more and reserve a space, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/netconferences.htm
South Carolina and California to Host Training
Charleston, South Carolina; Sacramento, California; and Torrence, California will host the next Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases training. The training will be offered in Charleston on August 17-18, 2005; in Sacramento on November 14-15, 2005; and in Torrance on November 17-18, 2005. For more information about the South Carolina training, please contact Susan A. Smith at (803) 898-0869 or smithsl@dhec.sc.gov. For more information about the California trainings, please contact Myan Nguyen at (510) 540-2065 or mnguyen2@dhs.ca.gov.
Attention Pharmacists
Pharmacists continue to be an important provider of adult immunizations. Because of that, NIP will begin offering more programs with continuing education credit for pharmacists. Pharmacy credit for You Call the Shots, Module One will become available in June 2005. Further, NIP seeks pharmacists who would like to volunteer to pilot test immunization training programs. If you are a pharmacist who is willing to volunteer a few hours to pilot upcoming immunization training programs, please contact Melissa Barnett at mbarnett2@cdc.gov.
Job Openings within the National Immunization Program
NIP is committed to recruiting and hiring qualified candidates for a wide range of positions. Researchers, Medical Officers and Epidemiologists as well as other specialties are often needed to fill positions within NIP. Interested parties are encouraged to apply for these positions. For a current listing of positions available at NIP, please visit www.cdc.gov/hrmo/hrmo.htm
.pdf files: To view and print the .pdf files on this site, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Use this link to obtain a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader (exit). We highly recommend that you upgrade to the latest version if haven't already.
Return to Immunization Works! index page
Content last reviewed on May 20, 2005
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
