News and Media Resources:
Immunization Works! June 2007 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.
Front Page News
NCIRD Launches New Website: CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) launched its new vaccines and immunization website on June 11, 2007. The site, www.cdc.gov/vaccines, replaced www.cdc.gov/nip, and features a new look, a new feel, and many more resources. The website format, which was redesigned using web usability testing, has changed to a topic-driven layout. This change in format makes it easier for healthcare professionals, parents, and immunization partners, to quickly find accurate vaccine and immunization information. For partners that have a website that currently links to the www.cdc.gov/nip website, all these URLs should be changed. Please ACT NOW! To assist with this task, submit a list of all the URLs that need to be changed using an online request new URLs form (located at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/contact/url-request-form.htm). A list of all the new URL links will be provided. NOTE: As of December 2007, this form is not longer available.
NCIRD is committed to providing the latest and most credible immunization information. Be sure to bookmark www.cdc.gov/vaccines and visit often as improvements and innovations are ongoing. Please provide suggestions and feedback about the new website via email to ncirdwebteam@cdc.gov
Other News & Summaries
CDC’s Immunization Staff Win National Awards: Recently, staff members from CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) have been recognized through national awards for their public health leadership and valued contributions to public health research and practice. On March 19, CDC celebrated the ceremonial swearing-in of NCIRD’s Director, Anne Schuchat, MD, as rear admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service. As a flag officer, Dr. Schuchat joins an elite group – there are only about 50 flag officers in the corps today. More information about Dr. Schuchat’s award can be found at www.cdc.gov/news/2007/03/schuchat.html
On May 7, NCIRD’s Senior Advisor, Larry Pickering, MD, was awarded the 2007 Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society’s Distinguished Physician Award for his contributions and accomplishments in pediatric infectious disease. The award is given annually to a pediatrician whose clinical work, research and teachings have been recognized both nationally and internationally over a long period of time. More information about Dr. Pickering’s award can be found at www.cdc.gov/news/2007/05/pickering.html
On May 18, NCIRD’s Elizabeth Zell was selected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA), the nation's preeminent professional statistical society. This honor is bestowed on less than half of one-percent of ASA members for their outstanding professional contributions to and leadership in the field of statistical science. More information about Ms. Zell’s award can be found at
www.amstat.org/pressroom/index.cfm?fuseaction=2007fellows (exit)
Final Guidances for Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Vaccines: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued final recommendations to increase the supply of safe and effective influenza vaccines for both seasonal and pandemic use. FDA's goal with the guidances is to outline the regulatory pathways for the rapid development and approval of these products. In March 2006, FDA issued two draft guidance documents for public comment — one for seasonal influenza vaccines and another for pandemic influenza vaccines. The draft documents outline specific approaches for manufacturers to develop new vaccines that are safe, pure, and potent. The final guidances reflect public input, including vaccine companies and public health officials. Both guidances recommend using recent technologies such as cell culture and recombinant manufacturing to enhance the development and evaluation of vaccines. They also recommend adding substances that improve the immune response from the vaccine (novel adjuvants). More information can be found in FDA’s press release at www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01645.html
Case of EV in Household Contact of Military Smallpox Vaccinee: A recent report in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) summarizes the first U.S. case of eczema vaccinatum (EV) since 1988. EV is a life-threatening complication of vaccinia virus infection. The Indiana case was reported in March 2007, and involved the 28-month old son of a military smallpox vaccinee who had a history of severe eczema and failure to thrive. The administration of smallpox vaccine to this service member and his subsequent contact with his family are under investigation by the U.S. military, which will determine whether screening and education practices need to be modified. Health-care workers treating patients with EV, generalized vaccinia infection, or progressive vaccinia infection should follow contact precautions until patients' scabs have separated. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for vaccinia when evaluating vesiculopapular rashes in patients who have been vaccinated recently and in their close contacts. Suspected cases of vaccinia should be reported to state or local health departments and to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System online (vaers.hhs.gov) or by telephone (800-822-7967). Laboratories that are part of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) (www.emergency.cdc.gov/lrn) have the ability to assess clinical specimens for the presence of orthopoxvirus DNA signatures. Specimens from the LRN can be forwarded to the CDC Poxvirus Laboratory for species confirmation. More information can be found in the MMWR article at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5619a4.htm
Meetings, Conferences, & Resources
Order Immunization Materials: CDC’s publication order system is now up and running. To order immunization materials, please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/default.htm
(The order form is located at the bottom of the web page.) Immunization materials that are currently available include immunization schedules, CD’s, DVD’s and annual reports. More items are expected to be available in the near future.
Learn about Avian Influenza A (H5N1): A new three-day on-line training course provides a standardized curriculum to state and local public-health responders about how to identify and control human infections and illness associated with avian influenza A (H5N1). The course, entitled “CDC/CSTE Rapid Response Training: The Role of Public Health in a Multi-Agency Response to Avian Influenza in the United States” is the result of a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). The course is available at www.cste.org/influenza/avian.asp (exit)
New HPV Vaccine Q&A: A new HPV vaccine question and answer (Q&A) fact sheet is now available for healthcare professionals at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hpv/downloads/vac-faqs-vacsafe-efficacy.pdf 
Because of the technical nature of this fact sheet, it is not recommended for the general public. The Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for HPV vaccine, is intended for the general public, and can be found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-hpv.pdf
New Influenza Planning Guidelines: CDC has published two new sets of guidelines for influenza planning: 1) CDC Guidelines for Large-Scale Influenza Vaccination Clinic Planning (please see www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vax_clinic.htm) and 2) Guidelines for the Tiered Use of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine: To Be Used Only in the Event of a Vaccine Shortage (please see www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vax_priority.htm) These guidelines are intended to assist with planning large-scale influenza vaccination clinics by public and private vaccination groups.
Revised DTaP VIS: The Diphtheria/ Tetanus/Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) has received a minor update -- the main change being in Section 4, which now mentions Tdap. Existing stocks of the previous edition may still be used. The updated VIS, dated 5/17/07, can be found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm
Upcoming Immunization Netconference: Please mark your calendars for the next National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) netconference, Current Issues in Immunization, scheduled for July 12, 2007 from 12 to 1 pm Eastern Time and titled Healthcare Personnel – What Immunizations are Advised? The NCIRD Immunization Training Team will review vaccines recommended for healthcare personnel who have direct patient contact. Discussion will highlight current recommendations, rationale for changes, and issues facing healthcare providers when considering their personal immunizations. This is a limited entry event, so please register early to guarantee a slot. To register, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/netconferences.htm
Note: the October NetConference will present travel health issues including malaria.
Upcoming Immunization Satellite Broadcasts: Please mark your calendars for several upcoming satellite broadcasts from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). These include Immunization Update 2007 (August 9, 2007) and Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (December 13, 2007). Also, the annual four-part series broadcast, Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, will occur on January 31, February 7, February 14, and February 21, 2008. As more information becomes available, it will be posted at www2.cdc.gov/phtn
Next ACIP Meeting: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will hold its next meeting on June 27-28, 2007 at the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. This meeting is open to the general public, but advanced registration is required. The draft agenda, and information about registration for the June meeting can be found at ACIP’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/ACIP/default.htm
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/employment/
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Content last reviewed on June 18, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
