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Immunization Works! October 2007 issue
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Immunization Works Monthly Immunization Update is provided to professional organization partners for broad distributino to their members and constituencies. The immunization information provided is non-proprietary.
Front Page News
Coverage Rates for Recent Influenza Seasons:
Influenza Vaccination coverage rates are low among recommended groups, according to three recent reports in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that examine vaccination coverage rates across populations and seasons.
First, a report on Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates among Children 6-23 Months during the 2005-06 influenza season indicates that only 31.9% of children in this age group received at least 1 dose of influenza vaccine and 20.6% were fully vaccinated according to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The 2005-06 influenza season represents the second season after ACIP recommended annual influenza vaccination for all children 6-23 months. The results underscore the need to continue to monitor influenza vaccination coverage among young children, develop systems to provide childhood influenza vaccination services more efficiently, and increase awareness among health-care providers and caregivers about the effectiveness of influenza vaccination among young children.
Second, a report on Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Children 6-59 Months demonstrates that less than 30% of children aged 6-23 months and less than 20% of children aged 24-59 months were fully vaccinated. Vaccination coverage data from national and state surveys for an influenza season generally are not available until the next influenza season, but this report uses data from six immunization information system (IIS) sentinel sites. Rapid assessment of influenza vaccination coverage can help direct activities of state and local public health agencies aimed at increasing the number of children fully vaccinated against influenza.
Third, a report on State-Specific Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Adults shows that vaccination coverage in each age and risk group has declined significantly for the 2005-06 influenza season compared with the 2003-04 season. Among adults 18-49 years old with identified high-risk conditions, the estimated influenza vaccination coverage for the 2005-06 season was 30.5%, and 18.3% among all other persons aged 18-49 years. Among adults aged 65 years or older, influenza vaccination coverage for the 2005-06 season was 69.3%. Comprehensive measures are needed to improve influenza vaccination coverage among adult populations in the United States. These measures include increasing the adoption of recommended adult immunization practices by health-care providers, raising public awareness about influenza vaccination, vaccinating throughout the influenza season, and ensuring stable supplies of readily available vaccine.
The low vaccination rates in these studies serve as a reminder for private providers, community providers, and state and local public health agencies to be vigilant about protecting individuals in high-risk groups from influenza in the current season.
Other News & Summaries
FDA Approval of an Alternate Dosing Schedule for Twinrix®:
In April 2007, GlaxoSmithKline Vaccine Division (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania) received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an alternate schedule for Twinrix® (.pdf) (exit) , a combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine. Twinrix® , was first licensed by FDA in 2001 on a 3-dose schedule (0, 1, and 6 months) for vaccination of persons aged >18 years. Using the newly licensed, alternate 4-dose schedule, Twinrix® , doses can be administered at 0, 7, and 21-30 days, followed by a dose at 12 months. More information on the FDA approval of an alternate dosing schedule can be found in the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Report.
Update on Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses:
Since 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) has reduced the global incidence of polio associated with wild polioviruses (WPVs) from an estimated 350,000 cases in 1988 to 1,998 reported cases in 2006 and reduced the number of countries that have never succeeded in interrupting WPV transmission to four (Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan). However, because vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) can produce polio outbreaks in areas with low rates of Sabin oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) coverage and can replicate for years in immunodeficient persons, enhanced strategies are needed to limit emergence of VDPVs and stop all use of OPV once WPV transmission is eliminated. CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Report published a new study that updates a summary of VDPV activity published in 2006. It describes VDPVs detected during January 2006-August 2007.
Surveillance for Wild and Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses:
The Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) was established after announcement of the 1988 World Health Assembly resolution to eradicate poliomyelitis. Operating in all six World Health Organization (WHO) regions, the network has 146 laboratories that test specimens from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) patients for polioviruses. The virologic data provided by GPLN underpin the global polio eradication initiative, guiding decisions about where to target immunization activities (based on confirmed wild or vaccine-derived poliovirus circulation). The data also are used to monitor progress toward polio eradication by documenting the genetic diversity and transmission links of viral isolates. The full report can be found in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Report.
Meetings, Conferences, & Resources
New Database of State Immunization Laws for HC Settings:
CDC has recently created a database of state laws and regulations on the vaccination of healthcare workers and patients in hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, and other selected settings where healthcare is provided. The database includes information on laws that require assessment of vaccination status as well as requirements to provide or administer vaccine. It includes the 50 states and Washington, D.C., and is current through September 2007. The laws for healthcare settings will be updated approximately every 6 months. The database also includes a section on screening and reporting laws for maternal hepatitis B infection, which will be updated annually. CDC's State Vaccination Laws database -- which is intended for immunization program managers, healthcare providers, advocacy groups, legal and public health researchers and policymakers, and the general public -- can be accessed online. An article detailing the methods and results of the initial legal review (exit) is also available online.
Nominate ACIP Members:
CDC is soliciting proposals for nominations of candidates to fill upcoming vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The terms of appointment for three of ACIP’s fifteen members will expire on June 30, 2008, and three new members will be selected to serve 4-year terms beginning on July 1, 2008. The deadline for receipt of applications is November 16, 2007. Consult the ACIP Nominations page of the ACIP website for more information.
Get Ready for NIC:
The 41st National Immunization Conference (NIC) is now accepting abstracts. The conference will be held from March 17–20, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia, and will be comprised of six topic tracks: Adolescent and Adult Vaccination, Epidemiology and New Vaccines, Health and Risk Communication, Immunization Information Systems, Influenza, and Programmatic Issues, and Health and Risk Communication. To submit abstracts, register, or reserve your hotel room, visit the NIC website. Any questions can be addressed to the Conference Planning Team at nipnic@cdc.gov.
Call for Abstracts for Coalitions Conference:
The 8th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions is now accepting abstracts. The conference will be held in San Francisco, CA from May 21-23, 2008. This year’s conference will be expanded to include participants across all health issues. The goal of the conference is to impart successful ways public/private collaborations can improve immunization protection, prevent disease, increase health access, reduce health disparities, educate new populations, build community health infrastructure, and improve important health outcomes across the lifespan. The agenda will teach participants skills to start, maintain, and expand health coalitions. Visit the Coalition Conference website (exit) for more information about the conference and how to submit an abstract.
New LAIV VIS:
CDC has updated its live, intranasal, influenza vaccine (LAIV) Information Sheet (VIS) to be consistent with information about the vaccine’s new licensure for children 2 through 4 years of age. LAIV is now approved for healthy people from 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant. The updated LAIV VIS can be found on the VIS web page.
Updated CDC’s Seasonal Influenza Website:
Several new and revised pieces for healthcare professionals and the general public have been added to the CDC Seasonal Influenza website. They include: Thimerosal in Seasonal Influenza Vaccine, Vaccine Supply for the 2007-08 Influenza Season, and Selecting the Viruses in the Flu Vaccine. These fact sheets and more can be found on the What's New page of the site.
Next ACIP Meeting:
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will hold its next meeting on October 24-25, 2007 at the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. This meeting is open to the general public, but advanced registration is required. More information and the agenda can be found on the ACIP website.
On-Site Training in Atlanta:
A two-day Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases course will be held in Atlanta on April 15 and 16, 2008 at CDC. Course registration and information will be posted soon at CDC’s Vaccine website on the On-site Training page.
Upcoming Broadcasts, Webcasts and Netconferences:
Please mark your calendars for the December 13, 2007 satellite broadcast from CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). More information about this broadcast and other training opportunities can be found at the CDC Vaccine Education and Training website.
2007 Clinical Vaccinology Course:
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) will co-sponsor a course with the Emory Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and the Emory Vaccine Center, to be held November 9-11, 2007 in Bethesda, MD. CDC and other partners have collaborated on the development of this course, which focuses on new developments and issues related to vaccines. The course is intended for physicians, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, vaccine program administrators, and other health and public health professionals. More information can be found on the NFID website (exit).
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 as well as 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.
Contact information: The Immunization Works Database Manager can be contacted at immunizationworks@cdc.gov.
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Content last reviewed on November 26, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
