• Temporary Suspension of Pediatric Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Dose
• Other immunization news
• Meetings, conferences and resources
  

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.

Last week, CDC, in consultation with the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, recommended that healthcare providers temporarily suspend routine use of the fourth dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). The recommendation was made to conserve vaccine and minimize the likelihood of shortages caused by production and supply problems at Wyeth Vaccines, the only supplier of the vaccine in the United States.

The recommendation calls for the temporary suspension of the fourth dose of PCV7, a booster dose given at 12 to 15 months of age. Healthcare providers should move to a three-dose series of one dose at two months, one dose at four months, and one dose at six months. Providers should continue to administer the fourth dose to children at increased risk of severe disease. Children whose booster dose is deferred should receive PCV7 on their first visit after supplies return to normal. CDC estimates this action will help conserve more than 1 million doses by July 2004, making widespread or prolonged disruptions less likely.

In November 2003, CDC learned from the manufacturer that production constraints could cause delays in shipment of the vaccine in early 2004. Since then, CDC has worked closely with the manufacturer to continually assess the situation and manage the allocation of limited supplies of PCV7 to ensure a balanced inventory across states and immunization programs. The manufacturer has advised CDC that production problems have not been resolved and supplies are likely to be limited through mid-summer or later.

For more information visit
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/shortages/pcv7-shortage-faqs2-04.htm

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National Infant Immunization Week:
National Infant Immunization Week will be held April 25 – May 1, 2004. This week highlights the importance of timely childhood immunizations through various events held throughout the country. The 2004 materials for NIIW will be available online after February 23. For additional promotional and other NIIW information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/nip/events/niiw/.

National Adult Immunization Week Announced:
September 26 to October 2, 2004 will be National Adult Immunization Awareness Week. This year’s theme will be “Immunization: Building a Path to a Healthy Tomorrow.” The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the National Coalition for Adult Immunization, sponsors of NAIAW, changed the date of the meeting from mid-October to September this year. The change is designed to help immunizers deliver timelier public health messages in September-–before the start of influenza season. This move supports recommendations issued by the ACIP and other medical groups for high-risk individuals to seek vaccination against influenza beginning in October.

Polio History Information Sought:
Do you have any materials, devices, recollections, or anecdotes from the era of polio epidemics – including the epidemics of 1916 or 1950? The Smithsonian Institution is preparing an upcoming exhibition on the history of polio. They have put out a call to doctors, nurses, patients and others to submit medical devices, recollections, anecdotes and memorabilia related to America’s polio outbreaks. For more information on this project contact Katherine Ott of the Smithsonian at ottk@si.edu. NOTE: Do not send any objects unless directed to do so by the Smithsonian.

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The 38th National Immunization Conference:
The 38th National Immunization Conference is scheduled by May 11-14, 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference will bring together a wide variety of local, state, federal, and private-sector immunization partners to explore science, policy, education, and planning issues related to immunization in general and vaccine-preventable diseases. To take advantage of early bird registration, visit http://www.cdc.gov/nip/nic.

International Neonatal Vaccination Workshop:
The CDC, along with the FDA, NIH and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee’s Future Vaccines Subcommittee, as well as others, will sponsor the International Neonatal Vaccination Workshop, March 2-4 in Washington DC. The Workshop will explore the feasibility and safety of strategies to protect neonates from a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic agents. Sessions will focus on the science of neonatal vaccination including:

• immune responses of the neonate to vaccine antigens;
• clinical experience with vaccines administered to neonates;
• the industry and regulatory perspectives on the expanded use of vaccines in the neonate; and
• alternative strategies to protect neonates, such as maternal immunization.

Mass Vaccination Clinics: A Reality Check Satellite Broadcast and Webcast:
The CDC in collaboration with the California Distance Learning Network and the California Department of Health and Human Services will be hosting a satellite broadcast, “Mass Vaccination Clinics: A Reality Check”, which will offer valuable insights regarding preparedness of mass vaccination clinics. To find out more about attending the satellite broadcast or viewing this course over the internet, visit http://www.cdlhn.com or call (619)594-5912.

Immunization Schedules for PDAs:
The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, through a cooperative agreement with CDC, has made available a free download of the Childhood Immunization Schedule and the Adult Immunization Schedule. Shots 2004 is a quick reference guide to the 2004 Schedules and provides details on each vaccine. To download Shots 2004 on your Pocket PC visit http://www.immunizationed.org.

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. We encourage all interested parties to apply for these jobs. For a current listing of positions available at NIP, please visit http://www.usajobs.opm.gov. Once at the site, conduct a search for “National Immunization Program.” Among other positions, NIP is currently seeking applications for a Medical Officer for its headquarters in Atlanta. The closing date for this position is February 26.

International Immunization Opportunities:
The Global Immunization Division at CDC is currently accepting applications for the May and September 2004 Stop Transmission of Polio (STOP) teams. CDC is recruiting candidates to work both in field surveillance assignments, as well as data management assignments. In order to qualify for consideration, candidates must either have obtained a graduate degree or licensure in health and have three years of relevant work experience (for example, MD, PA, RN, DVM, MPH) OR have five years of relevant work experience. Particularly desirable is field surveillance and/or immunization program experience, especially in developing countries, in addition to a demonstrated ability to work in French, Portuguese or Arabic. For more information and application procedures, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nip/global/stopteam.htm.

Also, CDC is currently recruiting Medical Officers and Epidemiologists to work on measles, polio and other activities in Atlanta-based positions as well as long-term assignments (2 years minimum) in various overseas locations. We are especially interested in mid-career professionals with at least two years of international public health experience, disease surveillance and/or immunization program experience, and excellent interpersonal skills. In addition, opportunities in polio eradication activities in priority countries calls for a variety of public health professionals with experience in polio eradication and AFP surveillance that can commit a minimum of six weeks to field work. Interested individuals should send a statement of interest and a current curriculum vitae to Liz Bell at ebell@cdc.gov or Carla Lee at cel1@cdc.gov.

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