• National Infant Immunization Week
• 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.

EMAIL SECURITY ALERT: Earlier this week we were notified that spoofed emails were being sent out from a non-CDC email address claiming to be from Immunization Works. This email contained an email replication virus in the attachment. If you are in receipt of a message like this, notify your IT personnel immediately. No such virus has infected any material coming from CDC/NIP Immunization Works. Immunization Works will always have a clearly defined message in the email itself. Thank you for your cooperation.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to promote the benefits of immunization and to improve the health of children, especially those who are two years old or younger. Since 1994, NIIW has provided an excellent opportunity for local and state health departments, national immunization partners, health care providers, and community leaders from across the country to highlight the positive impact of immunization on the lives of infants and children and to call attention to immunization achievements. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of NIIW, the CDC is pleased to also be a part of an historic event. For the first time ever, childhood immunization and access to health services will be promoted concurrently in all countries in the Americas through the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA), April 24-30. More than 35 countries throughout the Western Hemisphere will work together on this unprecedented event, which will highlight the importance of routine childhood vaccinations, help vaccinate children in need of recommended vaccines, and promote access to health services for infants and children.

“Vaccination: An Act of Love. Love Them. Protect Them. Immunize Them.” is the theme for both NIIW and VWA. At the national level, CDC is doing many things to promote infant immunization during NIIW and VWA.

• A new educational campaign will be unveiled during NIIW. The campaign materials include a 30-second Spanish-language public service announcement (PSA), an English-language (PSA), bi-lingual (Spanish and English) immunization information booklet, and Spanish and English posters all based on the theme. The public service announcements will be distributed via satellite to most markets. Beta and VHS tapes of the English and Spanish language PSAs will be distributed to state and local health departments.
    
• CDC is pleased to provide web-based materials to individuals and communities to help them plan NIIW activities and events that promote childhood immunizations for their local communities. Visit http://www.cdc.gov/nip/events/niiw for ideas on creating an NIIW event for parents, providers, community leaders, and local, state and national immunization partners as well as sample planning tools, and public relations materials. The following resources can be found on-line:
  
  - Posters. Available in Spanish or English Language and full color and black and white to reproduce on an office printer or commercial (offset) printer.
  - Brochures. These educational materials are perfect for disseminating to parents and caregivers during NIIW and beyond. Materials are available in both office and commercial printing format.
  - Web Link Icons. Show your support of NIIW and VWA by posting the icon on your web site and linking to the NIIW web site. The icons can also be used as logos on promotional materials such as banners, buttons, flyers, letterhead and fax cover sheets.
  - NIIW Event Posting. Learn how other communities are planning to celebrate NIIW and log on to http://www.cdc.gov/nip to share your NIIW event with others.
  
  
• To kick off the partnership between NIIW and VWA, bi-national awareness and education events are being planned in conjunction with CDC, PAHO, the US-Mexico Border Health Commission, and state and local health departments in sister city sites along the US-Mexico border including San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico and El Paso, Texas, Las Cruces, New Mexico and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and 14 additional sister cities. Bi-national border events include provider education symposium featuring local, state and national immunization experts, children’s programs, health fairs, media events, and immunization delivery and outreach activities to under immunized neighborhoods.

Nationally over 400 communities from across the United States are expected to participate in NIIW and VWA by planning community awareness and media events to promote infant immunizations and remind parents, caregivers, health care providers, and communities about the importance of routine vaccinations and protecting children against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases before the age of two. Join in this effort— create an NIIW event in your community and help ensure that all children throughout our nation and the Western Hemisphere have a healthy and safe childhood free from vaccine-preventable diseases.

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Suspension of the Third and Fourth Doses of PCV:
On March 4, 2004, CDC, along with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recommended that all health-care providers temporarily suspend routine use of the third and fourth doses of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) when immunizing healthy children. It had been previously recommended that health-care providers temporarily suspend routine use of the fourth dose of PCV7 when immunizing healthy children. The expanded recommendation was adopted to minimize the likelihood of shortages until Wyeth Vaccines is able to restore production capacity. PCV7 production has been much less than had been expected and shipments of the vaccine have been delayed throughout the country, resulting in shortages of vaccine. Widespread shortages may continue beyond this summer. It is critical that all providers immediately follow this recommendation, regardless of their current vaccine supply. Children at increased risk of severe disease should continue to receive the routine, 4-dose series. On March 5, 2004, CDC published an MMWR article describing this revised recommendation. This recommendation reflects CDC’s assessment of the existing national PCV7 supply and may be changed if the supply changes. Updated information about the national PCV7 supply is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/shortages/default.htm.

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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 disease. To take advantage of early bird registration, visit www.cdc.gov/nip/nic.

Request for Proposal (RFP) Regarding Vaccine Adverse Events:
The CDC, working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is seeking proposals to provide a single nationwide mechanism by which vaccine adverse events (VAEs) occurring after receipt of vaccines can be collected and analyzed. The project is required by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NVCIA), P.L. 99-660. The contractor will be responsible for all the day-to-day aspects of the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) operations, including 1) promoting reporting, 2) data collection and entry into a database using standard quality control and quality assurance measures, 3) follow-up of serious and selected other reports, 4) data security, integrity, authenticity, and confidentiality, 5) providing support for CDC and FDA researchers in conducting epidemiologic and other scientific studies of VAERS data, and 6) complete detailed up-to-date documentation for all business processes and IT systems. For more information visit http://www.eps.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/PGOA/2004%2DN%2D01182/listing.html

Request for Proposal for Immunization Coalition Technical Assistance and Training:
The CDC announces the availability of fiscal year 2004 funds for a cooperative agreement program for technical assistance and training for immunization coalitions and immunization information dissemination. The purpose of the program is to provide support for immunization coalitions and for the dissemination of immunization information to enhance the effectiveness of disease prevention programs that reduce the annual burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. The complete program announcement was published in the Federal Register, March 4, 2004, Volume 69, No. 43, Page 10233. It can also be accessed at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont04.html. Click on Thursday, March 4 scroll down to CDC and select TEXT or PDF version. Application materials can be found on CDC’s funding web site at http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.htm. The application deadline is May 3.

“Current Issues in Immunization” Netconference:
CDC will be offering a netconference on “Current Issues in Immunization.” The conference is scheduled for Thursday, April 8 from noon to 1:00 p.m. eastern time. The program is designed to provide clinicians with up-to-date information on immunization. In keeping with the theme of current issues, topics will be determined approximately 3 weeks prior to the conference. Prior topics have included influenza and vaccine storage and handling. The conference requires pre-registration and space is limited. Registration will close when the course is full or on April 5. To register for the conference, visit http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/isd/ciinc/ or for additional information visit http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ed/ciinc/default.htm or call (404)639-8225.

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” on Thursday March 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. pacific time. The broadcast 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 www.cdlhn.com or call (619)594-5912.

Seventh Annual Conference on Vaccine Research:
The 7th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research will be held May 24-26, 2004 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. This conference provides current reports of scientific progress featured in both invited presentations and submitted abstracts. International experts will lead seminars and panel discussions on topical areas of basic immunology, product development, clinical testing, regulation, and other aspects of vaccine research. For more information visit http://www.nfid.org/conferences or e-mail vaccine@nfid.org.

New Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System Brochure Available:
A new Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) Brochure is available for printing from the web at http://vaers.hhs.gov/pdf/VAERS_brochure.pdf. This colorful brochure provides clear and concise information for providers and the public on the VAERS system and vaccine adverse event reporting.

Free CMEs Available Related to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS):
Health care providers may access the “Vaccine Safety Post-Marketing Surveillance: The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System” with free CMEs through September 19, 2004. To access the CME article visit http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/VAERS/CME-post-mktg-surv.htm. Additional information related to VAERS is available at http://vaers.hhs.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. We encourage all interested parties to apply for these jobs. For a current listing of positions available at NIP, please visit www.usajobs.opm.gov. Once at the site, conduct a search for “National Immunization Program.”

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