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NIP's Immunization Works!
Newsletter
July 2005
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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.
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Influenza
Vaccine Injuries Are Added to Federal Compensation Program: |
People thought to be injured by influenza vaccines given annually will be eligible for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), effective July 1, 2005, with retroactive coverage for those vaccinated in the previous eight years.
The VICP, created by Congress in 1986 as an alternative to traditional civil litigation, provides financial compensation to eligible individuals thought to be injured by covered childhood vaccines. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration.
Influenza is a serious disease affecting people of all ages. Each year in the United States, it causes 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations. Yearly influenza vaccination is recommended as the best way to reduce the chances of getting influenza for children aged 6-23 months, adults aged 65 years and older, and others.
Most people who receive the vaccine experience no serious problems. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, may rarely cause serious problems such as severe allergic reactions. In those rare cases, the VICP provides compensation to those found to be seriously injured.
To access the Federal Register notice announcing coverage
of the influenza vaccine under the VICP, to learn how to file
a claim, or to obtain more information on the program, please
visit www.hrsa.gov/osp/vicp
or call 1-800-338-2382.
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Could UK Mumps Outbreak Impact US?
The United Kingdom is experiencing a large outbreak of mumps. Since 2003, reported mumps cases in England and Wales have been on the rise. During the 1990’s only a few hundred cases were reported annually. In 2004, 16,000 cases were reported, and as of June 17th, the current total for 2005 is 40,367. Most impacted are young adults 19-23 years of age, who are too old to have received two doses of MMR vaccine in the UK’s national vaccination program.
In the United States, high MMR vaccination levels in preschool,
school, and college age students for the last 10-15 years
have kept the number of mumps cases low, less than 300 annually
since 2001 (CDC unpublished data). However, given today’s
level of globalization, US physicians should be prepared to
recognize, confirm, and report cases of mumps suspected in
both US and foreign-born individuals. Physicians should also
review the vaccination histories of their patients and provide
all indicated vaccines. Imported mumps cases may spread in
unvaccinated populations, including infants too young to be
vaccinated and persons who are unvaccinated for medical, religious,
or philosophical reasons. To view a recent article on this
topic, please visit http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/331/7508/E363
ACIP
Meeting: The Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP) held a meeting on June 29-30, 2005 in Atlanta,
Georgia. Minutes from the meeting are forthcoming and will
be posted at the ACIP website: www.cdc.gov/nip/acip/default.htm.
In addition, Immunization Works will publish information
about the new recommendations in its August issue.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month: August 2005 marks
the fifth annual observance of National Immunization Awareness
Month (NIAM). The goal of NIAM is to increase awareness about
immunizations across the lifespan, from infants to the elderly.
This year’s campaign is focused around the theme, “Are You
Up to Date? Vaccinate!,” to remind people of all ages of the
importance of immunization. The National Partnership for Immunization
(NPI) is planning a press briefing in Washington, DC on July
26, 2005 to mark the start of NIAM. In addition, NPI is offering
a variety of consumer-oriented materials to support the work
of immunization coalitions and others in their efforts to
increase awareness, acceptance and use of vaccines in their
communities. For more information about NIAM, and a link to
NIAM printable materials, please visit www.cdc.gov/nip/events/niam/
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| Meetings,
Conferences, and Resources |
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Now Available: New Influenza Bulletin: CDC’s
National Immunization Program (NIP) publishes and distributes
periodic bulletins to update partners about recent developments
related to the production, distribution, and administration
of influenza vaccine. The first Influenza Bulletin for the
2005-2006 Season, Influenza Vaccine Bulletin #1,
and future bulletins, can be accessed at www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flubulletin.htm
Influenza
Guidelines for LTC: CDC recently posted an
information sheet with guidelines for influenza prevention
and control in long-term care facilities on its influenza
web section. Titled "Guidelines and Recommendations: Infection
Control Measures for Preventing and Controlling Influenza
Transmission in Long-Term-Care Facilities" the information
sheet can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/pdf/longtermcare.pdf
HPV
and Cervical Cancer Webcast: CDC will host
a webcast entitled “HPV and Cervical Cancer: An Update on
Prevention Strategies” on August 9, 2005, from 1:00 PM – 2:00
PM ET. The webcast will provide viewers with information on
cervical cancer screening guidelines and strategies for preventing
genital HPV infection, including appropriate patient counseling
messages. The intended audience is all healthcare providers
who see patients who could be at risk for HPV and cervical
cancer. For more information, please visit www2.cdc.gov/phtn/webcast/HPV-05/default.asp
Lunch
NetConference on Current Immunization Issues:
NIP will host its 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. The next installment will include a discussion
of new varicella vaccine recommendations and the new acellular
pertussis vaccine. To learn more and reserve a space, please
visit www.cdc.gov/nip/ed/netconference.htm
New
Satellite Broadcast: Please mark your calendar
for NIP’s new satellite broadcast, Immunization Update
2005, to be held on July 28, 2005. The 2.5-hour broadcast
will occur live from 9:00 am to 11:30 am and will be re-broadcast
that day from 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm. The broadcast 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. 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,
please visit www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/immup2005/default.asp
South
Carolina and California to Host Next 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.
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
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