Immunization Works April 2018
This website is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
May 1, 2018: Content on this page kept for historical reasons.
Top Stories
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW): CDC, immunization partners, and health care professionals are celebrating NIIW 2018, April 21–28. Together, they highlight the importance of infant immunization for protecting babies, families, and communities. Even as the week comes to a close, there are things you can continue to do to reach parents and health care professionals with information about the importance of immunization.
Keep the momentum going with parents:
- Use CDC’s NIIW Social Media page to find sample messages about infant immunization to use year-round.
- Share easy-to-read parent resources, including schedules, listicles, and infographics.
- Check out the #ivax2protect hashtag from the NIIW Twitter Storm to see why parents and health care professionals choose to protect children through immunization. Continue using the hashtag to share why you support immunizations or to call others to action, encouraging others to share why they vaccinated on time.
Teach your colleagues:
New Presentation: Childhood Immunization Update
Physicians and vaccine coordinators, use this 1–hour customizable presentation during NIIW to teach health care professionals about current childhood immunization successes and challenges. It also discusses:
- Findings from CDC audience research
- Tips for communicating with parents
- CDC resources for health care professional education and parent education
You can drop this presentation into your own organizational slide template and customize it with local information and resources.
Who is your state’s Childhood Immunization Champion? Each year, the CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award recognizes individuals who make significant contributions toward improving public health through their work in childhood immunization. CDC and the CDC Foundation announced recipients of the 2018 Champion Award on Monday, April 23. Get to know your champion!
Thank you for joining with CDC to highlight the importance of childhood immunization. How did you celebrate infant immunizations this NIIW? Share your events and activities with CDC.
48th National Immunization Conference (NIC): The 48th NIC—Immunization: Prevention, Protection, and Progress—will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, May 15–17, 2018. The NIC brings together around 1,500 local, state, federal, and private-sector immunization stakeholders and partners to explore science, policy, education, and planning issues related to immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases. The conference will have exhibits and poster presentations and will include tracks on adult immunization, immunization information systems, programmatic issues, health and risk communications, epidemiology and surveillance, and childhood/adolescent immunization. The NIC mission is to offer information that will help participants provide comprehensive immunization services for all age groups. The conference also provides participants with an opportunity to learn innovative strategies for developing programs and policies and advancing science to promote immunization among all ages today for a healthy tomorrow. Conference registration is still open and you can view the agenda and view additional information at the NIC registration siteExternal and the NIC web page.
2018 Webinar Series for Pink Book: This online series of 15 webinars provides an overview of vaccination principles, general recommendations, immunization strategies, and specific information about vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines that prevent them. Each webinar will explore a chapter from the 13th edition of Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (the Pink Book). The webinars start on June 6 and will air live most Wednesdays from 12–1 p.m. EDT through September 26, 2018. The schedule for live webcasts and additional information will be available soon on the Pink Book webinar web page. Continuing Education (CE) will be available for each event.
MMWR
Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of a Hepatitis B Vaccine with a Novel Adjuvant: Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination is the primary means of preventing infections and complications caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). On February 21, 2018, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended Heplisav-B (HepB-CpG), a yeast-derived vaccine prepared with a novel adjuvant, administered as a 2-dose series (0, 1 month) for use in persons aged 18 years and older. The benefits of protection with 2 doses administered over 1 month make HepB-CpG an important option for prevention of HBV. Please read the April 20 MMWR for the full report.
Surveillance to Track Progress Toward Polio Eradication, Worldwide, 2016–2017: Global efforts to eradicate polio began in 1988, and four of the six World Health Organization (WHO) regions currently have achieved polio-free certification. Within the remaining two regions with endemic poliomyelitis (African and Eastern Mediterranean), Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan have never interrupted transmission of wild poliovirus (WPV). The primary means of detecting poliovirus transmission is surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) among children aged 15 years and younger, combined with collection and testing of stool specimens for detection of WPV and vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) in WHO-accredited laboratories within the Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN). The April 13 MMWR presents poliovirus surveillance data from 2016–2017, with particular focus on six countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and 20 countries in the African Region (AFR) that reported WPV or circulating VDPVs (cVDPVs) during 2011–2017. Included in the 20 AFR countries are the three most affected by the 2014–2015 Ebola virus disease outbreak (Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone), even though only one (Guinea) reported WPV or cVDPVs during the surveillance period. During 2017, a total of 14 (70%) of the 20 AFR countries and five (83%) of the six EMR countries met both surveillance quality indicators at the national level; however, provincial-level variation was seen. Surveillance strengthening activities are needed in specific countries of these regions to provide evidence supporting ultimate certification of the interruption of poliovirus circulation.
Influenza
Flu Season Update: Current data indicates that the 2017–18 flu season peaked at 7.5% ILI in early February. Influenza activity in the U.S. has decreased, but remained above the national baseline, according to the latest FluView report for the week ending March 31. Though influenza A(H3N2) viruses remain predominate this season overall, since early March, influenza B viruses have been more frequently reported than influenza A viruses. The overall hospitalization rate and all age-specific hospitalization rates have exceeded end-of-season hospitalization rates for 2014–15, a high severity, H3N2-predominant season. Only pediatric deaths are nationally notifiable; 142 flu-associated deaths in children had been reported to CDC as of March 31.
For more information on the 2017–18 flu season activity update and vaccine effectiveness, see FluView: the Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report.
2016–2017 Flu Season Burden Estimates: CDC has released estimates on the burden of influenza illness and burden averted by vaccination for the 2016–17 season. An estimated 30.9 million people got sick with flu, 14.5 million went to a health care provider for flu-related illness, and an estimated 600,000 people were hospitalized from flu. The estimated burden of flu during the 2017–18 season has not been released yet; however, the burden is likely to be higher than for the 2016–17 season, given the record-breaking hospitalization rates and widespread flu activity during the 2017–18 season.
CDC estimates that influenza vaccination during the 2016–17 influenza season prevented an estimated 5.3 million illnesses, 2.6 million medical visits, and 85,000 hospitalizations associated with influenza. The number and proportion of flu-associated hospitalizations prevented by vaccination during the season varied by age group, due to age-specific differences in influenza burden, vaccination coverage, and vaccine effectiveness. Vaccination prevented the lowest proportion of illnesses among adults aged 18 to 49 years, who had the lowest vaccination coverage, and adults aged 65 years and older, who had higher vaccination coverage but the lowest vaccine effectiveness. Vaccination prevented the greatest proportion of outcomes among children aged 6 months to 4 years and 5 to 17 years, where the burden of influenza illness and medical visits was high and the vaccine effectiveness was greatest.
This report underscores the benefits of the current influenza vaccination program, but also highlights areas where improvements in vaccine uptake and vaccine effectiveness could deliver even greater benefits to the public’s health.
For more information on estimated influenza illnesses, medical visits, and hospitalizations averted by influenza vaccination in the U.S. during the 2016–17 flu season, see 2016–17 Season Burden Estimates.
Resources and Information
Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, 13th Edition (the Pink Book): Published by CDC, NCIRD, and the Public Health Foundation (PHF), the Pink Book provides health care professionals with the most comprehensive information available on vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases. The Pink Book is available for purchase from the PHF Learning Resource CenterExternal, and the chapters and appendices can be viewed/downloaded from the NCIRD vaccines site.
Vaccine Administration e-Learn: An e-Learn on vaccine administration is now available. Proper vaccine administration is critical for ensuring that vaccines are both safe and effective. Vaccine administration errors happen more often than you might think. Of the average 36,000 reports received annually by the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)External, about 1,500 are directly related to administration error.
Some of the most common vaccine administration errors include:
- Not following the recommended immunization schedule
- Administering improperly stored or expired vaccine and/or diluent
- Administering the wrong vaccine—confusing look-alike or sound-alike vaccines such as DTaP/Tdap or administering products outside age indications
The e-Learn is a free, interactive, online educational program that serves as a useful introductory course or a great refresher on vaccine administration. The self-paced e-Learn provides comprehensive training, using videos, job aids, and other resources to accommodate a variety of learning styles, and offers a certificate of completion and/or Continuing Education (CE) for those that complete the training.
For more information, please contact nipinfo@cdc.gov.
Current Issues in Immunization NetConferences: Immunization netconferences are live, one-hour events combining an online visual presentation with simultaneous audio via telephone conference call, along with a live question-and-answer session. Registration, Internet access, and a separate phone line are needed to participate. Please visit the netconference web page for information on upcoming netconferences and to view archived webcasts. The next netconference is scheduled for July 24, 2018.
New HPV Video: Immunization providers play a critical role in getting parents to accept HPV vaccination for their children. A new video titled You Are The Key to HPV Cancer Prevention provides up-to-date information on HPV infection/disease, HPV vaccine, and ways to successfully communicate with parents about HPV vaccination. HPV vaccination is cancer prevention. While most U.S. adolescents are starting the HPV vaccine series, less than half have finished the series. Every year that adolescents aren’t vaccinated is another year they are left unprotected against cancer-causing infections. Continuing Education (CE) is available.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates: The March issue of Academic PediatricsExternal offers a CDC-sponsored supplement, “Raising Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates.” The supplement reviews 10 years of HPV vaccination experience and offers seven commentaries and 11 articles, with topics ranging from parent and provider perspectives to information about the integration of HPV vaccine into health systems.
While there have been advances and successes in the HPV vaccination program in the U.S., the uptake of HPV vaccine remains lower than expected. The supplement articles explore the challenges faced with this vaccine and approaches that are being used to address them. Topics include:
- Influence of provider communication techniques on parental attitudes toward HPV vaccine
- Evaluations on breadth of HPV counseling materials
- Quality improvement methods for improving HPV vaccination rates in clinical practice
- Discussions on the continued challenges of improving HPV vaccination coverage
- Comparative analysis of recommended HPV vaccine interventions
- Opportunities for creating vaccination coverage initiatives that extend beyond the health care setting
The information and perspectives offered in the supplement can provide the foundation for discussion as we strive to improve HPV vaccination coverage in the U.S.
You Call the Shots Modules: You Call the Shots is a web-based training course developed through the Project to Enhance Immunization Content in Nursing Education and Training. Please visit the You Call the Shots web page to view the modules. Continuing Education (CE) is available for viewing a module and completing an evaluation.
ACIP Meeting: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) comprises medical and public health experts who develop recommendations for the routine use of vaccines for children, adolescents, and adults in the U.S. The recommendations stand as public health guidance for the safe use of vaccines and related biological products. After ACIP votes on vaccine recommendations, CDC reviews the recommendations and, if approved, provides necessary guidance on implementing the recommendations. ACIP meetings are held quarterly. The latest meeting was February 21–22 and the next meeting is scheduled for June 20–21. Please visit the ACIP meeting web page for agendas, presentation slides, meeting minutes, and archived video broadcasts. The minutes from the latest meeting will be posted soon.
Measles and Mumps Resources: CDC aims to continue increasing awareness of measles and mumps among individuals and families and to encourage MMR vaccination. To support disease prevention and vaccination educational efforts, CDC has developed a variety of measles and mumps resources, including fact sheets, podcasts, and matte articles. Some of the measles graphics are also available in Spanish.
CDC and Medscape: This special series of commentariesExternal, part of a collaboration between CDC and Medscape, is designed to deliver CDC’s authoritative guidance directly to Medscape’s physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers. In this series, CDC experts offer video commentaries on current topics important to practicing clinicians. NCIRD has contributed to a variety of commentaries. You will need to sign up and log in as a member to view the commentaries and registration is free.
Immunization Resources: Various publications are available for ordering at CDC-INFO on Demand. You can search for immunization publications by using the “Programs” drop-down menu and selecting “Immunization and Vaccines,” or you can search by “Title.” Numerous items are available for ordering, including the Parents’ Guide to Childhood Immunizations and various campaign materials. The 2018 Recommended Immunization Schedules are also available for ordering.
CDC Job Openings: CDC is committed to recruiting and hiring qualified candidates for a wide range of immunization and other positions. Researchers, medical officers, epidemiologists, and other specialists are often needed to fill positions within CDC. For a current listing, including international opportunities, please visit CDC’s employment web page.
Calendar of Events
National Immunization Conference (NIC), May 15–17, Atlanta, GA
National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS)External, May 18, Atlanta, GA
American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA) National MeetingExternal, August 14–16, Salt Lake City, UT
Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Pink Book CourseExternal, September 11–13, Greenwood Village, CO
Clinical Vaccinology Course, 2018, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), November 9–10, Bethesda, MD (URL available soon)