Immunization Works September 2018
This website is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
October 2, 2018: Content on this page kept for historical reasons.
Top Stories
2018–2019 Flu Vaccination Campaign Kick-off Event: On September 27, 2018, a panel of leading medical and public health experts held a press conference in Washington, D.C. to address the topic of influenza and encourage everyone 6 months and older to get vaccinated against influenza. They discussed preparations for the 2018–2019 flu season and encouraged people to begin their flu vaccination campaign efforts. This event was hosted by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and CDC. Flu experts were on hand to discuss recommendations for 2018–19 and the vaccination coverage estimates from the 2017–18 flu season.
2018 Pink Book Webinar Series: 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 explores a chapter from the 13th edition of Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (the Pink Book). The webinars started in June and will air live most Wednesdays from 12–1 p.m. EDT through October 3, 2018. Please visit the Pink Book webinar web page for the schedule and additional information. Continuing Education (CE) will be available for each event.
Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) Updates: There are two new VISs available–DTaP and meningococcal ACWY. Providers are encouraged to begin using the updated VISs immediately, but existing printed stocks may be used until they are gone. Please visit the CDC VIS web page for additional information.
MMWR
Progress Toward Poliovirus Containment Implementation—Worldwide, 2017–2018: Substantial progress has been made since the World Health Assembly (WHA) resolved to eradicate poliomyelitis in 1988. Among the three wild poliovirus (WPV) types, type 2 (WPV2) was declared eradicated in 2015, and type 3 (WPV3) has not been reported since 2012. In 2017 and 2018, only Afghanistan and Pakistan have reported WPV type 1 (WPV1) transmission. When global eradication of poliomyelitis is achieved, facilities retaining poliovirus materials need to minimize the risk for reintroduction of poliovirus into communities and reestablishment of transmission. Poliovirus containment includes biorisk management requirements for laboratories, vaccine production sites, and other facilities that retain polioviruses after eradication; the initial milestones are for containment of type 2 polioviruses (PV2s). At the 71st WHA in 2018, World Health Organization (WHO) Member States adopted a resolution urging acceleration of poliovirus containment activities globally, including establishment by the end of 2018 of national authorities for containment (NACs) to oversee poliovirus containment. The September 7 MMWR summarizes containment progress since the previous report and outlines remaining challenges. As of August 2018, 29 countries had designated 81 facilities to retain PV2 materials; 22 of these countries had established NACs. Although there has been substantial progress, intensification of containment measures is needed.
Influenza
What’s New for the 2018–2019 Flu Season: For the 2018–19 flu season, ACIP recommends providers administer any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine, including inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV), recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV), or live attenuated nasal spray influenza vaccine (LAIV4) to everyone age 6 months and older. Vaccine viruses recommended for inclusion in the 2018–19 U.S. trivalent (three-component) influenza vaccines are:
- An A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09–like virus
- An A A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 A(H3N2)-like virus
- A B/Colorado/06/2017-like (Victoria lineage) virus
Quadrivalent (four-component) influenza vaccines will contain these three viruses and an additional influenza B vaccine virus, a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like (Yamagata lineage) virus.
Please read the August 23 MMWR for additional information.
As you make plans to encourage flu vaccination this season, check out CDC’s campaign toolkit website. The toolkit includes social media content, posters, website assets, and important events.
For more information about how serious flu illness can be and the benefits of flu vaccination, visit the CDC influenza website, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel (HCP) in the U.S. During the 2017–18 Influenza Season: CDC conducted an opt-in Internet panel survey of 2,265 HCP to estimate influenza vaccination coverage among U.S. HCP during the 2017–18 influenza season. Overall, 78.4% of HCP reported receiving vaccination during the 2017–18 season, similar to reported coverage in the previous four influenza seasons. As in previous seasons, coverage was highest among HCP who were required by their employer to be vaccinated (94.8%) and lowest among HCP working in settings where vaccination was not required, promoted, or offered on site (47.6%). Implementing workplace strategies shown to improve vaccination coverage among HCP, including vaccination requirements or active promotion of on site vaccinations at no cost, can help ensure HCP and patients are protected against influenza. Please read the September 27 MMWR for the full report.
Influenza and Tdap Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women in the U.S., April 2018: To assess influenza and Tdap vaccination coverage among pregnant women during the 2017–18 influenza season, CDC analyzed data from an Internet panel survey conducted March 28–April 10, 2018. Among 1,771 survey respondents pregnant any time October 2017–January 2018, 49.1% reported receiving influenza vaccination before and during pregnancy since July 1, 2017. Among 700 respondents who had a live birth from August 1, 2017 through the time of the survey, 54.4% reported receiving a Tdap vaccination during their pregnancy. Women who reported receiving a provider offer of vaccination had higher vaccination coverage (influenza: 63.8%; Tdap: 73.5%) compared with women who received a recommendation but no offer (influenza: 37.6%; Tdap: 38.3%) and women who did not receive a recommendation (influenza: 9.0%; Tdap: 1.6%). In an assessment of a combined measure of influenza and Tdap vaccination coverage among recently pregnant women with a live birth (i.e., the Tdap vaccination assessment sample), 32.8% reported receiving both recommended maternal vaccinations. Use of evidence-based practices such as provider reminders in combination with clinical education could reduce missed opportunities for vaccination and increase vaccination coverage among pregnant women. Please read the September 27 MMWR for the full report.
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 or downloaded from the NCIRD vaccines site.
“Keys to Storing and Handling Your Vaccine Supply” Video: Two of the most important safeguards for the nation’s vaccine supply are proper storage and handling. A new web-on-demand video titled “Keys to Storing and Handling Your Vaccine Supply” is designed to decrease vaccine storage and handling errors by demonstrating recommended best practices and addressing frequently asked questions. Continuing Education (CE) is available.
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. The latest netconference was September 25, 2018 and provided health care professionals with an update on DTaP/Tdap vaccine recommendations and hepatitis vaccine recommendations. An archive webcast will be available soon. Please visit the netconference web page for additional information and to view archived webcasts.
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.
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. The Vaccine Administration module has recently been updated and is now available. Please visit the You Call the Shots web page to view all the modules. Continuing Education (CE) is available for viewing a module and completing an evaluation.
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
Idaho Immunization SummitExternal, October 11, Boise, ID
13th Annual Nevada Health ConferenceExternal, Immunize Nevada, October 15–16, Reno, NV
23rd Annual MIAP Pediatric Immunization Skills Building ConferenceExternal, Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership, October 18, Framingham, MA
ACIP Meeting, October 24–25, Atlanta, GA
Got Your Shots? Immunization ConferenceExternal, Minnesota Department of Health, November 1–2, Minneapolis, MN
Clinical Vaccinology CourseExternal, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), November 9–10, Bethesda, MD