Immunization Works June 2017
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This website is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
July 10, 2017: Content on this page kept for historical reasons.
Top Stories
New Vaccine Administration e-Learn Now Available: A new 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), about 1,500 of those reports 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.
New Webinar Series for Pink Book: This online series of 15 webinars provides an overview of the principles of vaccination, 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 started on June 14 and will air live most Wednesdays from 12–1 p.m. EDT through October 11, 2017. Check the schedule for live webcasts, and view recordings at your convenience online at the Pink Book webinar web page.
You must register in advance for the live webinars. After registering, you will receive event access information via e-mail. Each webinar is limited to 1,500 participants, so please log in early to secure a virtual “seat.” If a webinar is full or if you miss a live event, you can watch it later at the Pink Book webinar web page. Webcasts will be posted within a few days after the live event.
Continuing Education (CE) will be available for each event.
Webinars will air via the Adobe Connect Webinar System. We recommend that you do a connection test in advance to verify that your computer meets all system requirements for the webinars. If you pass the three steps of the test, you are ready to participate. Audio will only be available through your computer speakers, so there will be no call-in phone number. Questions during the event can be submitted to our subject matter experts via a Question and Answer Pod, which will display when you join the event. Troubleshooting information to assist with meeting access and other issues will also be available.
National Immunization Awareness Month: August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), an annual observance sponsored by the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) to highlight the importance of vaccines for people of all ages. This year, there will be several activities to promote immunization during NIAM, including digital ads and social media messages. Each week of the four-week event will be dedicated to a different stage of the life span. For more information on the observance, visit NPHIC’s NIAM website and the CDC NIAM web page.
MMWR
Global Polio Eradication: Progress Toward Containment of Poliovirus Type 2—Worldwide 2017: The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) continues to make progress toward the eradication target. Only one of the three serotypes, wild poliovirus (WPV) type 1 (WPV1), is still circulating, and the number of cases and countries with endemic transmission are at record lows. With certification of wild poliovirus type 2 (WPV2) eradication in 2015 and global replacement in April–May 2016 of trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (tOPV), which contains Sabin poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, with bivalent OPV, which contains only Sabin poliovirus types 1 and 3, poliovirus type 2 (PV2) is now an eradicated pathogen. However, in six countries (Cameroon, Chad, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, and Pakistan), monovalent type 2 OPV (mOPV2) was used extensively for outbreak control after tOPV withdrawal. Poliovirus containment, an evolving area of work that affects every country, aims to ensure that all PV2 specimens are safely contained to minimize the risk for reintroducing the virus into communities. The June 22 MMWR summarizes the current status of poliovirus containment and progress since the last report, and outlines remaining challenges. Within 30 countries, 79 facilities have been designated to become poliovirus-essential facilities for the continued storage or handling of PV2 materials. Each country is responsible for ensuring that these facilities meet all biorisk management requirements.
Japanese Encephalitis Surveillance and Immunization in the Asia and Western Pacific Regions, 2016: Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is the most important vaccine-preventable cause of encephalitis in the Asia-Pacific region. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends integration of JE vaccination into national immunization schedules in all areas where the disease is a public health priority. The June 9 MMWR updates a previous summary of JE surveillance and immunization programs in Asia and the Western Pacific in 2012. Since 2012, there have been three important developments. First, funding for JE immunization has become available through the GAVI Alliance. Second, WHO has prequalified three JE vaccines. Finally, an updated WHO JE vaccine position paper has been published that provides guidance on JE vaccines and vaccination strategies. Data for this report were obtained from a survey of health officials in countries with JE virus transmission risk on JE surveillance and immunization practices. Report data also came from the 2015 WHO/United Nations Children’s Fund Joint Reporting Form on Immunization, notes and reports from JE meetings during 2014–2016 and published literature. In 2016, 22 (92%) of 24 countries with JE virus transmission risk conducted JE surveillance, an increase from 18 (75%) countries in 2012, and 12. In addition, 12 (50%) countries had a JE immunization program, compared with 11 (46%) countries in 2012. Strengthened JE surveillance, continued commitment, and adequate resources for JE vaccination should help maintain progress toward prevention and control of JE.
Influenza Information
Flu Season Update: Please read the FluView report for the week ending June 17, 2017 (week 24) for the latest flu season information. Based on early estimates, flu vaccines this season have reduced a vaccinated person’s risk of getting sick and having to go to the doctor because of flu by about half (48%). CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older. Vaccination efforts should continue as long as influenza viruses are circulating.
Start Your Planning for Next Flu Season’s Vaccination Campaign: CDC has a partnership with the National Influenza Vaccination Disparities Partnership (NIVDP), a national multisector campaign led by local influential partners that commit to promoting the importance of flu vaccination among underserved populations. In April, NIVDP hosted a webinar featuring a panel of four immunization coalition leaders who shared strategies they use to protect underserved populations in their regions. The webinar can be found on YouTube and on CDC’s website, along with previous webinars highlighting useful flu vaccination lessons and tips.
It’s not too early to begin making plans for next flu season. Check out our tips sheet [2 pages] for information and resources to start planning successful events to promote flu vaccination events in your community.
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 Center, and the chapters and appendices can be viewed/downloaded from the NCIRD vaccines site.
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 September 13, 2017.
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 HPV module, Vaccines for Children (VFC) module, and Vaccine Storage and Handling module have recently been updated and are now available. Please visit the You Call the Shots web page for additional information and other modules. Continuing Education (CE) is available for viewing a module and completing an evaluation.
ACIP Meeting: ACIP comprises medical and public health experts who develop recommendations for the use of vaccines in the U.S. The recommendations stand as public health guidance for the safe use of vaccines and related biological products. The latest ACIP meeting was held June 21–22, 2017 and included presentations on hepatitis A vaccine, influenza, herpes zoster vaccines, varicella, anthrax vaccine, dengue virus vaccines, yellow fever vaccine, mumps disease and vaccine, HPV, meningococcal vaccines, and VAERS. 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 Resources: CDC aims to continue increasing awareness of measles 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 vaccination resources, including fact sheets, podcasts, and matte articles. There are also infographics available in English and Spanish.
CDC and Medscape: This special series of commentaries, 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. Registration is free.
Immunization Resources: 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, including the Parents’ Guide to Childhood Immunizations and various campaign materials. The 2017 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
CDC HPV Webinar, “Partner Resource Showcase: New Tools for HPV Vaccination,” July 13.
Webinar will include presentations from various CDC partners.
North Carolina State Immunization Conference, July 19–21, Greensboro, NC
HPV Vaccination Webinar, “HPV Cancer Vaccination: Give it a Shot (or 2),” July 25. Presented by Debbie Saslow, Senior Director of HPV, American Cancer Society.
Immunize South Dakota, Sioux Falls Area Immunization Coalition, August 4, Sioux Falls, SD
24th Annual Immunize Georgia Conference, September 15, Columbus, GA
Fall Clinical Vaccinology Course, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), November 3–5, Bethesda, MD
Related Pages
- Page last reviewed: July 10, 2017 (archived document)
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