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January 16, 2008
NEW: CDC, AAP, AND AAFP RELEASE THE 2008 RECOMMENDED IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE FOR PERSONS AGE 0-18 YEARS

[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action Coalition's "IAC EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 1/14/08.]

CDC, AAP, and AAFP have endorsed and released the "Recommended Immunization Schedules for Persons Aged 0-18 Years--United States, 2008." On January 11, CDC published the schedule as an MMWR QuickGuide; it is reprinted below in its entirety, excluding references, two figures, and a table.

In addition, the NCIRD website posted black and white and color versions of the schedule's figures, table, and references, as well as presentation graphics (for use in PowerPoint presentations). Also, AAFP published an article about the schedule in the January issue of the journal American Family Physician, and AAP published an article in the January issue of the journal Pediatrics. AAP also published an article in AAP News and issued a related press release. Links to the NCIRD, AAFP, and AAP materials are given at the end of this IAC Express article.

CDC recapped the MMWR QuickGuide information in two resources: the January issue of the Immunization Works electronic newsletter and a January 11 CDC press release titled "Health Groups Release 2008 Immunization Schedules: Children and adolescents now protected against more diseases than ever before." The January Immunization Works newsletter can be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/news/newsltrs/imwrks/2008/200801.htm A link to the January 11 CDC press release is given at the end of this article.

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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) annually publishes a recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 0-18 years to reflect changes in vaccine formulations and current recommendations for the use of licensed vaccines. Changes to the previous schedule are as follows:

• The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) footnote reflects updated recommendations for incompletely vaccinated children aged 24-59 months, including those with underlying medical conditions.
   
• Recommendations for use of the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) now include healthy children aged as young as 2 years. LAIV should not be administered to children aged <5 years with recurrent wheezing. Children aged <9 years who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time or who were vaccinated for the first time last season, but only received 1 dose, should have 2 doses of vaccine, at least 4 weeks apart. Other updates are included.
   
• For meningococcal vaccines, changes affect certain children aged 2-10 years. Vaccinating with meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is preferred to meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) for children at increased risk for meningococcal disease, including children who are traveling to or residents of countries in which the disease is hyperendemic or epidemic, children who have terminal complement component deficiencies, and children who have anatomic or functional asplenia. The catch-up schedule for youths aged 13-18 years has been updated. MPSV4 is an acceptable alternative for short-term (i.e., 3-5 years) protection against meningococcal disease for persons aged 2-18 years.
   
• The tetanus and diphtheria toxoids/tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (Td/Tdap) catch-up schedule for persons aged 7-18 years who received their first dose before age 12 months now indicates that these youths should receive 4 doses, with at least 4 weeks (not 8 weeks) between doses 2 and 3.
   
• The catch-up bars for hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine have been deleted on the routine schedule for persons aged 0-6 years. The figure title refers users to the catch-up schedule for patients who fall behind or start late with vaccinations.

The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act requires that healthcare providers provide parents or patients with copies of Vaccine Information Statements before administering each dose of the vaccines listed in the schedule. Additional information is available from state health departments and from CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm

Detailed recommendations for using vaccines are available from package inserts, ACIP statements (available at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/acip-list.htm), and the 2006 Red Book. Guidance regarding the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System form is available at http://www.vaers.hhs.gov or by telephone, (800) 822-7967.

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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the QuickGuide, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5701a8.htm

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5701.pdf

To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which includes new ACIP statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html

NCIRD materials:
To access the figures, table, and references from the 2008 schedule, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm#printable and click on the pertinent link.

To access the presentation graphics for use in PowerPoint presentations, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm#presentation and click on the pertinent link.

AAFP materials:
In the January 2008 issue of American Family Physician, AAFP published "Practice Guidelines: ACIP Releases 2008 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedules."

To access a web-text (HTML) version of the article, go to:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20080101/practice.html#p1

AAP materials:
In the January 2008 issue of Pediatrics, AAP published "Recommended Immunization Schedules for Children and Adolescents--United States, 2008" as a policy statement from its Committee on Infectious Diseases.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the article, go to:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/119/1/207

On January 2, AAP issued a press release, "AAP Issues Recommended 2008 Immunization Schedules, for Children, Adolescents."

To access it, go to:
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/jan08immunization.htm

The January issue of AAP News published "Highlights of the 2008 Immunization Schedules"; the highlights are available to subscribers only.

To access the highlights, go to:
http://aapnews.aappublications.org/current.shtml and scroll down to the four links to "Highlights of the 2008 Immunization Schedules."

CDC press release:
To access the January 11 press release, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/2008/r080111.htm
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(2 of 8)
January 16, 2008
IAC WEBSITE POSTS NEW SPANISH-LANGUAGE PRINT RESOURCES RELATED TO HEPATITIS AND GENERAL IMMUNIZATION

IAC recently posted Spanish-language versions of two of its patient-education materials: (1) "Are You 11-19 Years Old? Then you need to be vaccinated against these serious diseases!" and (2) "Questions Frequently Asked About Hepatitis B."

(1) To access the recently updated (8/07) "Tienes de 11 a 19 anos? Entonces neccesitas vacunarte contra estas enfermedades serias!" ("Are You 11-19 Years Old? Then you need to be vaccinated against these serious diseases!") in ready-to-print (PDF) format, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4020-01.pdf

To access "Are You 11-19 Years Old? Then you need to be vaccinated against these serious diseases!" in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4020.pdf

(2) To access the recently updated (8/07) "Preguntas frecuentes acerca de la hepatitis B" ("Questions Frequently Asked About Hepatitis B") in ready-to-print (PDF) format, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4090-01.pdf

To access "Questions Frequently Asked About Hepatitis B" in English, go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4090.pdf
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(3 of 8)
January 16, 2008
IAC UPDATES "IMMUNIZATIONS FOR BABIES" AND "WHEN DO CHILDREN AND TEENS NEED VACCINATIONS?"

[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action Coalition's "IAC EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 1/14/08.]

IAC recently revised two of its parent-education print materials: "Immunizations for Babies: A guide for parents" and "When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?" Minor changes were made to both pieces.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the updated "Immunizations for Babies," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4010.pdf

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the updated "When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050.pdf
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(4 of 8)
January 16, 2008
VIS TRANSLATION: VIS FOR HEPATITIS A VACCINE NOW AVAILABLE IN BURMESE

[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action Coalition's "IAC EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 12/31/07.]

The current version of the VIS for hepatitis A vaccine (dated 3/21/06) is now available on the IAC website in Burmese. IAC gratefully acknowledges the Minnesota Department of Health for the translation.

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the VIS for hepatitis A vaccine in Burmese, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/bu_hpa06.pdf

To obtain the VIS for hepatitis A vaccine in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/v-hepa.pdf

For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in more than 30 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at http://www.immunize.org/vis
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(5 of 8)
January 16, 2008
HEPATITIS FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL WINS REGIONAL EMMY AWARD FOR VIDEO AIMED AT YOUTH

Hepatitis Foundation International (HFI) recently won a 2007 Suncoast Regional Emmy Award for Broadcast/Cablecast Programs. Bill Shomo, president of Chaumont Communications, co-produced the video with HFI.

The 10-minute DVD, "Give Your Liver A Break," is targeted toward youth and can be used in middle and high schools as well as other venues.

To view a preview of this video, go to http://www.hepfi.org/education/preview_liver/liver_break.html To view the entire video (or other HFI videos), complete the registration information on the same page. Other HFI video previews can be accessed directly at http://www.hepfi.org/education/videos_1.htm

To access HFI's home page, go to: http://www.hepfi.org
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(6 of 8)
January 16, 2008
REMINDER: CDC'S SERIES ON EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTION OF VPDs CEASES LIVE BROADCAST; DVD AND INTERNET FORMATS PLANNED

[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action Coalition's "IAC EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 1/7/08.]

The satellite broadcast series Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases has been presented at least once a year since 1995. Because of escalating costs and limited availability of the CDC broadcast facility, the series will no longer be presented as a live broadcast. Beginning in 2008, this training program will be available only on DVD and by Internet.

The 2008 series is expected to be available in late spring. Future issues of NCIRD's electronic newsletter Immunization Works and IAC's IAC Express will keep readers informed as specific details are made available.
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(7 of 8)
January 16, 2008
VHPB UPDATES ITS WEBSITE WITH NEW RESOURCE

The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB) website has been updated to include the latest issue of Viral Hepatitis Online. This issue reviews topics covered at the VHPB spring meeting "Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis through Adolescent Health Programmes in Europe," jointly organized with the European Union for School and University Health and Medicine on March 15-16, 2007, in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The document reviews the importance of reaching adolescents, provides an overview of currently existing youth health systems, and reviews the experiences with childhood and adolescent immunization programs of the industrialized countries represented.

This resource is on the home page of the VHPB website at http://www.vhpb.org
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(8 of 8)
January 16, 2008
JOURNAL ARTICLES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

The following recent journal articles present research related to viral hepatitis prevention or treatment.

"Healthcare Should Not Be a Vehicle for Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus"
Author: Alter MJ
Source: J Hepatol, January 2008, Vol. 48(1):2-4
http://tinyurl.com/33s85k (entire article)

"The Impact of Educational Interventions on Primary Health Care Workers' Knowledge of Occupational Exposure to Blood or Body Fluids"
Authors: Krishnan P, Dick F, Murphy E
Source: Occ Med, March 2007, Vol. 57(2):98-103
Click here for abstract.

"Sero-epidemiology of Hepatitis B Among New Refugees to Minnesota"
Authors: Ugwu C, Varkey P, Bagniewski S, Lesnick T
Source: J Immigr Minor Health, December 8, 2007[Epub ahead of print]
Click here for abstract.

"Symptomatology and Health Attitudes of Chronic Hepatitis B
Patients in the USA"
Authors: Hann HW, Han SH, Block TM, Harris M, et al.
Source: J Viral Hepat, January 2008, Vol. 15(1):42-51
Click here for abstract.