Flu Prevention
2006-2007 Flu Archive
Protect yourself and your loved ones this holiday season.
Locate a Flu Shot
Check with your physician or use one of these convenient locators to schedule your flu vaccine.
CDC Announces National Influenza Vaccination Week
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the designation of the week after Thanksgiving (November 27 to December 3) as National Influenza Vaccination Week. This event is designed to raise awareness of the importance of continuing influenza (flu) vaccination, as well as foster greater use of flu vaccine through the months of November, December and beyond. CDC is recommending that people take this opportunity to be vaccinated and is hopeful that flu vaccine providers will use this time to enhance flu vaccine availability by scheduling additional clinics; extending clinic hours; and enabling a larger role for mass vaccination at places such as retail locations.
New Flu Season Posters Available
The Bureau of Immunization is pleased to announce the availability of the following new flu season posters.
Note: these files are Adobe PDF of approximately 1 MB and open in new window
The CDC has recently updated posters and flyers for healthcare worker (HCW) vaccinations, "Healthcare Workers! Are your vaccinations up-to-date?" The updated materials reflect the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP's) new pertussis vaccine recommendations. They can be downloaded and printed in black and white or commercial quality color from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/default.htm.
FDA Approves FluLaval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved FluLaval, an influenza vaccine to immunize people 18 years of age and older against the disease caused by strains of influenza virus in 2006-2007. With this additional vaccine, CDC projects a total of about 115 million doses of influenza vaccine for the 2006–2007 Season, but these projections could change as manufacturing continues. FluLaval was approved using FDA's accelerated approval pathway. To view the complete FDA press release on FluLaval, please visit http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/ 2006/NEW01478.html.
CDC Announces the Opening of the 2006-2007 Flu Gallery
Are you looking for educational materials about influenza and the flu
vaccine? CDC’s Flu Gallery contains educational materials for use during the
upcoming influenza immunization season. These materials reflect CDC’s
vaccination recommendations and highlight the benefits of influenza
vaccination. The Gallery contains print materials such as flyers, posters,
and brochures, in color and black and white, English and Spanish. Many of
the materials can be reproduced on an office printer. You can also have the
materials printed by a professional (offset) printer.
The CDC encourages you to visit the online gallery often because, as vaccine
supply information changes, they will upload new materials that address
expanded audiences, or new recommendations about which groups vaccine should
be directed toward. Additionally, if vaccine supply is still strong toward
the end of November, they will post “late season” promotion materials to the
gallery which will remind people that it is not too late to get vaccinated
against influenza in December and beyond.
The Flu Gallery can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/gallery.
Vote and Vaccinate
The
Florida Department of Health (DOH) is partnering with the Florida Board of
Elections, and individual counties and county Supervisors of Elections to
implement a "Vote and Vaccinate" campaign to be held in conjunction with the
November general election... (Vote and Vacinate )
2006-07 Influenza Season Bulletin from the Florida Department of Health,
Bureau of Immunization
As
we enter the 2006-07 influenza season, it is key to complete
preparations and be aware of the most current recommendations. At the
request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please
widely distribute the following information regarding influenza
vaccine published in Immunization Works Monthly Update to all colleagues,
members, coalitions, and partners with an interest in the prevention of
influenza. The complete July Immunization Works Monthly Update is
non-proprietary and is available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/. This
information complements the MMWR Prevention and Control of Influenza that
was sent on June 29, 2006:
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr55e628a1.htm.
CDC has developed two sets of influenza questions and answers (Q & As) to
assist healthcare professionals and consumers with planning for the upcoming
influenza season. The first set of Q&As provides information about vaccine
supply for the 2006-07 influenza season and can be found at
www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaxprioritygroups.htm.
Key comments include:
- At the current time, influenza vaccine manufacturers are projecting
that approximately 100 million doses of influenza vaccine will be
available in the U.S. for use during the 2006-07 influenza season. This
amount represents approximately 16% more doses than were available for
the 2005-06 season.
- Much of the influenza vaccine was pre-booked early this year.
Providers should contact distributors and local vendors about remaining
supply. An additional 15 million to 20 million doses may be available
if a new vaccine is licensed in 2006.
- CDC anticipates that many providers will be unable to obtain
sufficient vaccine to vaccinate all children who are 3 years of age.
During this transition year, all providers may not have sufficient
vaccine supply in the preparations indicated for this age group. If a
provider has insufficient vaccine for this age group, CDC recommends
that healthy children aged 6-23 months should be prioritized for
receiving vaccine because they are at increased risk for hospitalization
compared with children over 24 months of age.
The second set of Q & As provides general information about influenza
vaccine production, supply, and distribution in the United States and can be
found at
www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaxsupply.htm .
Key comments include:
- At present, the ACIP recommends that 218 million of the 300 million
U.S. population receive influenza vaccine annually.
- For the 2006-07 season, the ACIP has added to its recommendations
all children ages 24-59 months (an additional 7.1 million) and their
household contacts and caregivers (about 11.4 million more).
- The existing vaccine production capacity cannot support a universal
vaccination recommendation.
- The ACIP voted to remove prioritization as the default of influenza
vaccination. The prioritization scheme will become a contingency plan
and will only be implemented if vaccine supply or distribution problems
emerge.
- CDC is working closely with manufacturers, distributors, and key
public health organizations to improve the influenza vaccine tracking
process.
The complete MMWR report on composition of the trivalent influenza vaccine
for the United States for the 2006--07 Season can be found at
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5523a2.htm. Please call Cameron
Noblit if you have questions regarding VFC (Vaccines for Children) influenza
vaccine supplies and Phyllis Yambor at 850-245-4342 for
questions regarding the vaccine recommendations.
Prevention and Control of Influenza Recommendations of the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) MMWR -- Early Release June 28,
2006 / Vol. 55
At the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
please ensure that the following information regarding the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Prevention and Control of
Influenza Recommendations is widely disseminated to all colleagues, members,
coalitions, and partners with an interest in influenza vaccination. This
report updates the 2005 recommendations by the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of influenza vaccine and
antiviral agents. The pdf is linked below. The 2006 recommendations include
new and updated information. Principal changes include:
- Recommending vaccination of children aged 24-59 months and their
household contacts and out-of-home caregivers against influenza.
- Highlighting the importance of administering 2 doses of influenza
vaccine for children aged 6 months-<9 years who were previously
unvaccinated.
- Advising health-care providers, those planning organized campaigns,
and state and local public health agencies to develop plans for
expanding outreach and infrastructure to vaccinate more persons than the
previous year and develop contingency plans for the timing and
prioritization of administering influenza vaccine, if the supply of
vaccine is delayed and/or reduced.
- Reminding providers that they should routinely offer influenza
vaccine to patients throughout the influenza season.
- Recommending that neither amantadine nor rimantadine be used for the
treatment or chemoprophylaxis of influenza A in the United States until
evidence of susceptibility to these antiviral medications has been
re-established among circulating influenza A viruses.
- Using the 2006-07 trivalent influenza vaccine virus strains.
Persons for whom annual vaccination is recommended:
- Children aged 6-59 months
- Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
- Persons aged >50 years
- Children and adolescents (aged 6 months-18 years) who are receiving
long-term aspirin therapy and, therefore, might be at risk for
experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza infection
- Adults and children who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary or
cardiovascular systems, including asthma (hypertension is not considered
a high-risk condition)
- Adults and children who have required regular medical follow-up or
hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic
diseases (including diabetes mellitus), renal dysfunction,
hemoglobinopathies, or immunodeficiency (including immunodeficiency
caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus)
- Adults and children who have any condition (e.g., cognitive
dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders
- or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory
function or the handling of respiratory secretions, or that can increase
the risk for aspiration
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that
house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions
- Persons who live with or care for persons at high risk for
influenza-related complications, including healthy household contacts
and caregivers of children aged 0-59 months
- Health-care workers.
To access the CDC document, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr55e628.pdf.
Inactivated Influenza and Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine Information
Statement (VIS)
The Bureau of Immunization is pleased to announce the release of the
Inactivated Influenza and Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine Information
Statements (VISs) dated 6/30/06. The 2006-07 version of the Inactivated
Influenza and Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)
has been posted on the NIP website.
The VISs can be viewed online at:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm#flu
Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are information sheets produced by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that explain to vaccine
recipients, their parents, or their legal representatives both the benefits
and risks of a vaccine. Federal law requires that VISs be handed out
whenever (before each dose) certain vaccinations are given.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm
Joint Commission Establishes Infection Control Standard to Address
Influenza Vaccines for Staff
At the request of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
please ensure that the following information regarding influenza
vaccinations is widely disseminated to all colleagues, members, coalitions,
and partners with an interest in increasing influenza vaccination coverage
among healthcare personnel.
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
announced approval of an infection control standard that requires accredited
organizations to offer influenza vaccinations to staff, which includes
volunteers and licensed independent practitioners with close patient
contact. The standard will become an accreditation requirement beginning
January 1, 2007, for the Critical Access Hospital, Hospital and Long-Term
Care accreditation programs. This effort supports recommendations by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for annual influenza
vaccination for healthcare workers. (link listed below)
Studies show that influenza causes 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000
hospitalizations on average in the United States annually.
Healthcare-associated transmission of influenza among patient populations in
a variety of clinical settings has been epidemiologically linked to
unvaccinated healthcare workers. Fewer than 40 percent of healthcare workers
are immunized each year according to CDC. The new JCAHO Commission standard
requires organizations to:
- Establish an annual influenza vaccination program that includes at
least staff and licensed independent practitioners.
- Provide access to influenza vaccinations on site.
- Educate staff and licensed independent practitioners about flu
vaccination; non-vaccine control measures (such as the use of
appropriate precautions); and diagnosis, transmission, and potential
impact of influenza.
- Annually evaluate vaccination rates and reasons for
non-participation in the organization's immunization program.
- Implement enhancements to the program to increase participation.
The enhanced CDC guidance, drafted by CDCâs Healthcare Infection Control
Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP), recommends that:
- Facilities offer influenza vaccine annually to all eligible
personnel, including students.
- Vaccine be offered at the workplace, during all shifts and at no
cost to employees.
- Hospitals use strategies proven to improve vaccination coverage.
These include:
- Education to combat fears and misconceptions about influenza and
influenza vaccines.
- Use of reminders to staff.
- Having leadership set an example by getting vaccinated.
- Facilities obtain a signed form from staff who decline vaccination
for reasons other than medical.
- This tool is designed to help facilities better monitor who is
offered vaccine, employee concerns and barriers to vaccination so
appropriate strategies can be designed to improve vaccination
coverage.
The new recommendations provide strategies to make vaccine more
accessible to healthcare workers and to increase influenza vaccination
coverage among healthcare personnel as a way to protect patients and staff
from influenza.
MMWR Publishes Influenza Vaccination of Health-Care Personnel
Recommendations
On February 24, 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
published Influenza Vaccination of Health-Care Personnel Recommendations of
the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and
the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2006;55 (No.
RR-2).
This report summarizes recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control
Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) concerning influenza vaccination of
health-care personnel (HCP) in the United States. These recommendations
apply to HCP in acute care hospitals, nursing homes, skilled nursing
facilities, physician's offices, urgent care centers, and outpatient
clinics, and to persons who provide home health care and emergency medical
services. The recommendations can assist health-care facility
administrators, infection control professionals, and occupational health
professionals in optimizing influenza vaccination programs and influenza
infection control programs in their institutions. HICPAC and ACIP recommend
that all HCP be vaccinated annually against influenza. Facilities that
employ HCP are strongly encouraged to provide vaccine to their staff by
using evidence-based approaches that maximize vaccination rates.
This MMWR can be viewed online at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/
rr5502.pdf
2006-2007 Influenza Season Planning
Important Information for Pre-Booking Influenza Vaccine for 2006-2007
It is time for private health care providers to pre-book influenza
vaccine for the 2006-2007 influenza season.
Please take this important step now and order the influenza vaccine you
will need to protect your patients from influenza and its complications.
Below is a list of flu vaccine distributor/vendor information
available to us at this time. The vendor information listed is for private
sector entities only.
Flu
Vaccine Distributors/Vendors
Four vendors have already begun taking pre-book orders.
Please note that Sanofi (Aventis) is expected to sell out in less than 2
days once their pre-booking begins as was experienced last year.
Please share this material with everyone involved in prevention of
influenza. Many health care providers did not pre-book their vaccine orders
this year and, consequently, had difficulty acquiring flu vaccine early in
the influenza season.
If you have questions regarding the ordering information, please call Jay
R. Francis of Pharmacy Services in the Department of Health at 850-922-4627
x129.
