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2007-2008 Flu Archive

Recommendations to Reduce Influenza in the United States

The Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Immunization is pleased to announce the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to reduce influenza in the U.S.

Please view the letter from Dr. Nancy Cox, Director of CDC's Influenza Division, and Dr. Anne Schuchat, Director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Recent U.S. surveillance reports indicate that influenza activity is on the rise. This letter describes CDC's recommendation for a three-pronged approach to reduce the substantial burden of influenza on the U.S. The three-pronged approach consists of:

  1. Increasing the number of people vaccinated against influenza
  2. Appropriate use of influenza antiviral agents
  3. Promoting respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette

"Take 3" against flu this season letter [PDF 51 KB]

Pediatric Flu Prevention Resource and Influenza Vaccine Recommendation

October 2, 2007 -- The Bureau of Immunization is pleased to announce the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) resource update, “Preventing the Flu in 2007-2008: Strategies and Resources for Child Care Providers and Out-of-Home Caregivers of Children”. The pdf is available at: http://www.healthychildcare.org/pdf/PreventingFlu ChildCareProviders 07-08.pdf [PDF 215 KB].

The Bureau of Immunization recommends routine annual influenza immunization. This is the most effective way to prevent influenza and decrease influenza-related complications, which can include serious illness and death. Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for:

  • All persons, including school-aged children, who want to reduce their risk of becoming ill with influenza or of spreading it to others
  • All children ages 6–59 months
  • All persons age 50 years or older
  • All children and teenagers receiving long-term aspirin therapy
  • All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
  • Adults and children with any of the following conditions:
    • A chronic disorder of the pulmonary or cardiovascular system
    • A chronic disease of the blood, liver, or kidneys, immunosuppression (e.g., caused by medications, HIV), or diabetes
    • compromised ability to handle respiratory secretions or an increased risk for aspiration (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, or other neuromuscular disorder)
  • All residents of nursing homes or other chronic-care facilities
  • All healthcare personnel
  • All household contacts (including children) and caregivers of children ages 0–59 months (especially younger than 6 months), adults 50 years and older, and persons having high-risk medical conditions
  • Persons planning to travel to an area of the world with influenza activity (e.g., to the tropics at any time of the year)

Visit www.healthychildcare.org or e-mail childcare@aap for additional information on this resource. 

FDA Approves Afluria®, a New Inactivated Influenza Vaccine

October 2, 2007 -- September 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release announcing licensing of Afluria® (manufactured by CSL Limited), an inactivated influenza virus vaccine. It is additional seasonal influenza vaccine for the immunization of adults 18 years of age and older against influenza disease caused by influenza virus type A and type B present in the vaccine. Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that can cause annual epidemics. The approval of Afluria®, manufactured by CSL Limited of Parkville, Australia, brings the number of seasonal influenza manufacturers licensed for the U.S. market to six. Based on current manufacturing trends, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the six manufacturers will supply a record 132 million doses of influenza vaccine for the 2007-2008 influenza season. Afluria® vaccine is administered as a single injection in the upper arm. People who are allergic to eggs or any other component of the vaccine should not receive Afluria®. Links to the approval letter and the package insert are listed below:

Please note: While Afluria® vaccine is not carried by the Minnesota Multi-State Contracting Alliance for Pharmacy (MMCAP) for the 2007/2008 influenza season, private healthcare providers can inquire about its availability through their distributor.

The Bureau of Immunization recommends routine annual influenza immunization. This is the most effective way to prevent influenza and decrease influenza-related complications which can include serious illness and death. Flu season in the United States can begin as early as October and can last as late as May. While it is best to be immunized as soon as the vaccine is available, getting a flu shot any time during influenza season is important since influenza season often peaks in January and February in Florida.

2007 Influenza Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2007 in the Recommendations and Reports, Volume 56, No. RR-5 on July 13, 2007. This report updates the 2006 recommendations by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of influenza vaccine and antiviral agents. The groups of persons for whom vaccination is recommended and the antiviral medications recommended for chemoprophylaxis or treatment (oseltamivir or zanamivir) have not changed. Principal updates and changes include: 

  • The ACIP reemphasizes the importance of administering two doses of vaccine to all children 6 months to 8 years of age if they have not been vaccinated previously at any time with either live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) - (doses separated by >6 weeks) or trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) - (doses separated by >4 weeks), on the basis of accumulating data indicating that two doses are required for protection in these children (see Vaccine Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Safety in the report).
  • The ACIP recommends that children 6 months to 8 years of age who received only one dose in their first year of vaccination receive two doses the following year (see Vaccine Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Safety in the report).
  • The ACIP reiterates a previous recommendation that all persons, including school-age children, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others should be vaccinated (see Recommendations for Using TIV and LAIV During the 2007–08 Influenza Season in the report).
  • The ACIP emphasizes that immunization providers should offer influenza vaccine and schedule immunization clinics throughout the influenza season (see Timing of Vaccination in the report).
  • The ACIP recommends that healthcare administrators consider the level of vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel (HCP) to be one measure of a patient safety quality program and implement policies to encourage HCP vaccination (e.g., obtaining signed statements from HCP who decline influenza vaccination) (see Additional Information Regarding Vaccination of Specific Populations in the report).
  • The 2007–2008 trivalent vaccine strains are A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like (new for this season), A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like, and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like viruses. (see Recommendations for Using TIV and LAIV During the 2007–08 Influenza Season in the report). The recommendation is available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5606.pdf [PDF 713 KB]. 

Please Note: FluMist dosage and storage requirements have changed for the 2007–08 influenza season. FluMist is now shipped to end users at 35°F–46°F (2°C–8°C). LAIV should be stored at 35°F–46°F (2°C–8°C) upon receipt and should remain at that temperature until the expiration date is reached. For more information, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/dosage.htm

2007-2008 Influenza Vaccine Information Statements

Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are information sheets produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that explain to adult vaccine recipients and the parents or legal representatives of vaccine recipients who are children and adolescents, both the benefits and risks of a vaccine. Federal law requires that VISs be handed out whenever certain vaccinations are given (before each dose).

VISs for both Trivalent Inactivated Influenza vaccine (TIV) and Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) (nasal spray), have been posted for the 2007-2008 flu season. Important Notice about the 2007-2008 LAIV VIS: It is very possible the FDA will approve updated licensing for FluMist® during this flu season – possibly before any vaccine has shipped. The licensing for LAIV might change this year to include younger children. If this happens, a new, interim VIS for LAIV will be posted to reflect the change. The available 2007-2008 VIS reflects the current licensing. It might be prudent for providers to delay printing large quantities of the LAIV VIS until it is known whether this version will be used. The TIV VIS and LAIV VIS are both dated (7/16/07) and are available online at:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-flu.pdf [PDF108 KB]
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-flulive.pdf [PDF 86 KB]
or
http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_fluinactive.asp
http://www.immunize.org/vis/vis_flulive.asp

For more information on VISs, visit the CDC site at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm. You may download Vaccine Information Statements in over 20 languages through the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) at: http://www.immunize.org/vis/  

2007 Influenza Recommendations Early Release

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2007: MMRW Recommendations and Report, 2007 / Vol. 56 / Early Release on June 29, 2007. This report updates the 2006 recommendations by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of influenza vaccine and antiviral agents. The groups of persons for whom vaccination is recommended and the antiviral medications recommended for chemoprophylaxis or treatment (oseltamivir or zanamivir) have not changed. The 2007 recommendations include new and updated information. Principal updates and changes include:

  • Reemphasizing the importance of administering two doses of vaccine to all children 6 months to 8 years of age if they have not been vaccinated previously at any time with either live, attenuated influenza vaccine (doses separated by >6 weeks) or trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (doses separated by >4 weeks), with single annual doses in subsequent years;
  • Recommending that children 6 months to 8 years of age who received only one dose in their first year of vaccination receive two doses the following year, with single annual doses in subsequent years;
  • Highlighting a previous recommendation that all persons, including school-age children, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others should be vaccinated;
  • Emphasizing that immunization providers should offer influenza vaccine and schedule immunization clinics throughout the influenza season;
  • Recommending that healthcare facilities consider the level of vaccination coverage among healthcare providers to be one measure of a patient safety quality program and implement policies to encourage healthcare providers' vaccination (e.g., obtaining signed statements from healthcare providers who decline influenza vaccination); and
  • Using the 2007-2008 trivalent vaccine virus strains A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like (new for this season), A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like, and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like antigens.

Note: The PDF version (linked below) includes a free CDC-sponsored continuing-education activity that can be completed online or submitted by U.S. mail for Continuing Medical Education (CME), Continuing Education Unit (CEU), or Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credit. To access a web-text (HTML) version of the recommendations, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ rr56e629a1.htm?s_cid=rr56e629a1_e To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of it, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr56e629.pdf [PDF 713 KB].

Flu Season Posters Available

The Bureau of Immunization is pleased to announce availability of the following new flu season posters:

Note: these files are Adobe PDF versions of approximately 1 MB and open in new window.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has the following posters available for download at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Pharmacy/

Flu Vaccine Distributors

The Flu Vaccine Business Practices Initiative is a voluntary group of flu vaccine distributors who are committed to working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that seasonal flu vaccine is efficiently distributed. Members of the Flu Vaccine Business Practices Initiative have committed themselves to adhering to the Initiative's Code of Responsible Business Practices.