Measles Outbreak in 15 States

CDC

From January 1 to March 28, 2019, 387** individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 15 states.  This is the second-greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since measles was eliminated in 2000. View cases and outbreaks.

The states that have reported cases to CDC are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

The CDC recommends the following:

  • Routine childhood immunization for MMR vaccine starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age or at least 28 days following the first dose.
  • Students at post-high school educational institutions without evidence of measles immunity need two doses of MMR vaccine, with the second dose administered no earlier than 28 days after the first dose.
  • Adults: People who are born during or after 1957 who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine.
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Mark Your Calendars for National Infant Immunization Week

NIIW

This year marks the 25th anniversary of National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW). From April 27–May 4, 2019, NIIW will highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and will celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States. Learn more about National Infant Immunization Week.

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CDC publishes interim estimates of the 2018–19 influenza vaccine effectiveness

IAC Express

CDC published Interim Estimates of 2018–19 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness—United States, February 2019 in the February 15 issue of MMWR (pages 135–139). A summary made available to the press is reprinted below.

CDC recommends yearly influenza vaccination for children at least 6 months old and adults. Early estimates indicate that influenza vaccines have reduced the risk of medically attended influenza-related illness by almost half (47%) in vaccinated people so far this season. Vaccination reduced the rate of illness caused by the predominant influenza H1N1 virus by about 46 percent among patients of all ages, and by about 62 percent among children 6 months through 17 years of age. Vaccination provided similar protection to that seen in previous H1N1 seasons in children and in adults younger than age 50. For these estimates, 3,254 children and adults with acute respiratory illness were enrolled from November 23, 2018 to February 2, 2019 at five study sites with outpatient medical facilities in the United States.

Influenza activity continues to increase in the U.S.  with six additional pediatric deaths from influenza reported, for a total of 34 as of February 9. Please continue to vaccinate all your patients six months of age and older.

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2019 Immunization Schedule for Birth through 18 years is Updated & Published

IAC Express

CDC published ACIP Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger—U.S., 2019 in MMWR (pages 112–114). You can access all immunization schedules from the KAFP website under Resources A-Z  “CDC Immunization Schedule.”

Each year, ACIP updates the immunization schedules to reflect current recommendations for licensed vaccines. In October 2018, ACIP voted to approve the recommended immunization schedules for 2019. The birth through 18 years recommended schedule has been approved by CDC, AAP, AAFP, and ACOG.

Changes in the 2019 child/adolescent immunization schedule include new or revised ACIP recommendations for hepatitis A vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, influenza vaccine, and Tdap vaccine, as well as clarification of the recommendations for inactivated poliovirus vaccine.

 

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Influenza widespread in 45 states; CDC reports 24 pediatric deaths from influenza in the U.S.

IAC Express

CDC stated in its Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView, that during the week ending January 26, the geographic spread of influenza in 45 states was reported as widespread; Puerto Rico and 3 states reported regional activity; two states reported local activity; the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported sporadic activity; and Guam did not report.

CDC has reported 2 additional pediatric deaths from influenza in the U.S. this season, for a total of 24. Last season, there was a record-setting number of pediatric deaths in the U.S. (185), so be sure to protect all your patients for whom vaccination is recommended.

Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age and older. If you don’t provide influenza vaccination in your clinic, please recommend vaccination to your patients and refer them to a clinic or pharmacy that provides vaccines or to the HealthMap Vaccine Finder to locate sites near their workplaces or homes that offer influenza vaccination services.

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Register for KIP-KIS session: Hesitancy and Provider Recommendations webinar

Kansas Immunization Program

Registration is open for the February 21, 2019 KIP-KIS webinar.

Register Now

Thursday, February 21, 2019

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Vaccine Hesitancy – How to Talk to Parents so They Will Listen, and Listen so Parents Will Talk

Presented by Barbara Pahud, MD

  • The University of Kansas Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 Hour(s) Attendance w/ No Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • The University of Kansas Medical Center Office of Continuing Medical Education designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • APRNs/Nurses:The University of Kansas Medical Center Area Health Education Center East is approved as a provider of CNE by the Kansas State Board of Nursing. This course offering is approved for 1 contact hour(s) applicable for APRN, RN, or LPN relicensure. Kansas State Board of Nursing provider number: LT0056-0749. Mary Beth Warren, MS, RN, Coordinator.

 

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Share video immunizations resource with patients

IAC Express

CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases recently launched the first video in a new, animated video series for parents titled “How Vaccines Work.” In these short videos, viewers follow baby Jack and his parents as they get answers to common vaccine-related questions and learn more about the importance of vaccinating on schedule. The first video describes how vaccines fight germs and provide long-lasting protection against 14 serious diseases. Please share with your patients with children.

CDC will be launching two additional videos in February and March on the following topics: “Vaccines and Your Baby’s Immune System” and “What to Expect When Your Child is Vaccinated.”

Learn more at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/childhood-vaccines.

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Influenza Continues to Rise

IAC Express

CDC reports that flu activity is elevated and 11 children have died of influenza; please keep vaccinating your patients.

CDC stated in its Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView, that as of the week ending December 22, influenza activity was increasing in the U.S. Four influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 51, for a total of 11 influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported for the 2018–2019 season. Last season, there was a record-setting number of pediatric deaths in the U.S. (172), so be sure to protect all your patients for whom vaccination is recommended.

Access the CDC complete report: 2018–2019 Flu Season: Flu Activity Elevated Nationally.

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Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll

IAC Express

Immunization Action Coalition is recognizing healthcare settings that have mandated influenza vaccination for their staff with the goal to protect their patients. Honorees include healthcare systems, hospitals, medical practices, pharmacies, and many others.Congratulations to the following Kansas Influenza Vaccination Honorees.

To be included in the Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll, the mandate you are reporting must require influenza vaccination for all staff and, in addition, must include measures to prevent transmission of influenza from unvaccinated personnel to patients. If you are not listed as an honoree and meet the requirements, click here to apply.

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Influenza Resources for You

AAFP/IAC Express

Influenza season is now under way. This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), December 2–8. Check out the NIVW toolkit which includes videos, communication hints, matte articles to submit to newspapers, animated graphics, and more!

This flu season, Familydoctor.org is setting out to serve you and help patients by providing an impressive library of assets you can use in social media to talk to patients about the flu and prevention. Check out the Familydoctor.org Guide for the Flu Season toolkit. Facebook and Twitter posts, graphics, GIFs, videos and articles are available for you to use on social media networks to educate patients on the flu and prevention. Also watch for KAFP posts on Facebook and Twitter and like and share!

This is a great time to vaccinate your patients who have not yet been protected against flu and to remind your patients who have not been vaccinated to be sure they get protected. Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age and older. As a reminder, vaccination efforts should continue through the holiday season and beyond. Peak influenza activity does not generally occur until February. Read the CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report.

 

 

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