Georgia Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics

                                                       

 

 DEDICATED TO THE HEALTH OF ALL CHILDREN                                

 

Novel H1N1 Influenza

 

The Chapter has created this webpage to keep its members up to date on Novel H1N1 Influenza.  Below are links to helpful websites with up-to-date information on novel H1N1 influenza: (Last Update: August 12, 2010) 

The 2010-11 Influenza Vaccine Information Statements are now available.

For the Live, Intranasal VIS  Click Here   For the Inactivated Flu Vaccine VIS Click Here

Influenza Recommendations, 2010-2011. The 2010 influenza recommendations include new and updated information. Highlights of the 2010 recommendations include 1) a recommendation that annual vaccination be administered to all persons aged ≥6 months for the 2010--11 influenza season; 2) a recommendation that children aged 6 months--8 years whose vaccination status is unknown or who have never received seasonal influenza vaccine before (or who received seasonal vaccine for the first time in 2009--10 but received only 1 dose in their first year of vaccination) as well as children who did not receive at least 1 dose of an influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine regardless of previous influenza vaccine history should receive 2 doses of a 2010--11 seasonal influenza vaccine (minimum interval: 4 weeks) during the 2010--11 season; 3) a recommendation that vaccines containing the 2010--11 trivalent vaccine virus strains A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like (the same strain as was used for 2009 H1N1 monovalent vaccines), A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like, and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like antigens be used; 4) information about Fluzone High-Dose, a newly approved vaccine for persons aged ≥65 years; and 5) information about other standard-dose newly approved influenza vaccines and previously approved vaccines with expanded age indications. Vaccination efforts should begin as soon as the 2010--11 seasonal influenza vaccine is available and continue through the influenza season. The full recommendation can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr59e0729a1.htm?s_cid=rr59e0729a1_e 

Sanofi Pasteur Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine in Multi-dose Vials—Shortened Shelf Life (August 12, 2010)

Sanofi Pasteur notified CDC and the FDA that their influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine manufactured in 2009 in multi-dose vials will have a shorter expiration period than indicated on the label, and they will provide more specific notification of which lots will be affected and the new expiration date in the very near future. This is to ensure that the vaccine is used while it remains within its potency specification. There are no safety concerns with these lots of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. People who were immunized with Sanofi Pasteur influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine from multi-dose vials do not need to take any action.

A Message from the Georgia Immunization Program Regarding Reminders for Second Dose Administration of H1N1 Influenza Vaccine

In an effort to remind parents/guardians to follow up for the second dose of H1N1 vaccine for their children 6 months through 9 years, the Georgia Department of Community Health and GRITS will initiate a reminder post card project. Using GRITS information for children in this age group, any child with only one dose of H1N1 vaccine documented will be sent a post card reminder to follow up with their physician or contact their local health department to get their second dose of vaccine.    

Post card message will be mailed in Mid-March 2010.

 

•The H1N1 virus recommended for inclusion in the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine is a pandemic 2009 H1N1 virus and is the same vaccine virus as was used in the 2009 H1N1 monovalent vaccine. Click here to read information on the vaccine selection for the 2010-2011 influenza season.

  • MedImmune Announces Limited, Voluntary, Non-safety-related Recall of Certain Lots of Unused 2009 H1N1 Product - Shortened Shelf Life.  Click Here to view the Chapter blastfax on this topic.

  • There has been a Non-Safety Related Voluntary Recall of Certain Lots of Sanofi Pasteur H1N1 Pediatric (0.25 mL, for 6-35 month olds) Vaccine in Pre-Filled Syringes. Click here to view a Chapter Blastfax with details.

  • CDC Situation Update (Updated Weekly) - Click here to review the most up to date information from the CDC

  • To assess the safety profile of H1N1 vaccines in the United States, CDC reviewed vaccine safety results for the H1N1 vaccines from 3,783 reports received through the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and electronic data from 438,376 persons vaccinated in managed-care organizations in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) as of November 24. VAERS data indicated 82 adverse event reports per 1 million H1N1 vaccine doses distributed, compared with 47 reports per 1 million seasonal influenza vaccine doses distributed. However, no substantial differences between H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines were noted in the proportion or types of serious adverse events reported. No increase in any adverse events under surveillance has been seen in VSD data. Additional information from the December 4, 2009 MMWR can be found at the following link. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm58e1204a1.htm?s_cid=mm58e1204a1_e

  • Each week the CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView.  Click on the following link to view these weekly reports. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

  • Click here to view the top 10 frequently asked questions on use of influenza A(H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccines (2009 H1N1 vaccines): Practical considerations for immunization programs and providers from the CDC

  • DCH Launches H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Provider Locator webpage.  This is an online search tool that allows a user to locate a 2009 H1N1 vaccine provider with four simple steps.  

    1. Log on to http://health.state.ga.us/h1n1flu

    2. Click on the H1N1 Provider Locator button

    3. Enter a 5-digit zip code and select your preferred distance for travel to the provider’s office

    4. Click on ‘Search for a Provider’

·         The Georgia Immunization Program has created a H1N1 handout providing information on: the five preparations that will be supplied, age groups covered by each vaccine and time intervals between doses. Contraindications, precautions, and spacing guidelines are also listed.

 

·         Click Here to view the Georgia Medicaid FAQ's on H1N1 Influenza Vaccine.

  • Vaccine Information Statements for H1N1 Influenza Vaccine. 

  • Currently, weekly shipments of H1N1 vaccine are anticipated into January 2010. These shipments will be based on the number of doses in each lot scheduled for release, and on production forecasts from the manufacturers. These forecasts are subject to change over time.

  • Providers can also contact their public health district office for updates on the H1N1 local activities. Click Here for a listing of H1N1 Public Health District Contacts.  If you are unsure which public health district your practice is in, please click here for a map of the public health districts and the counties within each district. (The map is a pdf and may take a few seconds to load.)  

  • FDA Licenses Four Vaccines for H1N1 Influenza Virus:  On September 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it approved four vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The vaccines will be distributed nationally after the initial lots become available, which is expected within the next four weeks.   The vaccines are made by CSL Limited, MedImmune LLC, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited, and sanofi pasteur Inc. All four firms manufacture the H1N1 vaccines using the same processes, which have a long record of producing safe seasonal influenza vaccines.  In the ongoing clinical studies, the vaccines have been well tolerated. Potential side effects of the H1N1 vaccines are expected to be similar to those of seasonal flu vaccines.  To read the entire FDA news release online, please go to: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm182399.htm

  • New CPT Codes for H1N1 Immunizations (September 29, 2009) The American Medical Association has published a new Current Procedural Terminology code specific to vaccine administration, and revised existing code 90663 to include the H1N1 flu vaccine. The new code, 90470, is to report H1N1 immunization administration and counseling. Code 90663 has been revised to refer specifically to the H1N1 vaccine product. Both codes are effective immediately and will assist providers in efficiently reporting and tracking immunization services..
    For quick reference purposes, the codes are:
    * 90470: H1N1 immunization administration (intramuscular, intranasal), including counseling when performed, and
    * 90663: Influenza virus vaccine, pandemic formulation, H1N1.

 

For questions or concerns regarding this webpage or any other immunization information, please contact the Chapter’s Immunization Coordinator, Mike Chaney at (404) 881-5094 or mchaney@gaaap.org. 

 

 

 

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