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Georgia Chapter Recipient of Outstanding Chapter Award 1966, 1996, 2000 & 2004 |
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2008 Recommended Immunization Schedules ACIP Immunization Recommendations Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS) Georgia Vaccines for Children Program (VFC)
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Immunization Information For additional information, questions, or concerns please contact Mike Chaney, Immunization Coordinator at (404) 881-5094 or mchaney@gaaap.org The Chapter’s EPIC Immunization Education Program website contains current vaccine information statements (VISs), immunization schedules and useful immunization resources. Measles Outbreak Linked to Lack of Vaccinations Click Here for specifics related to confirmed measles cases in the US. Summary of the CDC Media Call on Measles Outbreaks: Click Here for an update on measles outbreaks throughout the United States (May 1, 2008). Click on the following link for the MMWR report on this topic. The report contains information on measles outbreaks from January 1 – April 25, 2008: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm57e501a1.htm Merck Hib Vaccine Recall. Click Here for a letter from Merck regarding the Hib vaccine recall. To view a Chapter blastfax with additional details about this recall, click here. Haemophilus influenzae type b (PedivaxHIB®) Vaccine Shortage. Merck & Co., Inc. has reported that its H. influenza type b conjugate vaccine, PedivaxHIB® (PRP-OMB), is currently unavailable for shipment. Merck expects that PedivaxHIB® will be available again sometime in the first quarter of 2008 but the exact timing will depend upon resolution of a manufacturing issue. Merck has an adequate amount of ComVax® (PRP-OMP/hepatitis B) to meet current demand, but not to meet an increased demand. To partially address this shortage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to make limited amounts of PedivaxHIB® available from its vaccine stockpile. Vaccine from the stockpile will be available to the private sector through Merck & Co. and through VFC for the public sector. The quantity of vaccine being released from the stockpile will not be of sufficient to meet current demand for PedivaxHIB®. Sanofi pasteur is working to provide additional ActHib® (PRP-T) to meet current needs for H. influenzae (Hib) vaccine. Physicians should plan to utilize to ActHib® to keep infants and children up-to-date with the Hib vaccination schedule. It is possible that backorders may result from a marked increase in demand. At this time, no changes are being considered in H. influenzae (Hib) immunization recommendations. Red Book, 2006 states that available monovalent Hib conjugate vaccines are considered interchangeable for primary and booster immunization and if PRP-OMB is administered as only part of a primary series, the recommended number of doses to complete the series is determined by the other Hib conjugate vaccine. Therefore, if only one dose of PRP-OMB was given, 2 doses of PRP-T will be necessary to complete the primary series. Any available Hib conjugate vaccine can be used for the booster dose at 12-15 months. The catch up Hib immunization schedule is also available in Red Book, 2006. Clinics serving predominantly American Indian/Alaskan Native children may wish to consider using ActHib® for subsequent Hib doses as soon as possible to enable them to use their remaining supplies of PRP-OMB for the first dose of Hib vaccine until the vaccine becomes available again. PRP-OMB is recommended for these children because of their high risk of Hib disease and the more rapid protective antibody response seen with PRP-OMB. Updates on vaccine availability will be provided as more information becomes available. Information on current vaccine supply issues may be found on the CDC Web site. Infection Prevention & Control. The September 3, 2007 edition of Pediatrics featured an article entitled, Infection Prevention and Control in Pediatric Ambulatory Settings. Infection-prevention and control practices have long been recognized as an important means of preventing transmission of infectious agents. Table 5 on page 657 provides a listing of immunizations that staff members should receive. Click here to view the article. JAMA Article related to Vaccine Preventable Diseases. In the November 14, 2007 issue of JAMA, Sandra W. Roush, M.T., M.P.H., and Trudy V. Murphy, M.D., of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and colleagues with the Vaccine-Preventable Disease Table Working Group, examined the illness and death rates before and after widespread implementation of national vaccine recommendations (in place before 2005) for 13 vaccine-preventable diseases. The diseases were diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella (including congenital rubella syndrome), invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), acute hepatitis B, hepatitis A, varicella (chickenpox), invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae and smallpox. The number of cases of most vaccine-preventable diseases is at an all-time low; hospitalizations and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases have also shown striking decreases. The full article is available by clicking here. Vaccine Cost Study. The Chapter is working with CDC on a vaccine cost study to help define the total cost of providing vaccines to pediatric patients in the private practice setting. Total costs include labor and overhead costs of vaccination to pediatric practices. The ratio of vaccine costs to other practice expenses is considered as well. Results will be analyzed by the CDC and used to aid policy makers in government and insurance in determining reimbursement rates for ordering, storing, and administering pediatric and adolescent vaccines. We are soliciting members to participate. Please see the Chapter blast fax for additional information. The Vaccine Management Business Improvement Project (VMBIP) represents the efforts of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at CDC, state and local immunization program managers, and an outside consulting group, to improve current vaccine management processes at the federal, state and local levels. The goals for the project are to identify opportunities and develop solutions towards improving efficiency, accountability, and the nation's ability to respond to public health crises. Please see the Chapter blast fax for additional information on VMBIP. Updated VMBIP implementation information was included in a blastfax sent on January 9, 2008 is available by clicking here (scroll to bottom). Sanofi Pasteur receives FDA approval of meningococcal vaccine for children. Click here for details. FluMist is now approved for children as young as 24 months. Click here for additional information regarding the expanded recommendation. GRITS Champion. Dr. Harry Foster of Lithonia, GA and his staff have been named GRITS Champion for going the extra mile to care for Georgia’s children. More information on Dr. Foster’s participation in GRITS and other beneficial immunization information may be found in the current issue of the Immunize Georgia newsletter.
Information pertaining to the immunization requirements for schools and child care facilities, policy guidance, the Vaccines for Children Program and the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS) can be found on the Georgia Immunization Program website. For detailed updates on newly licensed vaccines and expanded licensures, please see the AAP Red Book® Online website. New Immunization Requirements for Children Entering Georgia Schools and Child Care Facilities Approved: This spring the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) approved changes to the current rules and regulations pertaining to immunization requirements in schools and child care facilities in Georgia. Effective July 1, 2007 new vaccine requirements include immunization against pneumococcal disease and Hepatitis A. Also, additional doses of varicella and mumps vaccines are included in this change. Several documents are available that will help explain the new requirements. Click on the following links to view these resources: Frequently Asked Questions; Video Conference; Recent Chapter Blastfax; Pre K flyer; Pre K flyer Spanish; 6th grade flyer; 6th Grade flyer Spanish.
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