Recent News

The Vilest Anti-Vaccine Lie That Won't Die: Shaken Baby Syndrome as 'Vaccine Injury'

Updated Vaccine Storage and Handling Guide
The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease has released the updated Vaccine Storage and Handling Guide (formerly Vaccine Management). This guide is a comprehensive and authoritative document providing storage and handling guidelines for specific vaccines, including combination vaccines. Access the guide online.   

Updated Hepatitis B Vaccine Information Statement 

• Updates to some of the epidemiologic statistics in Part 1;
• Inclusion of the routine schedules and addition of diabetes as an recommendation for patients younger than 60 years of age in Part 3; and
• A note in Part 4 about waiting to donate blood following vaccination.

New CDC Resource: Strategies for Involving Parents in School Health

The CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health recently released Parent Engagement: Strategies for Involving Parents in School Health. This new resource defines and describes parent engagement and identifies specific strategies and actions that schools can take to increase parent engagement in school health activities. Read the document online.     

CDC Reaffirms Support for Antiviral Medications for Treating the Flu    

Following reports questioning the effectiveness of antiviral medications for treating the flu, the CDC issued a statement reaffirming its support of these medications. "After careful consideration of all evidence, CDC guidance on the use of antiviral medications remains unchanged," the report stated. Learn more.  

NACCHO Immunization Videos Page

NACCHO has gathered videos addressing vaccination into one convenient place.  Watch short videos covering immunization issues, including influenza, pertussis, adolescent immunization, and personal stories about vaccine preventable diseases.  Videos range from humorous to serious and target a variety of ages.   

Save the Date! Spring MAPP Training   

Are you interested in improving your community's health? Have you heard of Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP)? Join NACCH at the Spring MAPP Training, held in Denver, CO April 2-4, 2012. Find out more by visiting our website, or contact mapp@naccho.org with questions.

Current Issues in Immunization Net Conference

The next net conference is scheduled for March 29, 2012. The moderator will be Andrew Kroger. The topics will be the 2012 Childhood/Adolescent Immunization Schedule Update, presented by Yabo Beysolow and the 2012 Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule, presented by Raymond Strikas. Please visit the immunization net conference web page for updates and archived netconferences.

Register for the National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions 

The 10th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions (NCIHC) will be in New Orleans on May 23-25, 2012. Please visit the NCIHC website for additional information.     

AHRQ Announces New Scientific Director Position

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)seeks a senior level clinician to serve as the Scientific Director of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This is an opportunity to improve the health of all Americans by supporting the USPSTF in making evidence-based recommendations on clinical preventive care. The Scientific Director provides a vital link between AHRQ and the USPSTF, sharing valuable guidance on a process that shapes clinical decision-making in our country. Find out more about this position and apply here.

NACCHO Wants to Know about Your Immunization Activities for Adults
Some activities designed to promote immunizations for adults are currently under discussion. Are any of our readers involved in any activity or project that is promoting immunizations for adults? Can you tell us about it? Email Paul Etkind with some details. 

Submit a Tool to NACCHO's Immunization and Infectious Disease Toolkits

NACCHO's Immunization and Infectious Disease Toolkits are intended to provide local health departments (LHDs) with resources related to immunization and infectious disease prevention and control practices. Examples of tools include templates, guides, community resources and much more. Log in to submit your own resources to the Toolkit to share with other LHDs.

Investigation and control of an outbreak of Achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteremia
Behrens-Muller B, Conway J, Yoder J, Conover CS. (2012). Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 33(2):180-4.

Changing trends in viral hepatitis-associated hospitalizations in the American Indian/Alaska Native population, 1995-2007
Byrd KK, Redd JT, Holman RC, Haberling DL, Cheek JE. (2011). Public Health Rep. 126(6):816-25.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 61(4):61-5.

Adult vaccination coverage - United States, 2010
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 61(4):66-72.

Recommended adult immunization schedule: United States, 2012
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (2012). Ann Intern Med. (e-pub ahead of print).  

Fatal influenza B infections: Time to reexamine influenza research priorities
McCullers JA, Hayden FG. (2012). J Infect Dis. (e-pub ahead of print). 

Transmission of hepatitis C virus infection through tattooing and piercing: A critical review
Tohme RA, Holmberg SD. (2012). Clin Infect Dis. (e-pub ahead of print).