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August 25, 2017

Taryn Chapman 2017 Buzz, Uncategorized

Announcements
Summit Call Recap – July 13, 2017
Summit Call Recap – July 27, 2017

ANNOUNCEMENTS

2017–2018 ACIP Influenza Vaccine Recommendations Published

On August 25, CDC published Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – United States, 2017–18 Influenza Season.

The Recommendations summary states:

This report updates the 2016–17 recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of seasonal influenza vaccines. Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months who do not have contraindications. A licensed, recommended, and age-appropriate vaccine should be used.

For the 2017–18 season, quadrivalent and trivalent influenza vaccines will be available. Inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs) will be available in trivalent (IIV3) and quadrivalent (IIV4) formulations. Recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) will be available in trivalent (RIV3) and quadrivalent (RIV4) formulations. Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) is not recommended for use during the 2017–18 season due to concerns about its effectiveness against (H1N1)pdm09 viruses during the 2013–14 and 2015–16 seasons. Recommendations for different vaccine types and specific populations are discussed. No preferential recommendation is made for one influenza vaccine product over another for persons for whom more than one licensed, recommended product is available.

Updates to the recommendations described in this report reflect discussions during public meetings of ACIP held on October 20, 2016; February 22, 2017; and June 21, 2017. New and updated information in this report includes the following:

Vaccine viruses included in the 2017–18 U.S. trivalent influenza vaccines will be an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09–like virus, an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus, and a B/Brisbane/60/2008–like virus (Victoria lineage). Quadrivalent influenza vaccines will contain these three viruses and an additional influenza B vaccine virus, a B/Phuket/3073/2013–like virus (Yamagata lineage).

Information on recent licensures and labelling changes is discussed, including licensure of Afluria Quadrivalent (IIV4; Seqirus, Parkville, Victoria, Australia); Flublok Quadrivalent (RIV4; Protein Sciences, Meriden, Connecticut); and expansion of the age indication for FluLaval Quadrivalent (IIV4; ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada), previously licensed for ≥3 years, to ≥6 months.

Pregnant women may receive any licensed, recommended, age-appropriate influenza vaccine.

Afluria (IIV3; Seqirus, Parkville, Victoria, Australia) may be used for persons aged ≥5 years, consistent with Food and Drug Administration–approved labeling.

FluMist Quadrivalent (LAIV4; MedImmune, Gaithersburg, Maryland) should not be used during the 2017–18 season due to concerns about its effectiveness against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses in the United States during the 2013–14 and 2015–16 influenza seasons.

This report focuses on the recommendations for use of vaccines for the prevention and control of influenza during the 2017–18 season in the United States. A Background Document containing further information and a summary of these recommendations are available.

These recommendations apply to licensed influenza vaccines used within Food and Drug Administration–licensed indications, including those licensed after the publication date of this report. Updates and other information are available at CDC’s influenza website. Vaccination and health care providers should check CDC’s influenza website periodically for additional information.

Melinda Wharton Appointed as Acting Director of the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO)

Beginning August 7, Melinda Wharton MD, MPH, will join NVPO on a 120-day detail from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she is the Acting Director of the Immunization Services Division in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Her vast experience in immunization issues, including epidemiology and surveillance, vaccine policy, vaccine safety science, and public health response, will be a tremendous asset to NVPO and our partners during this period of transition.

September Meeting of National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) Cancelled

After consultation with the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health, National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) leadership and the NVAC chair, the September 17 NVAC meeting is cancelled. Over the next few months, priorities for the committee will be formulated to tackle critical issues that affect the vaccine and immunization system. Should Summit partners have any questions, please feel free to contact Angela Shen.

Don’t Forget! Great Tools Are Available to Assist Satellite, Temporary, and Off-Site Vaccination Clinics

Satellite, temporary, and off-site vaccination clinics play an important role in improving vaccination coverage rates and vaccinating hard-to-reach populations. These helpful tools were developed to help these clinics meet the unique challenges presented when providing services in these settings.

NFID Flu Awareness Night at the Washington Nationals – September 15, 2017

Join the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and the Washington Nationals for the 6th Annual Flu Awareness Night in Washington, DC on Friday, September 15, 2017.

Watch the Washington Nationals take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:05 pm at Nationals Park, 1500 S Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003, to support flu awareness and prevention this season. More information, including a link to purchase tickets, is available online.  Five dollars ($5) from each ticket sold will be donated to NFID to help support the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including influenza. Tickets are going fast. Join NFID to show your support and help #FightFlu!

SUMMIT CALL RECAP – JULY 13, 2017

Announcements – L.J Tan (IAC)

L.J called attention to several items of interest that are detailed in the July 12 issue of The Summit Buzz.

  • ICAMP – The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) has relaunched its popular Immunization Champions, Advocates, and Mentors Program (ICAMP) program. This multidisciplinary, one-half day training program is designed to equip health care professionals to champion adult immunization practices that improve public health and the quality of care for the people they serve. Trainings will be held in four locations:
  • Miami (9/14)
  • San Antonio (9/28)
  • Chicago (10/10)
  • New York City (11/2)
  • ACOG Webinar on Improving Maternal Immunization Rates – The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is presenting a webinar, Best Practices to Improve Maternal Immunization, on Monday, August 7, 2017 at 12:00 pm ET. This free, 1 CME credit webinar will focus on the importance of maternal immunizations. Registration information is available online.
  • Adult Immunization Executive Briefing Featured in Becker’s Hospital Review – The Summit recently sponsored an executive briefing, Making Prevention the Priority: How to Boost Adult Immunization Rates, in Becker’s Hospital Review. As we continue to work on improving the value of adult vaccinations as the transformation of healthcare delivery progresses, articles like this are an important step in generating awareness. Please feel free to share this information widely.

Influenza Surveillance Update – Noreen Alabi (CDC)

Noreen provided highlights of the influenza surveillance report from week 26, ending on July 1, 2017.

Influenza activity in the U.S. has is relatively low. The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza in clinical laboratories was 3.6%. Nationwide, influenza-like illness (ILI) activity was at 0.7%, below the national baseline of 2.2%.

No influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported during week 26 A total of 101 pediatric deaths have occurred during the 2016–2017 season. Of these, the majority (63%, 64/101) were influenza A.

Based on reports from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) surveillance system available on June 17, 5.7% of deaths were due to pneumonia and influenza (P&I). This percentage is below the epidemic threshold of 6.7% for the week.

Noreen reminded Summit partners that the surveillance report in the summer is abbreviated. Additional details are available on CDC’s FluView Interactive webpage.

CDC Influenza Communications Survey – Kathleeen LaPorte (CDC)

Kathleen provided a brief overview of a new CDC new survey developed specifically for Summit partners. The survey is designed to provide input to CDC on how to improve influenza communication resources for partners. The 10-question survey, which should take 10–15 minutes to complete, includes questions on resources that partners currently use, where they obtain these resources, and gaps in available information. CDC asks that you please take a few minutes to describe your current flu prevention and education efforts and provide input on how CDC can better support your influenza work. If you have additional comments or questions, please contact the CDC influenza team. L.J thanked CDC for reaching out to the Summit to obtain this information.

Other Items – L.J Tan (IAC)

L.J noted that Carolyn Bridges was participating in the call. This is officially her last week with CDC. He thanked Carolyn for her incredible dedication to adult immunization issues and for serving as an inspiring role model to Summit partners. Carolyn expressed her gratitude and mentioned that she hopes to remain involved in Summit activities in the future.

SUMMIT CALL RECAP – JULY 27, 2017

Influenza Surveillance Update – Noreen Alabi (CDC)

Noreen provided highlights of the influenza surveillance report from week 28, ending on July 15, 2017.

Influenza A viruses were the most commonly detected for the week. The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza in clinical laboratories was 2.7%. Nationwide, influenza-like 8llness (ILI) activity was at 0.8%, below the national baseline of 2.2%.

Two influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported during week 28, and one previously reported pediatric death that has been reclassified. Following these changes, a total of 102 pediatric deaths have occurred during the 2016–2017 season.

Based on reports from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) surveillance system available as of week 26, 5.5% of deaths were due to pneumonia and influenza (P&I). This percentage is below the epidemic threshold of 6.2% for the week.

Noreen reminded Summit partners that the surveillance report in the summer is abbreviated. Additional details are available on CDC’s FluView Interactive webpage.

Maternal and Adult Immunization Composite Measures Update – Angela Shen (NVPO)

Angela provided a quick update on progress for both the maternal and adult immunization composite measures.

                  • Maternal Measures– On future calls, Angela will to provide an update on plans for the recruitment and testing of this measure. She also will discuss the prenatal status (e.g., disparities by plan type, age, race, etc.) of pregnant women enrolled in this project. Angela also will provide information on how well the electronic central data system being used to report the prenatal measure has worked.
                  • Adult Composite Measure – This contract has been awarded to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The group will be conducting the testing on a fairly accelerated timeline. The composite will be stratified for age groups 19–59, 60–64, and 65+ years. Vaccines included in the measure are Tdap/Td, zoster, pneumococcal, and influenza.

Finally, Angela reported on completion of the work conducted by the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Subgroup of the Quality and Performance Measure Workgroup. This group’s work will be culminating in a letter sent from the Summit to CMS offering suggestions around the adult measures, which include influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B.

Reminder

Summit calls are scheduled every Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern time, unless cancelled. Please email L.J Tan or LaDora Woods if you have any updates on activities to provide to the Summit.

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