Immunization News and Advisories

Date: January 17, 2008                 
To: Pediatric Vaccine Providers
From: Patricia Raymond, Immunization Program Manager

Re: 2008 Immunization Update

Hib Vaccine Supply Update

The recent recall and subsequent shut down of the production of Merck’s PedvaxHIB vaccine has resulted in a shortage of available Hib vaccine for all states.  In response to the shortage, CDC is restricting the amount of Sanofi Pasteur’s ActHib vaccine states are allowed to order.  The CDC has restricted RI ordering to approximately 3,000 doses per month. Therefore, providers are asked to monitor Hib inventory very closely, since orders may not be able to be filled as requested.  Please continue to adhere to the interim recommendations for the deferral of the booster dose at 12-15 months of age for all healthy children.  Children at high-risk of disease should continue to receive the booster dose. ( interim recommendations ) For questions about your vaccine order, please contact Mark Francesconi or 222-5988.

Influenza Update

Continue to give influenza vaccine throughout the influenza season—from now through the early months of 2008. An increase in reports of flu-like illness has been reported through the state’s Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System.  The flu activity level has changed from sporadic to regional in the last week. (more)

Updated Childhood/Adolescent Immunization Schedules

On January 11, 2008, CDC issued their 2008 recommended and catch-up immunization schedules for persons 0-18 years. Major changes include:

• Recommendations for FluMist, intranasal live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) include healthy children as young as 2 years. FluMist should not be administered to children younger than 5 years with recurrent wheezing.
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is now licensed and preferred to meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) for children 2-10 years of age who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease (children traveling to or residents of countries in which the disease is hyperendemic or epidemic, children who have terminal complement component deficiencies, and children who have anatomic or functional asplenia). The catch-up schedule for children aged 13-18 years has been updated.
• The Td/Tdap catch-up schedule for persons 7-18 years who received their first dose before age 12 months now indicates that these youths should receive 4 doses, with at least 4 weeks (not 8 weeks) between doses 2 and 3.
• The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) footnote reflects updated recommendations for incompletely vaccinated children aged 24-59 months, including those with underlying medical conditions.

For more information about the CDC schedule go to: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm#mmwr. To access Rhode Island’s Recommended Childhood Schedule for Routine Vaccination Using State Supplied Vaccine go to: www.health.ri.gov/immunization/StateSuppliedVaccine.pdf .