FDA Approves Menhibrix, A New Combination Vaccine For Infants

In February 2012, the FDA approved Menhibrix, a combination vaccine licensed for use in children age 6 weeks though 18 months. Menhibrix prevents the invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups C and Y (meningococcal disease) and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib disease).

It is important to vaccinate children younger than two years old because meningococcal and Hib diseases are very dangerous, often progress rapidly, and can cause death or serious, long-lasting health consequences such as blindness, mental retardation, or amputation. Additionally, early symptoms for both diseases can be difficult to distinguish from other common illnesses. This is the first meningococcal vaccine that can be given to children as young as six weeks. 

Menhibrix is a four-dose series with doses given at 2, 4, 6, and 12 though 15 months of age. However, the first dose can be given as early as six weeks of age, and the fourth dose may be given as late at 18 months of age.

For additional information, click here.

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Updated Vaccine Information Statements

Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are informational sheets that explain the benefits and risks of a vaccine to the vaccine recipient or legal guardian. In April 2012, the VIS for MMR was updated and can be found here.

2D Barcodes have been added to nine VISs including MMR, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV (Gardasil), polio, meningococcal, and Td/Tdap. Providers can scan the VIS 2D barcode, which will electronically capture the VIS document type, instead of manually recording the information. The use of the barcode will not be required. For more information about VIS barcodes, click here. To obtain current VISs in more than 30 languages, visit the Immunization Action Coalition’s website at www.immunize.org/vis.

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Measles Report

Although measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, it is still common in parts of Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Measles is extremely contagious, and travelers who are not fully vaccinated risk contracting and spreading the disease. Measles can be spread to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears. It is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected. The virus lives in the mucus in the nose and throat of the infected person. When an infected person sneezes or coughs, droplets spray into the air. The virus can live on infected surfaces for up to two hours.

Click here to read the full article.

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CDC Vaccine Recommendations for Travelers

Summer has arrived! When packing for a trip, especially an international trip, it is just as important to make sure to be fully immunized, as it is to remember to bring a passport. Vaccines may be needed to protect someone against diseases that are not common in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) has extensive information for travelers, including searchable lists of needed vaccines for travel to specific countries. For more information, click here.

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CAIC Welcomes a New Staff Member!

Kelly McKenna joined the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition in May 2012 as a Project Coordinator for the Chicago Area Immunization Campaign (CAIC). Kelly has a Masters of Arts degree in Education Policy Studies from The George Washington University, Washington DC, and a Bachelors of Science degree in History, and Politics and Government from Illinois State University. Prior to joining CAIC, Kelly worked as an intern for the Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers and the American Youth Policy Forum. In graduate school, Kelly’s coursework included a comprehensive approach to research, policy, and advocacy. Kelly may be reached at
kmckenna@ilmaternal.org or 312/491-8161 x35.

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Free Community Immunization Education Trainings

The Chicago Area Immunization Campaign, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health, will be hosting free community immunization education trainings. Attend a FREE training to learn about the new Community Immunization Education Curriculum. Experience in health outreach or immunizations is not necessary.

The Toolkit is a simple, user-friendly collection of resources and materials for the immunization trainer.  It provides background information that the trainee can use as they train fellow community workers and/or educate the public about immunizations.  One training will be held on July 13 at the 7th District Police Station and one on July 20 at Loretto Hospital. For event information and to register, click here. For more information, contact Sheila Sanders at ssanders@ilmaternal.org or 312/491-8161 x23.

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National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition: Text4baby Program:

To help pregnant women and new moms get information about pregnancy and caring for a newborn, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (HMHB) created text4baby, the first free health text messaging service in the U.S. Text4baby supports moms by providing accurate, timely, and concise health information and resources via text messages.

Click here to read the full article.

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New Resource Guides: Healthy Beginnings for Babies

Studies show that many newborns in the United States do not receive the preventive care necessary for them to have a healthy start in life. The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition is partnering with Merck, the National Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition, and the National Medical Association for a second year on Healthy Beginnings for Babies, an initiative that emphasizes the importance of well-baby visits and receiving all recommended immunizations during the first year of life. 

As part of this initiative, parents can receive a free 12-month Guide for Baby’s 1st Year, which includes topics such as what to expect at each doctor visit, questions to ask pediatricians, and a pull-out chart to record the baby’s growth and vaccinations.  The booklet is available in both English and Spanish. Providers can also receive free posters that express the importance of keeping up with a child’s well-baby visits.

If you are interested in ordering the guides or posters or would like more information about the Healthy Beginnings for Babies initiative in Chicago, contact Sheila Sanders at ssanders@ilmaternal.org or 312/491-8161 x23. 

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Register Today: The Illinois Immunization and Communicable Disease Conference

The 2012 Illinois Immunization and Communicable Disease Conference will be held July 30-31, 2012 at the Marriott in Bloomington-Normal Hotel & Conference Center in Normal, Illinois. The conference provides health care professionals throughout Illinois with current and accurate information on important infectious disease topics for performing essential services directly related to, or impacted by, infection control issues, health and medical education efforts and public health practices. Topics to be discussed include immunizations, communicable diseases, and tuberculosis.   This affordable event offers nursing contact hours, CEUs for licensed environmental health practitioners and certified health education specialists, and standard CEUs.   For more information and to register, click here.

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IMCHC’s 2012 Annual Benefit

Join the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition for our 24th Annual Benefit!  

The Benefit, Promotion, Prevention, and Participation, will take place on Thursday, September 13, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Carnivale. The proceeds from the annual benefit will allow us to continue to advocate for women, children, and families in Illinois. We hope you can help us make this year’s benefit a success by supporting our important work! For more information and to register for the event, click here. For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Lilah Handler at lhandler@ilmaternal.org or 312/491-8161.

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American College of Physicians: Webinar on Risk-Benefit of Vaccination

The American College of Physicians will be hosting a webinar on July 18, 2012 at 11am. The speaker is Marie Brown, MD, FACP, from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Receive practical guidance on how and why vaccines are important in patients’ day-to-day lives. For additional information or to register for this webinar, click here.

Vaccine Education Center Webinar Series

The next Vaccine Education Center (VEC) webinar will be on September 12, 2012 at 1pm, CST. The speaker is Paul Offit, M.D., Director of the VEC at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Each webinar focuses on topics being addressed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, in the media, or asked by parents. The specific topics addressed in this one hour webinar will be made available 1-2 weeks before the webinar. For more information and to register, click here.

CDC Resources for Parents and Health Care Professionals

In an effort to provide parents with accurate information about immunizations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created a new website that is focused on providing answers to parents about childhood and adolescent vaccines, and the diseases they prevent. The CDC designed the website based on input from parent focus groups. For more information on the website for parents, click here.

Immunization schedules are notoriously difficult to read. In an effort to address this issue, the CDC posted three easy- to- read schedules. To view the easy-to-read immunization schedules for children (birth – 6 years), adolescents (7-18 years), and adults (19 years and older), click here.

For fact sheets about each of the routinely recommended adolescent vaccines, click here.

A new fact sheet was developed for health care providers about adolescent vaccine recommendations. To view the adolescent fact sheet, click here.

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Relaunches Adult Vaccination Website:

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) announced the relaunch of its adult vaccination website at  www.adultvaccination.org. The updated website offers visitors up-to-date information and resources focused on adult vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases, including personal stories.

Resources From CDC’s First National Immunization Conference Online:

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) held its first National Immunization Conference Online (NICO) in March 2012. Topics discussed included vaccine safety, programmatic issues, and communications. Recordings of all sessions, and slide sets for most presentations are available for free online.

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