GOT
An Immunization Update from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
Flu is still circulating in Minnesota
To date this 2015-16 season, there have been three influenza
associated deaths in children. This highlights the fact that even in a
mild influenza season, severe cases and deaths do occur. We expect
to continue to see cases of influenza for many weeks.
Make sure you:
• Keep recommending vaccination to everyone 6 months and older
who hasn’t received it yet.
• Use antivirals for treatment and prophylaxis, especially those at
high risk because of age or health condition.
• Promote general disease prevention strategies: hand washing with
soap and water, covering your cough, and staying home when sick.
Visit our Influenza (www.mdhflu.com) website for more information.
Got Your Shots? Immunization Conference - Fall 2016
After a hiatus last year, the Got Your Shots? Immunization
Conference will be back this fall! The conference will take place in the
Twin Cities metro area. We will be announcing the dates and location
in early April. Stay tuned for more information, and we look forward
to seeing you there!
FDA expands license for 9vHPV vaccine
FDA licensure and ACIP recommendations are or now in sync for
males and 9vHPV vaccine. In December 2015 the FDA expanded the
age indications for 9vHPV to include males age 9 through 26 years.
The ACIP recommendations have not changed. All children should
receive the HPV vaccination series at 11-12 years. Females can
receive either 2vHPV, 4vHPV, or 9vHPV; males can receive either
4vHPV or 9vHPV. Catch-up is recommended for females through age
26 years, and for males through age 21 years. Certain at-risk males
age 22 through 26 years should also receive HPV vaccine if they
haven’t already been vaccinated (i.e., MSM and those who are
immunocompromised, including HIV-positive persons).
Now that 9vHPV, manufactured by Merck, is licensed for all persons
age 9 through 26 years, the manufacturer plans to discontinue 4vHPV
by the end of 2016.
How are you participating in NIIW?
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 16-23. We have
campaign resources you can use on our NIIW website (www.health.
state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/niiw.html) under the “Provider
Resources” section. Pick one thing
to do in your region/clinic to help
us get information about the
importance of immunizations to
families across Minnesota!
NIIW social media: Quotes from providers
We are looking for short quotes from providers about why they think
infant immunizations are so important. We will be turning these
quotes into images to share on social media during NIIW and beyond.
If you have a quote you would like to share, please contact Andrea
Ahneman at [email protected].
MDH Immunization Program 1-800-657-3970
SHOTS
WS
March 2016
The importance of varicella diagnosis, testing, and reporting – Part 2
This is the second article in our series on varicella (chickenpox)
diagnosis, testing, and reporting. This month we’re focusing on when
to test for varicella.
The varicella vaccine has been very good at preventing disease, so
health care providers see far fewer cases. However, it has made
clinical diagnosis more challenging because vaccinated individuals
who get varicella don’t get the “textbook” rash. (See Part 1 of this
series in the February issue of GYS News for more information on
diagnosis.) Laboratory testing is recommended whenever the
diagnosis of varicella is in doubt and in cases of severe disease. It
can also help with determining when high-risk contacts should get
varicella immune globulin to help prevent disease.
PCR testing of skin lesions for the DNA of the virus is the testing
method of choice because of its superior sensitivity and specificity.
Serology is not recommended for diagnosis because IgM antibodies
to varicella are not detectable until about the sixth day of the rash.
All laboratory tests for varicella also detect zoster (shingles), since
both are caused by the same virus, varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
The best specimens for detecting the viral DNA are fluid from the
blisters and scabs or crusts. If neither is available, a scraping of a
maculopapular lesion (the rash) is recommended. A fact sheet
summarizing testing methods and preferred specimens is posted on
the Varicella Information for Health Professionals (www.health.state.
mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/varicella/hcp/index.html) website
under “Laboratory Testing.” Videos demonstrating specimen
collection are available on CDC’s Collecting Specimens for Varicella
Zoster Virus (VZV) Testing (www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/lab-testing/
collecting-specimens.html) page.
Minnesota adult immunization conference registration open
Registration for the 25th Annual Issues & Strategies in Adult Vaccine
Preventable Diseases (www.mcai2016.eventbrite.com) conference
is now open. The conference will be held on April 22, 2016, from
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. If you
have questions, please contact Mari Drake, conference coordinator,
at [email protected].
Report adverse events to VAERS
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is the frontline
program for monitoring the safety of vaccines. Providers are required
to report to VAERS (http://vaers.hhs.gov/index) any adverse event
that occurs during or following vaccination.
Get GYS News by email instead of fax!
Email us at [email protected] to remove your name
and fax number from our list. Then go to the Got Your Shots? News
(www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/newsletters/gys/index.html)
website and click on the red envelope at the top of the page to sign
up for email alerts when each issue of the newsletter comes out.
Connect with MDH on Facebook and Twitter
“Like” MDH on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mnhealth) and
“follow” MDH on Twitter (www.twitter.com/mnhealth) to share
immunization and other health messages.
www.health.state.mn.us/immunize
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