November 2015
Vaccine Update for Healthcare Providers
This newsletter is meant to keep you up to date on issues related to vaccines. We welcome your comments and questions; please email us at vacinfo@email.chop.edu. |
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VEC Announcements
VEC addresses risks of being around unvaccinated children
People who choose not to vaccinate sometimes suggest that their decisions should not affect those who vaccinate because, “If vaccines work, they will not get sick.” Of course, those who administer vaccines realize that in some cases vaccines cannot be used and for some who are vaccinated, the vaccines may not work. For example, about 95 of every 100 children who receive the measles vaccine will be protected against the disease; but this means that 5 of every 100 won’t be protected, even though they had received the vaccine.
In an effort to assist with the explanation around this conversation, we recently published an article in our newsletter for parents, called Parents PACK. You are allowed to print and photocopy this article if you feel it will be useful with your patients and their families. The article can be accessed or shared from the following places:
2016 webinar schedule
At the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the VEC announced the 2016 webinar dates:
- March 23, 2016
- Sept. 14, 2016
- Nov. 16, 2016
Mark your calendars or print a reminder calendar. Consider hanging the calendar in a central location as a reminder for yourself and your colleagues. As with previous years, continuing education credits will be available and events are offered free of charge.
Current Issues in Vaccines webinars are offered with the support of the Thomas F. McNair Scott Endowed Research and Lectureship Fund and are co-sponsored by the PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics. CPE credits are awarded by Wilkes University and CME/CEU are awarded by the University of Pittsburgh.
Find out more about the webinar program at vaccine.chop.edu/webinars.
Holiday shipments
If you will need VEC materials or are trying to use end-of-year funds before the start of 2016, please place your order or alert us as soon as possible; this will allow us to plan appropriately. Shipments will be limited during the last two weeks of December.
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News and views: Test your knowledge — varicella
Charlotte A. Moser, Assistant Director, and Paul A. Offit, Director, Vaccine Education Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Varicella disease used to be considered a “rite of passage” during childhood. Yet, since the vaccine has become available, the disease has become less common. So much so that you might not see it regularly or at all in your practice. Check how well you know your facts about chickenpox:
- How is varicella virus transmitted?
- How long is the incubation period (time from exposure to the virus to the appearance of symptoms)?
- What characteristics of the rash can help with the diagnosis?
- Is varicella a reportable condition?
- Who should get vaccinated against varicella and with how many doses?
Find the answers » |
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Technically Speaking: IAC's Needle Tips just released online! Focuses on meningococcal vaccine recommendations and more
Deborah L. Wexler, MD, Executive Director, Immunization Action Coalition
Needle Tips, the 20-year flagship publication of the Immunization Action Coalition, is published quarterly and offers a concise summary of the latest immunization information and new resources for healthcare professionals. The November 2015 issue of Needle Tips has just been released online.
Download the entire issue »
Find direct links to articles of interest and related resources » |
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From the Media: Vaccines on Pinterest
A recent study published by Jeanine P.D. Guidry and colleagues in the journal Vaccine explored vaccine-related information on the popular social media platform Pinterest. Pinterest is a visually-based platform in which users maintain themed boards and “pin” information they wish to share with followers.
The authors analyzed 800 pins during a three-day period in March 2014 related to vaccines. Each pin was coded for a variety of factors including whether it was pro-vaccine, anti-vaccine or neutral; how users engaged with the pin (“repin,” “like” or “comment”), where the pin linked to (source of more information) and to what extent the pin related to conspiracy theories and civil liberties.
Read about their findings and how you can ensure that your patients and their families find accurate information on Pinterest » |
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On the Calendar
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is currently accepting abstracts for oral and poster presentations at the 2016 Annual Conference on Vaccine Research. Abstracts are due by Dec. 1, 2015. They are also accepting applications for the Maurice R. Hilleman Early-Stage Career Investigator Award to support future research activities for early career investigators. In order to be considered, applicants must submit an abstract and select the award path. Find out more:
Check out the calendar for upcoming conferences and events » |
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On the bookshelf: “NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neourdiversity”
“NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity” by Steve Silberman describes the history of autism from its first recognition by the medical establishment and earliest parent advocates to its present day definition, rates and advocacy concerns.
Silberman introduces readers to the early characters in this story, particularly Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger. Describing not only their personal traits, but also the historical contexts in which they made their observations, the author leads readers to an understanding of how some of the earliest descriptions and definitions of the condition affected the field — and its progress, or lack thereof — for years thereafter.
Read more » |
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Resources
Continuing education opportunity around HPV
Medscape recently released a continuing education module titled Addressing and Preventing HPV-Associated Disease: A Global Health Priority. This 52-minute online video module includes a series of presentations with slides. Upon completion, physicians can claim up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 credits.
The module explores HPV vaccination on a global scale and includes discussions related to:
- The Danish childhood vaccination program
- The Australian HPV vaccination program
- The Scottish HPV vaccination program
- Barriers and opportunities
Find out more or take the course. |
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