Kansas Immunization Program - kdheks.gov

1 1 Kansas Immunization Program March 21, 2018 VFC Consultant On-Call The Consultant for March 24th through March 30th, 2018 is Dena Rueb at or by calling 785-296-5592 Chief Chat The 2018 Kansas Immunization Conference (June 13th and 14th) agenda is nearing finalization which will allow for the registration to be open soon. We will post the registration information in What s Happening Wednesday and the usual mailing of the registration form will be sent to our contacts from the University of Kansas Area Health Education Center. Please be on the lookout for this in the coming weeks. If you have not already made hotel reservations, we encourage you to do so now.

2 The hotel information is on page 6 of this issue of What s Happening Wednesday. The pre-conference workshops including updates from the STI/HIV and Tuberculosis sections along with various Immunization topical workshops will be offered on June 12th between the hours of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. You do not have to be present at 10:00 to participate in these workshops as they will stagger and be repeated throughout the day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report in the March 16th Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) titled Fatal Yellow Fever in Travelers to Brazil, 2018.

3 The CDC also released a media statement on the same day warning of the deadly outbreak ongoing in Brazil advising that travelers be vaccinated at least ten days before going to Brazil. However, with the YF-Vax total depletion and the limited access to Stamaril, travelers may have to be more diligent in planning for a safe trip. Stamarill is currently only available at one location in Kansas , Passport Health in Overland Park. CDC recommends not travelling to Brazil without the yellow fever vaccination. Have a great week and thanks for all you do to immunize Kansans! Phil Griffin, Deputy Director, Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention The biannual National Immunization Conference (NIC) is now less than two months away (May 15 17, 2018 in Atlanta, GA).

4 The NIC brings together more than 1,500 local, state, federal, and private-sector Immunization stakeholders and partners to explore science, policy, education, and planning issues related to Immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases. The NIC mission is to offer information that will help participants provide comprehensive Immunization services for all age groups. The conference also offers participants an opportunity to learn innovative strategies for developing programs and policies and advancing science to promote Immunization among all ages today for a healthy tomorrow. Have you considered attending or having someone from your clinic attend?

5 2 VFC Question of the Week DID YOU KNOW The Immunization Action Coalition web section gives users free access to hundreds of vaccination-related handouts and fact sheets for healthcare professionals and the public. All items are ready to print, copy, and distribute widely. Technical accuracy has been confirmed by Immunization experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Click here: The Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) sites are monitoring patients for influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms include a fever (> 100 degrees F) and the presence of a cough and/or sore throat.

6 ILINet sites also submit up to two specimens for testing at the Kansas Health and Environment Laboratory. During the week ending March 17th, ILINet sites reported of visits were due to influenza-like illness. All data is subject to change. KHEL has detected A/H3 in 29 specimens, A/H1 in seven specimens, A (not subtyped) in one specimen, and influenza B in twelve specimens. Sixty-nine influenza outbreaks have been reported to KDHE this season. As a reminder, outbreaks of any disease are reportable and should be reported to the epidemiology hotline at (877) 427-7317. Stay updated on influenza activity at ).

7 2017-18 Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Q: I always hear about the ACIP in our clinic. I know the clinic uses their recommended Immunization schedule but that s all I know about it. What exactly is the ACIP? A: ACIP stands for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. It is a group of 15 voting members that are responsible for making vaccine recommendations for the civilian population of the United States. Fourteen of the members are experts in the fields of pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, preventative medicine, vaccinology, immunology, virology, infectious diseases, public health, and nursing.

8 The 15th member is a consumer representative that provides social and community perspectives on vaccinations. The ACIP also includes 8 ex officio member who represent other federal agencies with responsibility for Immunization programs in the United States, and 30 non-voting representatives of liaison organizations that bring related Immunization expertise. Other federal agencies and 30 professional organizations also attend the ACIP meetings. A few examples of the organizations in attendance include the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Academy of Pediatrics.

9 ACIP meetings occur 3 times a year and the meetings are broadcast so anyone with interest can watch them. Vaccine research, safety, effectiveness, clinical trial information, vaccine manufacturer information, and the severity of specific diseases are presented during the meeting and discussed. For more information on ACIP, you can visit their website at: 3 As the deadline for the annual Aid To Local application process draws closer, we would like to remind Local Health Departments (LHD), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Rural Health Centers (RHC) of a few items. First and foremost, all LHDs are reminded to please refer to the Immunization Action Plan (IAP) information page in the Kansas Grants Management System (KGMS) for detailed instructions regarding applying for the IAP as well as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for vaccinating under-insured children.

10 All LHDs are required to start and complete at least the first two questions in the IAP applications regardless of how you chose to apply for the IAP funds. The first two questions ask you to declare if and how you are applying for the funds (directly through IAP or in combination with the Maternal Child Health application) and also if you intend to vaccinate under-insured children through an executed MOU with an FQHC or RHC. If you are applying for the IAP through the MCH, you will only complete the first two questions on the IAP application then submit it. If you are applying for the IAP directly through the IAP, you will complete the remaining questions and submit the IAP application along with the budget.