CDC Links
Pink Book Webinar Series from CDC
This online series of 15 webinars provides an overview of the principles of vaccination, general recommendations, immunization strategies for providers, and specific information about vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines that prevent them. Each one-hour webinar explores a chapter from the 13th edition of 'Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases,' also known widely as 'The Pink Book.'
CDC Publishes MMWR Early Release about Evaluation of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests for Detection of H3N2v Viruses - Aug 2012
Summary Data on Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel New Requirement- Sept 2012
CDC Publishes Report Summarizing U.S. Influenza Activity during the 2011-12 Influenza Season - Jul 2012
CDC published Update: Influenza Activity-United States, 2011-12 Season and Composition of the 2012-13 Influenza Vaccine in the June 8 issue of MMWR (pages 414-420). A press summary of the article is reprinted below.
The 2011-12 influenza season in the United States was one of the mildest and latest seasons on record. Influenza A (H3N2) viruses predominated overall, but influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 (pH1N1) and influenza B viruses also circulated widely. Compared with recent influenza seasons, this season had a lower percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness, lower rates of hospitalizations, and fewer deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza. The number of pediatric deaths attributable to influenza this season was the lowest reported since data collection began in the 2004-05 season. The majority of viruses analyzed was similar to those included in this year’s vaccine and were sensitive to antiviral drugs. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. All unvaccinated persons aged 6 months or older should be offered influenza vaccine throughout the influenza season. Annual influenza vaccination is still the best way to protect against influenza infections, hospitalizations, and deaths.
CDC Posts Archive of Its Immunization Netconference 'Coughing Up the Facts on Pertussis' - Jul 2012
CDC recently posted the archive of its May 30 NetConference, Coughing up the Facts on Pertussis - Emerging Trends and Vaccine Recommendations. The presenter is CDC's Stacey Martin, MSc; CDC's Andrew Kroger, MD, MPH, is the moderator.
A podcast of the NetConference is available at the link above, as are PowerPoint slides, a transcript, and information on continuing education (CE) credit
Updated CDC Recommendations for the Management of Hepatitis B Virus-Infected Health-Care Providers and Students - Jul 2012
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6103a1.htm?s_cid=rr6103a1_w
COCA Conference Call Resources
Archived COCA Conference Calls are available at: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp
Free CE credit/contact hours (CME, CNE, ACPE, CEU, and CECH) are available for most COCA calls.
COCA Home Page: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/
CDC Science Clips
CDC Science Clips is a service of the CDC Public Health Library and Information Center and CDC's Office of the Chief Science Officer. Articles listed in the CDC Science Clips are selected to provide current awareness of public health literature. Visit the CDC Science Clips webpage for information on the Top Ten Articles of the Week, CDC Authored Publications, and Public Health Articles Noted in the Media.
http://www.cdc.gov/phlic/sciclips/issues/
CDC Health Partners Outreach Facebook Page
The CDC has launched a new Facebook page for Health Partners. This page will provide real time updates, guidance, and situational awareness for public health partners about how to prepare and respond to public health emergencies and disasters. Become a fan today! “Like” the page to receive updates, participate in future conversations, and more.
http://www.facebook.com/CDCHealthPartnersOutreach
The Emergency Risk Communication Branch (ERCB) Health Partners Outreach Team works to enhance partners’ knowledge of emerging threats and their effects on human populations, and to provide relevant, timely information to help manage these threats by developing and maintaining mechanisms for communication. This is a product of the Health Partners Outreach Team’s Clinician Communication Section (CCS) who is responsible for the management of all COCA products. For information on this and other clinical issues or to send your feedback please contact CCS at coca@cdc.gov. The Health Partners Outreach Team offers a variety of free tools and resources to help you enhance your knowledge of emergency preparedness and response:
CDC Health Partners Outreach Facebook page - real time updates, guidance, and situational awareness for public health partners on Facebook.
Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity-resources for Healthcare providers.
Subscribe the COCA RSS Feed - get notified of conference calls, updates, and CDC guidance for health providers.
Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Training - course on the fundamentals of CDC's Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication.
Selective National Assessment Profiles (SNAPS) - snapshots of state population data and local-level community profile information.
Risk Communicator -quarterly online newsletter providing guidance for emergency risk communication strategy.
Winter Weather Health and Safety Concerns (Feb 2011)
We would like to make you aware of the following information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Acute care hospitals participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program will be required to submit summary data on influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel via the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) beginning on January 1, 2013 for the 2012-2013 influenza season. The NHSN module for reporting these data will be available on September 8, 2012. Corresponding training materials, protocol, forms and instructions will be available on the NHSN website on September 7, 2012. Healthcare facilities may begin reporting data for the 2012-2013 influenza season prior to January 1, 2013; however these data are not required by the CMS rule.
Hospitals will be asked to report vaccinations received by healthcare personnel at the facility, vaccinations received outside the facility, medical contraindications and declinations. Data must be reported for:
- all employees on payroll;
- licensed independent practitioners (who are physicians, advanced practice nurses, and physician assistants affiliated with the hospital but not on payroll);
- students, trainees, and volunteers aged 18 or older.
Only healthcare personnel physically working in the facility for at least 30 days between October 1 and March 31 should be counted. Download the NHSN reporting form for the healthcare personnel influenza vaccination module.
Acute care hospitals planning to report healthcare personnel influenza vaccination summary data should make sure:
- their facility is enrolled in NHSN;
- the Healthcare Personnel Safety Component is activated; and,
- personnel who will be entering these data for the hospital (e.g. employee health staff) are given user rights to the component.
Within the Healthcare Personnel Safety Component, monthly reporting plans must be created or updated to include healthcare personnel influenza vaccination summary reporting, before data can be entered.
Winter Weather Health and Safety Concerns
Overview
Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outside, can cause other serious or life-threatening health problems. To keep yourself and your family safe, you should know how to prevent cold-related health problems and what to do if a cold-weather health emergency arises.
Winter weather increases the likelihood of carbon monoxide exposure from indoor generators and inadequately ventilated gas-fueled heaters. Other common cold-related problems are hypothermia, frostbite, and injury. Below are CDC resources that address these issues.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Hypothermia
Frostbite
Power Outages
Other Resources and Articles
On August 10, CDC published Evaluation of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests for Influenza A (H3N2)v Virus and Updated Case Count—United States, 2012 as an MMWR Early Release.