December 7, 2010 incoaoc
AAAAI, AAP, American Academy of Allergy, anaphylaxis, Asthma and Immunology, egg allergy, food allergy, guidelines, Influenza, influenza vaccine, influenza vaccine update, skin testing
Infection Control Articles
In a recent statement from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), the AAP is updating its guidance for administering influenza vaccine to children with presumed egg allergies. These recommendations are not appropriate for the egg allergic person with a history of anaphylaxis or severe allergy.
Skin testing is no longer necessary, Use the lowest ovalbumin-containing influenza vaccine, Utilize one of the following 2 methods for administration 1) Two-step graded challenge-administer 1/10th of the vaccine dose followed by 30 minutes of observation; if no symptoms emerge, administer the remainder of the dose followed by another 30 minutes of observation 2) Single age-appropriate dose followed by 30 minutes of observation 3) Appropriate resuscitative equipment always must be available in the office when employing either of the previous mentioned methods.
More details can be found in a December 2010 AAP New article. Additional information can also be found in the “Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States” published in December 2010 by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
September 16, 2010 incoaoc
academy of pediatrics, advisory committee on immunization practices, american academy of family physicians, american college of obstetricians, american nurses association, american pharmacists association, americanamerican medical association, and gynecologists, dear colleague, hospitalization rates, influenza b, influenza vaccination, influenza vaccine, march of dimes, neonatal nurses, nurse midwives, obstetricians and gynecologists, postpartum woman, premature labor and delivery
All Newsletters,Influenza
September 15, 2010
Dear Colleague:
Advice from a healthcare provider plays an important role in a pregnant and postpartum woman’s decision to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College), American Medical Association (AMA), American Nurses Association (ANA), American Pharmacists Association (APhA), Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), March of Dimes, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are asking for your help in urging your pregnant and postpartum patients to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that pregnant and postpartum women receive the seasonal influenza vaccine this year, even if they received 2009 H1N1 or seasonal influenza vaccine last year. Lack of awareness of the benefits of vaccination and concerns about vaccine safety are common barriers to influenza vaccination of pregnant and postpartum women. To overcome these barriers, some key points have been provided below.
1. Pregnant women should receive seasonal influenza vaccine.
a. Influenza is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in women who are not pregnant. Changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make pregnant women more prone to severe illness from influenza.
b. Risk of premature labor and delivery is increased in pregnant women with influenza.
c. Vaccination during pregnancy has been shown to protect both the mother and her infant (up to 6 months old) from lab-confirmed influenza. Influenza hospitalization rates in infants <6 months of age are more than 10 times that of older children.
d. Pregnant women represented 5% of 2009 H1N1 influenza deaths in the U.S., while only about 1% of the population was pregnant. Severe illness in postpartum women was also documented. 2009 H1N1 is expected to continue to circulate this influenza season and is included in the seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine this year.
2. Influenza vaccine is safe.
a. Influenza vaccines have been given to millions of pregnant women over the last decade and have not been shown to cause harm to women or their infants.
b. Influenza vaccine can be given to pregnant women in any trimester.
c. Pregnant women should receive inactivated vaccine (flu shot) but should NOT receive the live attenuated vaccine (nasal spray).d. Postpartum women, even if they are breastfeeding, can receive either type of vaccine.http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/. Free patient education resources (including for pregnant or postpartum patients) are available at www.cdc.gov/flu.
Please encourage your pregnant and postpartum patients to get vaccinated against influenza. If you do not offer influenza vaccination, please find out who offers the vaccine in your community and send your pregnant and postpartum patients there. You play a crucial role in helping to prevent influenza in your patients and their infants, which can save their lives. More information can be found at:
Sincerely, Lori J. Heim, M.D.
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
Judith S. Palfrey, MD, FAAP
President American Academy of Pediatrics
Holly Powell Kennedy, CNM, PhD,
FACNM, FAAN
President
The American College of Nurse-Midwives
Ralph W. Hale, MD, FACOG
Executive Vice President
The American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists
Michael D. Maves, MD, MBA
Executive Vice President/Chief Executive
Officer
American Medical Association
Marla Weston, PhD, RN
Chief Executive Officer
American Nurses Association
Thomas E. Meninghan, Pharmacist, BS
Pharm, MBA, ScD, FAPhA
Executive Vice President and CEO
American Pharmacists Association
Karen Peddicord, RNC, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric
and Neonatal Nurses
Jennifer L. Howse, PhD
President
March of Dimes
Anne Schuchat, MD
RADM, United States Public Health Service
Assistant Surgeon General
Director, National Center for Immunization
and Respiratory Diseases
