Newsletters / Pocket Cards

Flu Vaccine Update - Keep Vaccinating

February 20, 2009

It is not too late for flu vaccine! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccinating throughout the influenza season.¹ Continue offering the 2008 – 2009 influenza vaccine to your patients and encourage your colleagues to get vaccinated.

Influenza activity is currently low for the 2008 – 2009 influenza season, but is increasing.² For the week ending February 7, 2009, Utah reported local influenza activity and 2 of 10 local health districts in the state reported flu activity above the state epidemic level.^2,3 National influenza activity is also low, but has increased in most regions over the last 2 weeks. Widespread activity was reported by only 2 states the week ending January 24, 2009, and by 16 states the week ending February 7, 2009.^2,4 Despite current low activity, the CDC encourages health care professionals to continue to offer influenza vaccination through the entire season.¹ In more than 60% of influenza seasons since 1976, peak influenza activity occurs in February or later.¹

Another reason to encourage vaccination is the CDC Health Advisory issued on December 19, 2008.⁴ This advisory outlined new details regarding oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance of the circulating influenza A (H1N1) viruses.³ Interim recommendations from the CDC recommend treating influenza A with either zanamivir (Relenza) or oseltamivir plus rimantadine due to new resistance.⁴

The Drug Information Service has detailed newsletters available at the following links (available to University Health Care Staff only):

Vaccines - http://intranet.uuhsc.utah.edu/pharmacy/newsletters/flu_2008-2009_i.htm
Antiviral Agents - http://intranet.uuhsc.utah.edu/pharmacy/newsletters/flu_2008-2009_ii.htm
FAQ’s - http://intranet.uuhsc.utah.edu/pharmacy/newsletters/flu_2008-2009_faq.htm

Please feel free to contact us at 801-581-2073 or drug.info@hsc.utah.edu if you have any questions or need further information. We are glad to help.

References

Fiore AE, Shay DK, Broder K, et al. Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2008. MMWR Recomm Rep. Aug 8 2008;57(RR-7):1-60.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. FluView – A Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report Prepared by the Influenza Division. Week 5 ending February 7, 2009. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/. Accessed February 20, 2009. Updated February 13, 2009.
Utah Department of Health Bureau of Epidemiology. Utah – Weekly Influenza Summary. MMWR Week 5 ending February 7, 2009. Available online at http://health.utah.gov/epi/diseases/influenza/surveillance/2008-09_Season/PH&C_021109_wk5_flu_posting.pdf. Accessed February 20, 2009. Updated February 11, 2009.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. FluView – A Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report Prepared by the Influenza Division. Week 3 ending January 24, 2009. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2008-2009/weekly03.htm. Accessed February 3, 2009. Updated January 23, 2009.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Health Advisory - CDC Issues Interim Recommendations for the Use of Influenza Antiviral Medications in the Setting of Oseltamivir Resistance among Circulating Influenza A (H1N1) Viruses, 2008 - 2009 Influenza Season. Available online at: http://www2a.cdc.gov/HAN/ArchiveSys/ViewMsgV.asp?AlertNum=00279. Accessed on February 3, 2009. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; December, 2008.

Prepared February 20, 2009 by Erin R. Fox, PharmD, Manager, Drug Information Service.