Download Pneumococcal Vaccination Resources

Pneumococcal Vaccination Resources
Updated October 21, 2013
Resource Assistance for Infection Control and Immunization - Mass Department of Public
Health
For questions about flu: MDPH 617-983-6800
Invasive pneumococcal disease can be a complication of influenza and is associated with severe
morbidity and mortality. Please take this opportunity to make sure that your patients are up-to-date
with pneumococcal vaccine.
NEW - Revised standing order for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) are
now posted on the MDPH Immunization web page. (10.21.13)
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/cdc/immunization/mso-ppv23.pdf
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has announced the availability of
new and updated resources
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has announced the availability of new to
support healthcare and public health professionals in implementing strategies for adult pneumococcal
vaccination. We hope you will use these resources to increase efforts to help prevent pneumococcal
disease among US adults with risk factors.
New Resource:

Adult Pneumococcal Vaccination Guide for HCPs: This document provides an outline of
CDC’s adult pneumococcal vaccination schedule, which now calls for routine use of
pneumococcal conjugate and polysaccharide vaccines for certain adults. It includes:
o
Illustrated timelines for administration and a table of risk conditions to aid healthcare
professionals (HCPs) in assessing patients’ pneumococcal vaccination needs
Updated Materials/Toolkits:

Public Health Resources and Toolkit: Designed for public health professionals, this toolkit
supports education of HCPs and community members and includes:
o
At-a-glance fact sheets to educate patients with specific pneumococcal risk factors
and the HCPs who treat them

o
Pneumococcal vaccination guides and trackers for HCPs and patients
o
Media outreach materials
Pneumococcal Disease Professional Practice Toolkit: This toolkit can aid HCPs in
implementing key education and vaccination strategies and includes:

o
Ready-to-use and customizable patient education materials (English and Spanish)
o
Resources to implement in-practice vaccination efforts
Professional Practice Toolkit: This toolkit provides additional materials that discuss adult
pneumococcal vaccination plus other recommended adult vaccines.
CDC answers your questions on Pneumococcal Vaccines
IAC recently made one change to the staff-education piece Pneumococcal Vaccines—CDC answers
your questions. The answer to the question summarizing the revaccination recommendations for
PPSV23 has been completely rewritten to provide more clarity.
New staff-education piece: "Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations for Children
and Adults by Age and/or Risk Factor," along with an updated "Pneumococcal Vaccines—
CDC answers your questions"
IAC recently developed a staff-education sheet titled Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations
for Children and Adults by Age and/or Risk Factor. It summarizes the recommendations of CDC's
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the use of both types of pneumococcal vaccine–
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23).
The document includes information pertinent to vaccinating patients of all ages and with various risk
factors.
IAC also thoroughly revised the handout Pneumococcal Vaccines—CDC answers your questions, by
inserting information on pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, adding new questions, and giving the
handout a new design and title. It was previously titled "Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
(PPSV)—CDC answers your questions."
Related Links

Use of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine and 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide
Vaccine for Adults with Immunocompromising Conditions (published 10/12/12)

Prevention of Pneumococcal Disease Among Infants and Children—Use of 13-Valent
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine and 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine
(published 12/10/10)

Updated ACIP Recommendations: Prevention of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Among Adults
Using the 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23) (published 9/3/10)
CDC releases provisional ACIP recommendations for PCV13 use in adults with
immunocompromising conditions
On September 18, 2012 CDC posted ACIP Provisional Recommendations for Use of 13-valent
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Adults with Immunocompromising Conditions on its website.
FDA expands use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Prevnar 13 for people age 50
and older
On December 30, 2011, FDA issued a press release announcing that it has approved the use of the
pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine, Prevnar 13 [Wyeth Pharmaceuticals], to prevent
pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae in people age
50 and older. Prevnar 13 was originally approved on February 24, 2010, for use in infants and
children age 6 weeks through 5 years.
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV): CDC Answers Your Questions
Revised "Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) CDC answers your questions" to show
chronic renal failure as an independent indication for vaccination and make some other minor
clarifications on who needs a second dose. http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2015.pdf
NFID offers new adult pneumococcal vaccination resources
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has designed new free resources to support
pneumococcal vaccination. Though CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all adults age 65
and over as well as younger adults with certain chronic health conditions, vaccination rates are poor.
NFID's "Professional Practice Toolkit: Pneumococcal Disease" includes ready-to-use and
customizable resources in English and Spanish to help healthcare professionals educate their adult
patients about pneumococcal disease. http://adultvaccination.org
Immunization Action Coalition’s handout for healthcare professions about PPSV
vaccination
To access "Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV): CDC answers your questions," go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2015.pdf
Bulk quantities of pocket guides for influenza, pneumococcal, Tdap, and zoster vaccines
are available—FREE!—from the National Influenza Vaccine Summit and IAC
To aid in efforts to vaccinate against four diseases—influenza, pneumococcal, pertussis, and
shingles—IAC and the National Influenza Vaccine Summit (NIVS) invite IAC Express readers to place
orders now for bulk quantities of the following pocket guides:

Influenza Vaccine Pocket Information Guide (created by IAC in collaboration with NIVS)

Pneumococcal Vaccine Pocket Guide (created by IAC in collaboration with NIVS)

Tdap Vaccine Pocket Information Guide (created by IAC)

Herpes Zoster Vaccine Pocket Information Guide (created by IAC)
All are free—you can order them in the hundreds or thousands! These laminated, 3.75 x 6.75-inch,
2-color cards serve as a convenient reference for front-line healthcare professionals who vaccinate
patients. Place a bulk order now, and your organization will be ready to educate healthcare
professionals at upcoming immunization training sessions and conferences. Each staff person who
administers influenza, pneumococcal, Tdap, or zoster vaccine needs these handy resources.
Related Links

Preview an image of the pneumococcal pocket guide
These pocket guides are designed to be used by healthcare professionals only; THEY ARE NOT
PATIENT HANDOUTS.
How to Order
Place your order today using IAC's online order form! There is no cost for the pocket guides,
shipping, or handling within the U.S.
If you have questions, email [email protected].
Immunization Action Coalition updates online Ask the Experts Q&A web section on
pneumococcal disease and vaccines
Based on content review by vaccine experts at CDC, IAC recently updated the pneumococcal section
of Ask the Experts.
To access Ask the Experts sections for other vaccines and diseases, see the Ask the Experts index
page.
IAC updates patient handout "Pneumococcus: Questions and Answers"
IAC recently revised Pneumococcus: Questions and Answers, a 4-page handout for patients and
parents. Most notably, information about administering pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) to
high-risk adults was added. Access a table with links to IAC's Q&A handouts for each vaccine.
HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL VACCINATION
Massachusetts Requirements and Recommendations for Vaccination of Adults, including
Health Care Workers
Please click here for Massachusetts requirements and recommendations for vaccination of adults,
including health care workers. If you have questions about flu vaccination of health care personnel
and/or reporting of employee flu vaccination rates of you employees in Massachusetts, please call the
Division of Health Care Quality at 1-800-462-5540.
“Ask the Experts” Q & A’s about healthcare personnel vaccination
Immunization Action and Coalition and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention answer
questions specifically about personnel vaccination. http://www.immunize.org/express/issue948.asp
Immunization of Health-Care Personnel: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
This report updates the previously published summary of recommendations of the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory
Committee (HICPAC) for vaccinating health-care personnel (HCP) in the United States. This report
summarizes all current ACIP recommendations for vaccination of HCP and does not contain any new
recommendations or policies. The recommendations provided in this report apply, but are not limited,
to HCP in acute-care hospitals; long-term–care facilities (e.g., nursing homes and skilled nursing
facilities); physician’s offices; rehabilitation centers; urgent care centers, and outpatient clinics as well
as to persons who provide home health care and emergency medical services. MMWR
201;60(RR07);1-45.
To see the full report, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr6007.pdf?source=govdelivery
American Hospital Association endorses patient safety policies that require influenza
vaccination of healthcare workers
To protect the lives and welfare of patients and hospital employees, the American Hospital
Association's (AHA) Board of Trustees recently approved a policy supporting mandatory patient
safety policies that require healthcare workers to either get vaccinated against influenza or wear a
mask in the presence of patients across healthcare settings during influenza season. This policy's
aim is to achieve the highest possible level of protection. On July 22, AHA published a Quality
Advisory titled "AHA Endorses Patient Safety Policies Requiring Influenza Vaccination of Health Care
Workers." To access the full Quality Advisory, go to: www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/toolsresources/advisory/2011/110722-quality-adv.pdf
GENERAL INFORMATION ON VACCINATIONS
Immunization Action Coalition updates staff-education materials on recommended dose,
route, site, and needle size for vaccine administration
IAC recently updated Administering Vaccines: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size (covers information
on administering vaccines to children and adults) and Administering Vaccines to Adults: Dose, Route,
Site, and Needle Size. We added new information and images to both and redesigned them to
improve readability.
IAC's Handouts for Patients & Staff web section offers healthcare professionals and the public more
than 250 FREE English-language handouts (many also available in translation), which we encourage
website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely.
Use CDC Fact Sheets to Keep Patients and Staff Up to Date on Vaccine Topics
Download CDC fact sheets at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/hcp/provider-resourcessafetysheets.html
GAO report examines Medicare beneficiaries' access to vaccinations covered under
Medicare Part D
In December 2011, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report titled
Medicare: Many Factors, Including Administrative Challenges, Affect Access to Part D Vaccinations.
A web page that presents highlights of the report states that GAO studied Medicare beneficiaries'
access to routinely recommended vaccinations covered under Medicare's Part D prescription drug
benefit. These include shingles and Td/Tdap vaccinations.
GAO found that many of the almost 22 million Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older who were
enrolled in Medicare Part D in 2009 did not receive the routinely recommended vaccinations covered
by Part D. GAO recommends that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services explore options and
take appropriate steps to address administrative challenges, such as physicians’ difficulty verifying
beneficiary coverage and billing for Part D-covered vaccinations. The Department of Health and
Human Services concurred with GAO’s recommendation. A PDF version of the Highlights is also
available. Source: immunize.org.
CDC releases its Vaccine Storage & Handling Toolkit and related resources
On November 27, CDC posted its comprehensive guide Vaccine Storage & Handling Toolkit on its
website. The tool kit is based on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP), equipment manufacturers' product information, and studies from the National
Institute for Scientific Technology. Here's a direct link to the PDF document.
The tool kit outlines best practice strategies and recommendations on the following topics:

Points to consider in selecting, maintaining, and using vaccine storage units and
thermometers

Consistent maintenance of the cold chain

Routine storage and handling practices

Inventory management

Emergency procedures for protecting vaccine inventories
On the tool kit web page, you'll also find related resources such as training materials, slide sets, and
other helpful items.
HELPFUL LINKS
Center for Disease Control and Prevention Seasonal Influenza
Immunization Action Coalition
Adult Vaccination
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)
www.mass.gov/flu
www.mass.gov/dph/imm