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OMA Winter 2015 Magazine

COMMUNITY NEWS Oregon Physicians More Engaged in Vaccine Education By Jay Rosenbloom, MD, pediatrician, Pediatric Associates of the Northwest Laura Murphy, MD, The Children's Clinic, advocates for childhood vaccinations to help build community immunity. IN NOVEMBER, THE FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION announced approval of a new vaccine for the meningitis serogroup B, which is indicated for invasive meningococcal disease. It is the first serogroup B vaccine licensed in the U.S., although it has been widely available in Europe. Recently, we have heard tragic stories about the deaths of two Oregon teenagers who contracted and died from meningococcal meningitis. Œ The FDA’s recommendation noted that current approval status is for high risk patients and/or a spreading outbreak scenario. Œ This new “MenB” vaccine is different from the meningitis vaccines covering the A, C, W, and Y serogroups because it is based on immunity to proteins rather than capsular polysaccharides. Œ The new serogroup B vaccine addresses a potential concern regarding rapid spread throughout a susceptible population. This contagious bacteria can affect an individual rapidly; often causing severe disease, debilitation and even death in one in 10 victims. In February, 2015, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to consider an expanded recommendation of the serogroup B meningococcal meningitis vaccine and its possible inclusion in children’s and adolescents’ routine vaccine schedule. This could translate to the vaccine’s broader availability, use and coverage. While this new development for meningococcal meningitis is important, in Oregon we still need to address the fact that Oregon has the highest rate of non-medical vaccine exemptions among kindergarteners in the United States. The good news is that this 2014–2015 school year is the first time a new law has gone into effect that strengthens parental education around the benefits and risks of childhood vaccines. In November, the federal Food and Drug Administration announced approval of a new vaccine for the meningitis serogroup B, which is indicated for invasive meningococcal disease. The new law puts into place two pathways for parents considering exemptions from one or more required vaccines. The first pathway is engaging with their primary care or public health provider to affirm the parent has been counseled. The second pathway is an online video, scientifically based and produced by the Oregon Immunization Program. It requires the parent to move through an educational module, producing a verification form, if exemption is still desired. Early results after Washington State passed a similar law in 2011 demonstrated a 25% increase in vaccination rates during the first year. Let’s work together to immunize our susceptible children and adolescents.  CDC guidance for use of serogroup B vaccines is available at www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/ downloads/interim-guidance.pdf.  28 Medicine in Oregon www.theOMA.org


OMA Winter 2015 Magazine
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