Historically, December is the month when influenza immunization rates drop off sharply, but there is no scientific reason for this drop. It is medically relevant and appropriate to continue providing influenza immunization into January and beyond, according to Carol J. Baker, MD.

Baker, who is the moderator for the Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition, said that influenza activity does not usually peak in the United States until February and sometimes even later. “It is clear that vaccines given in December and beyond can be of great benefit.”

Influenza results in hospitalization of more than 20,000 children younger than 5 years each year, as well as many older children. Data from the CDC’s New Vaccine Surveillance Network showed that physicians are misdiagnosing greater than 70% of children with laboratory-confirmed influenza in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

To ease the influenza burden, Baker urged physicians to immunize themselves, and to recommend influenza vaccine all children 6 months through 18 years of age.

Pneumococcal vaccine recommendations updated for certain populations
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has tightened the pneumococcal vaccine recommendations for otherwise healthy children in Alaska Native and American Indian populations.

Increase of S. pneumoniae 19A serotype reported
There is good and bad news for Canadians following the introduction of the seven-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV7, Prevnar, Wyeth) there. While there has been a significant decrease in vaccine serotypes, there has also been a corresponding rise in the nonvaccine serotype 19A.

Dilution ratio for hypochlorite solutions for CA-MRSA suggested
Many physicians have resorted to recommending bleach baths for Staphylococcus aureus infections with only anecdotal evidence to support the usefulness of such measures.