NY State Statewide Immunization Information System (NYSIIS)
(aka - Immunization Registry)

     The NYS DOH will implement a phased-in approach to train new users to its new web-based system.  The 2008 training schedule will follow the time frame specified below:

     Non-interactive independent learning opportunities for providers such as on-line tutorials and system manuals will be available after January 1, 2008.  Access to the NYSIIS will be through the Health Provider Network (HPN), so it is important to sign up to the network in advance.  

• Get an HPN account for your organization and users

• Confirm Internet access available for designated users

• Monitor NYSDOH communications regarding NYSIIS implementation

• Investigate specs for data upload process

• Register for formal training (when available) or complete independently

• Begin actively reporting no later than the implementation date for your region.

VFC Provider Registration and Profile Form
(Posted 11/26/07)
 

New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance
Requisitos de vacunación del estado de Nueva York para el ingreso/asistencia a la escuela

April 7, 2008

Dear AAP Member:

I am writing to inform you that if you are having trouble receiving payment for immunization services you provided from any of the New York City based Health Plans we have some help for you.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, District II is working closely with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) to ensure that Pediatricians are paid fairly for immunization services provided to the city’s children and adolescents.  The NYC DOHMH has agreed to intercede on your behalf on any rejected immunization related claim with any New York City based health insurance plan.

The NYC DOHMH is asking for you to forward hard copies of your rejected immunization claims to the AAP District II office so they can be compiled, categorized and sent to the NYC DOHMH for mediation on your behalf.

The staff of the NYC DOHMH has assured us that they will do everything in their power to resolve any dispute as soon as possible and will reply to us within two weeks of receiving the complaint.

The District applauds and thanks the NYC DOHMH for acting on behalf of our members and patients.

PLEASE MAIL COPIES OF ALL REJECTED NYC IMMUNIZATION CLAIMS TO:
AAP District II
420 Lakeville Road
Room 244
Lake Success, NY 11042 

OR FAX THEM TO: 1-516-326-0316.

Sincerely,
George M. Dunkel
Executive Director
AAP District II

Do Immunizations Reduce the Risk for SIDS? A Meta-analysis
(M.M.T. Vennemanna, , , M. Höffgenb, T. Bajanowskic, H.-W. Hensed and E.A.
Mitchelle. Received 15 November 2006;  revised 29 January 2007;  accepted 27 February 2007.)
            Abstract
Background -- There are claims that immunizations cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but some studies have found either no association or that they are associated with a reduced risk of SIDS.
Results -- The summary odds ratio (OR) in the univariate analysis suggested that immunizations were protective, but the presence of heterogeneity makes it difficult to combine these studies. The summary OR for the studies reporting multivariate ORs was 0.54 (95% CI = 0.39-0.76) with no evidence of heterogeneity.
Conclusions -- Immunizations are associated with a halving of the risk of SIDS.  There are
biological reasons why this association may be causal, but other factors, such as the healthy vaccinee effect, may be important. Immunizations should be part of the SIDS prevention campaigns.

Resurgence of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 Transmission and Consequences of Importation --- 21 Countries, 2002--2005
     "By the end of 2005, WPV transmission in all 21 countries except Somalia had been interrupted or substantially curtailed. This report summarizes WPV importations into polio-free countries during 2002-2005 and the status of WPV transmission in these countries as of January 24, 2006, and describes actions that polio-free countries can take to improve importation preparedness..."

Evidence-Based Medicine: MMR Vaccine Not Linked to Autism

• JAMA: Association Between Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines and Autism
  "In a six-year Danish population-based cohort study, children given a thimerosal-based vaccine were compared with those receiving a thimerosal-free version of the same vaccine. The risk of autism and autism-spectrum disorders did not differ significantly between the two groups."

• AAP: Study fails to show a connection between thimerosal and autism
  "AAP provides the following information for clinicians who may be aware of recent press surrounding an article that claims to show a correlation between thimerosal and autism.  This paper uses data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) inappropriately and contains numerous conceptual and scientific flaws, omissions of fact, inaccuracies, and misstatements."
  AAP Press Release: http://www.aap.org/profed/thimaut-may03.htm

• JAMA Editorial: 
  Congressional Autism Hearings Continue: No Evidence MMR Vaccine Causes Disorder

• AAP Press Release:
  http://www.aap.org/advocacy/washing/23apr01.htm

• Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review:
  http://www.nap.edu/books/0309074479/html/

• Journal of the American Medical Association - Time Trends in Autism and in MMR Immunization Coverage in California (JAMA. 2001;285:1183-1185)
  http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v285n9/abs/jbr00284.html

• Pediatrics Electronic Article:  Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Report From the New Challenges in Childhood Immunizations Conference Convened in Oak Brook, Illinois, June 12-13, 2000  Vol. 107 No. 5 May 2001, p. e84
  http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/abstract/107/5/e84

• British Medical Journal 2001;322:460-463 (24JFebruary) Mumps, measles, and rubella vaccine and the incidence of autism recorded by general practitioners: a time trend analysis
  http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/322/7284/460

• WebMD: Autism Debate May End Up Harming Children - There's No Evidence Vaccine Is Linked to the Disorder
  http://webmd.lycos.com/content/article/1728.57049

• Autism Research Must Continue - AAP to issue autism policy statement on diagnosis and treatment
  http://www.aap.org/advocacy/washing/25apr01.htm

Varicella

Decline in Annual Incidence of Varicella - Selected States, 1990--2001
   "The findings in this report suggest that the steady decline in reported varicella incidence during 1999-2001 resulted from the increased use of varicella vaccine and not a decrease in reporting.  These findings are consistent with data from three active surveillance sites at which individual cases are investigated (Antelope Valley, California; West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Travis County, Texas).  During 1995-2000, incidence of varicella for all age groups in these three sites declined substantially (range: 76%-87%), corresponding with the high average vaccination coverage of 80%."
MMWR September 19, 2003 / 52(37);884-885

AAP, Institute of Medicine: Vaccine Safety Report
"A vaccine safety report issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) contains findings and recommendations consistent with those of the AAP.  No evidence currently exists that proves a link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism, ADHD and speech and language delay."
AAP Press Release
IOM Online Report: Immunization Safety Review: Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (2001)

Influenza

CDC Influenza Home Page

• CDC Resources for Pandemic Flu
• Influenza Summary Update - Weekly Update
• MMWR Update: Influenza Activity --- United States, February 5--11, 2006
  "...states reporting widespread influenza activity increased to 13, with 21 states reporting regional activity..."

Using Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine for Prevention and Control of Influenza
"This report summarizes recommendations by ACIP for using intranasally administered, trivalent, cold-adapted, live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), which was approved for use in the US on June 17, 2003 (FluMist(R), MedImmune, Inc.). LAIV is currently approved for use among healthy persons (i.e., those not at high risk for complications from influenza infection) aged 5–49 years."

Carriers Announce Coverage for Intranasal Flu Vaccine

"Administration of inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine to children aged 6 to 24 months did not reduce their burden of AOM or their utilization of selected health care and related resources."

The Safety of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine in Adults and Children with Asthma
"In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in 2032 patients with asthma (age range, 3 to 64 years), patients were given injections of vaccine and placebo assigned randomly, with a mean of 22 days between the injections.  Each day during the two weeks after each injection, the patients recorded peak expiratory flow rates, symptoms thought to be related to the injection, use of asthma medications, unscheduled health care visits for asthma, and asthma-related absences from school or work.  In the two weeks after the injections.  The frequency of exacerbations of asthma was similar in the two weeks after the influenza vaccination and after placebo injection.  Among symptoms thought to be associated with the injection, only body aches were more frequent after the vaccine injection than after placebo injection.  Conclusion was: the inactivated influenza vaccine is safe to administer to adults and children with asthma, including those with severe asthma."
NEJM: Volume 345:1529-1536

ACIP Recommends Expanded Influenza Vaccinations for Children

MMWR: Simultaneous Administration of Varicella Vaccine and Other Recommended Childhood Vaccines --- United States, 1995--1999

Use of DT-Tetanus Toxoid-Acellular Pertussis Vaccine as a Five-Dose Series

This report supplements the ACIP statement regarding use and summarizes data regarding reactogenicity of acellular pertussis vaccines when administered as the 4th and 5th consecutive doses.  Because data are insufficient regarding the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of using DTaP vaccines from different manufacturers in a mixed sequence, ACIP continues to recommend, whenever feasible, the same brand of DTaP vaccine be used for all doses in the vaccination series.  When the vaccine provider does not know or does not have available the type of DTaP vaccine previously administered, any of the licensed DTaP vaccines can be used to complete the vaccine series. 

 
ACIP Recommends Adult Vaccination: New Tetanus, Diphtheria Pertussis Vaccine (Tdap)
     "...voted to recommend that adults from 19 to 64 years of age be vaccinated with a newly licensed adult booster tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine (Tdap)..."

The Risk of Seizures after Receipt of Whole-Cell Pertussis or Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine
"In a cohort study at four large HMOs, relative risks of febrile and non-febrile seizures among 679,942 children after 340,386 DTP vaccinations, 137,457 MMR vaccinations and no recent vaccination were calculated. Receipt of DTP vaccine was associated with an increased risk of febrile seizures only on the day of vaccination (adjusted relative risk, 5.70). Receipt of MMR vaccine was associated with an increased risk of febrile seizures 8 to 14 days after vaccination (relative risk, 2.83). Neither was associated with an increased risk of non-febrile seizures. The number of febrile seizures attributable to the administration of DTP and MMR vaccines was estimated to be 6-9 and 25-34 per 100,000 children, respectively. As compared with other children with febrile seizures that were not associated with vaccination, the children who had febrile seizures after vaccination were not found to be at higher risk for subsequent seizures or neuro-developmental disabilities."

The Changing Epidemiology of Rubella in the 1990's: On the Verge of Elimination and New Challenges for Control and Prevention
"The epidemiology of rubella and CRS has changed significantly in the last decade.  These changes and molecular typing suggest that the United States is on the verge of elimination of the disease.  To prevent future rubella outbreaks and CRS, current strategies must be enhanced and new strategies developed."
JAMA. 2002;287:464-472

ACIP Expands Hepatitis A Vaccination for Children
     "The recommendation for vaccination of children, between 1 and 2 years of age will be integrated into the routine childhood vaccination schedule"

ACIP Recommends New Vaccine to Prevent Rotavirus