Volume 7 - Number 1 - Spring 2003 - Vaccinate Adults!

Sep 29, 2026

Adult immunization bulletin from the Immunization Action Coalition focusing on routine adult vaccines and chronic hepatitis B infection. Includes editorials and practical clinical Q&A: use of Vaccine Information Statements in emergencies, management of expired vaccine doses, and appropriate testing after suspected chickenpox. Provides an additional section on smallpox, covering symptoms, timing after exposure, and transmission patterns, plus immunization resources and ordering information for adult medicine specialists.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

What’s Inside?

Ask the Experts

Vaccine Highlights

Welcome Advisory Board liaisons

Adult Immunization Schedule—US, 2002–2003

Vaccine Administration Record for Adults

Errors in Vaccine Storage and Handling

IAC Adult Resources and Order Form

Letter from Executive Director

Immunization questions

Smallpox

How is smallpox spread?

Is smallpox contagious before the smallpox symptoms show?

Volume 7 – Number 1 Spring 2003 VACCINATE ADULTS! A bulletin for adult medicine specialists from the Immunization Action Coalition Highlighting the latest developments in routine adult immunization and chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Say, Doc, I just came in for a check-up for my diabetes. Why are you giving me a pneumonia shot? Because having diabetes makes it more likely for you to become seriously ill or die from pneumococcal disease. You’ll need a flu shot this fall, too. Artwork courtesy of NY State Health Dept. What’s Inside? Ask the Experts ........................................................ 1 Vaccine Highlights .................................................... 2 Welcome Advisory Board liaisons ............................ 3 Adult Immunization Schedule—US, 2002–2003 ..... 4 Vaccine Administration Record for Adults ................ 7 Errors in Vaccine Storage and Handling .................. 8 IAC Adult Resources and Order Form ................... 11 Letter from Executive Director ............................... 12 Ask the Experts Editor’s note: The Immunization Action Coalition thanks William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH; Harold S. Margolis, MD; and Linda A. Moyer, RN, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for answering the following questions for our readers. Dr. Atkinson, medical epidemiologist at the National Immunization Program, and Dr. Margolis, Director, Division of Viral Hepatitis, serve as CDC liaisons to the Coalition. Ms. Moyer is an epidemiologist at the Division of Viral Hepatitis. Immunization questions by William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH Is it required to use a VIS in an emergency room when we give Td to a patient? Yes. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act requires that a Vaccine Information Statement be given to persons of any age before they receive a dose of any vaccine included in the Act. Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids are included in the Act. If the patient is unaccompanied and unable to clearly read and understand the information in the VIS (e.g. , unconscious), this should be noted in the patient’s chart. What should we do if a dose of expired vaccine is given to a patient? The dose should be repeated. If the expired dose is a live virus vaccine, you must wait at least 4 weeks after the previous (expired) dose was given before repeating it. If you prefer, you can performserologic testing to check for immunity. What is the appropriate lab test to use to determine whether there has been previous chickenpox disease? Commercially available laboratory tests for varicella antibody are usually based on a technique called EIA (enzyme immunoassay). Though these tests are sufficiently sensitive to detect antibody resulting from varicella zoster virus infection, they are generally not sensitive enough to detect vaccine-induced antibody. The more sensitive assays needed to detect vaccine-induced antibody are not widely available. This is why CDC does not recommend antibody testing after varicella vaccination. Smallpox The following Q&As were excerpted from CDC’s website. To access all the Q&As and additional CDC information, [go to www.cdc.gov/smallpox](go to www.cdc.gov/smallpox) [What are the symptoms of smallpox?](What are the symptoms of smallpox?) The symptoms of smallpox begin with high fever, head and body aches, and sometimes vomiting. Arash follows that spreads and progresses to raised bumps and pus-filled blisters that crust, scab, and fall off after about three weeks, leaving pitted scars. If someone comes in contact with smallpox, how long does it take to show symptoms? After exposure, it takes between 7 and 17 days for symptoms of smallpox to appear (average incubation time is 12 to 14 days) . During this time, the infected person feels fine and is not contagious. Immunization questions? • [E-mail nipinfo@cdc.gov](E-mail nipinfo@cdc.gov) • Call CDC’s Immunization Information Hotline at (800) 232-2522 How is s

FAQs

In an emergency room, is it required to use a VIS when giving Td to a patient?

Yes. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act requires that a Vaccine Information Statement be given to persons of any age before any vaccine dose included in the Act. Td is included, and the note should be recorded if the unaccompanied patient cannot clearly read and understand the VIS (e.g., is unconscious).

What should be done if an expired vaccine dose is administered to a patient?

Repeat the dose. If the expired dose was a live virus vaccine, wait at least 4 weeks after the previous (expired) dose before repeating it; serologic testing for immunity can be performed if preferred.

What lab test is recommended to determine whether there has been previous chickenpox disease, and why doesn’t CDC recommend antibody testing after vaccination?

Varicella antibody tests commonly use EIA, which is sensitive for detecting antibody from wild varicella zoster infection but generally not sensitive enough for detecting vaccine-induced antibody. More sensitive assays are not widely available, so CDC does not recommend antibody testing after varicella vaccination.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by mieayamfan