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For access to older highlights, please contact Marissa Green.
Week of March 8
PREVNAR 13 UPDATE: The FDA approved the 13 valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on February 24th. While coverage and reimbursement information has not been released by any of the major insurers, Chapter members are urged to review their contracts for coverage of new vaccines and contact the companies directly for an update.
- District IX Pediatric Council will be meeting March 19, 2010 in Los Angeles and this issue will be discussed.
State Budget Update -- Healthy Families and First Five Funds are in jeopardy again according to the Governor’s 2010-2011 budget proposal. The Governor’s current proposal calls for a severe cut, and possible elimination, of the Healthy Families program and First Five funding.
- How you can help: Please email, fax or call your state legislators and let them know the critical importance of investing in children’s health by opposing cuts to these important programs.
- Remember to: (1) Identify yourself as a constituent; and (2) State clearly how cuts to Healthy Families and First Five will affect your patients. To identify your legislator and get their contact information, go to www.leginfo.ca.gov.
Court Reaffirms Prohibition of State Budget Cuts to Medi-Cal: According to the 9th Circuit Court decision on March 3, 2010, California will not be allowed to implement a previously proposed and denied 5 percent budget cut to Medi-Cal provider reimbursement. The Court’s decision reaffirms that the State cannot implement cuts to reimbursement without analysis regarding implications for access.
Upcoming Events:
- Santa Monica Townhall Meeting on Underage Drinking April 6, 2010 -- AAP-CA2 is hosting a townhall event in Santa Monica that will feature three presentations on the consequences of underage drinking and social hosting. Speakers will participate in a panel discussion with attendees. Please click here for more detailed information.
- WEBCAST: State of All Hazards Preparedness for Children: Partnerships and Models for Merging Emergency Department and Disaster Preparedness Efforts Nationwide – National AAP has partnered with the Federal Emergency Medical Services for Children program to sponsor this FREE WebCast. Please click here for more information and to REGISTER by March 17th.
Employment Opportunity: City of Pasadena – Pasadena is currently looking for candidates for the position of City Director of Public Health/Health Officer. If you are interested in applying or learning more, please click here for more information.
Week of March 1
Your Input is Needed:
H1N1 Updates: Thank you from Dr. Thomas R. Frieden -- Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Director, CDC, issued a letter to pediatricians last week, thanking you for your support during the H1N1 flu season. Please click here to view the full letter.
AAP National Updates:
- AAP Communications Opportunities -- National AAP is currently accepting nominations for its three major communication branches, including: Pediatrics in Review, AAP News and PREP Audio. Please click below for more information on each of these Editorial Board opportunities.
Nominations must be received by 4:00 PM (CST) on March 26th.
- Pediatrics in Review -- AAP is looking for nominees to fill the following open positions on the Pediatrics in Review Editorial Board: Nephrology, Endocrinology, General Pediatrics (2 openings) and Adolescent Medicine. Please view these documents for more information and directions for how to apply.
- AAP News Editorial Board Openings -- AAP is looking for nominees for the AAP News Editorial Board. Please view these documents for more information and to complete your nomination.
- PREP Audio Editorial Board Opening -- AAP is looking for nominees to fill one open position on the PREP Audio Editorial Board. Please view these documents for more information and to complete your nomination.
Week of February 8
Your Input is Needed:
Upcoming Chapter Events:
Ventura County Town Hall Meeting - the Gold Coast Pediatric Society, a regional affiliate of the AAP-CA2, will host its second town hall meeting on February 24th at Safire Bistro at 6 p.m. Please contact Dr. Lois Lipeles for more information at lois.lipeles@ventura.org.
H1N1 Updates: Thank you from Dr. Thomas R. Frieden -- Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Director, CDC, issued a letter to pediatricians last week, thanking you for your support during the H1N1 flu season. Please click here to view the full letter.
AAP National Updates:
- 28 National Committee Member vacancies for 2010-2011 --
nominations due March 1, 2009 -- National AAP has issued a call for nominations to fill Committee vacancies for 2010-2011. Information regarding this call for nominations may be found on the AAP Member Center at: http://www.aap.org/moc/commnoms.htm
AAP Communications Opportunities -- National AAP is currently accepting nominations for its three major communication branches, including: Pediatrics in Review, AAP News and PREP Audio. Please click below for more information on each of these Editorial Board opportunities.Nominations must be received by 4:00 PM (CST) on March 26th.
- Pediatrics in Review -- AAP is looking for nominees to fill the following open positions on the Pediatrics in Review Editorial Board: Nephrology, Endocrinology, General Pediatrics (2 openings) and Adolescent Medicine. Please view these documents for more information and directions for how to apply.
- AAP News Editorial Board Openings -- AAP is looking for nominees for the AAP News Editorial Board. Please view these documents for more information and to complete your nomination.
- PREP Audio Editorial Board Opening -- AAP is looking for nominees to fill one open position on the PREP Audio Editorial Board. Please view these documents for more information and to complete your nomination.
Chapter 2 Partners with the Los Angeles Department of Public Health for Seasonal & H1N1 Flu Updates
Do you know the facts about H1N1 and Seasonal Flu? -- With all the media hype, many parents are posing important questions that pediatricians need to be prepared to answer. This fact sheet from the AAP-CA2 Immediate Past President, Bill Mason, helps to dispel some common myths this flu season. H1N1 Myths vs Facts
Fast Facts: H1N1 Influenza Prevention
- H1N1 vaccine will be available free-of-charge in mid-October through state and local public health departments for the vaccination of high priority groups; those groups include patients ages 6 months to 24 years, household contacts of infants less than 6 months, health care workers, pregnant females, and adults 25 to 64 years with chronic illnesses or compromised immune systems; the CDC is in direct discussion currently with insurers about reimbursement of fees related to vaccine administration
- In Los Angeles County, H1N1 vaccine will be directly distributed to those physicians registered to be H1N1 vaccine providers; register now at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/h1n1vaccine/ to receive the vaccine. Chapter members in other counties should contact their local county public health departments for similar information
- Vaccine safety: while long term safety data is not available for any seasonal influenza or H1N1 vaccine, the methods used to produce both are the same and the seasonal influenza vaccines have few reported adverse effects; however, there are extensive monitoring systems in place for the rapid reporting of adverse effects
- Vaccinating patients 6 months to 24 years, household contacts of infants less than 6 months, and healthcare workers will help protect those too young to receive the vaccine and those at risk for illness who are not in the priority groups
- All influenza activity can be monitored weekly through LADPH Influenza Watch: sign up for automatic updates at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/Flu.htm
- Pediatricians should have in place protocols for offering both seasonal and H1N1 vaccine that minimize the chances that those presenting for vaccination are not exposed to potentially ill contacts
- Pediatricians should be educating their families now about respiratory illness prevention through good hygiene, vaccination & isolation from daycare, school or work, about when to call or when to present to the office and about standard measures to treat any seasonal flu. Protocols should be in place for the isolation or masking of those patients presenting with a cough and fever.
Fast Facts: H1N1 Influenza Testing and Treatment
- H1N1 testing will NOT be done on any outpatient case; testing will be restricted to inpatient settings only; while most cases of H1N1 influenza will not be formally diagnosed, distinguishing between seasonal and H1N1 influenza will not alter the care of the patient
- The decision to treat with Tamiflu will be at the professional discretion of the provider and his/her assessment of the patient’s unique individual circumstances; at this time, there is no predicted shortage of Tamiflu
- Clinically diagnosed cases of H1N1 may return to daycare or school 24 hours after the resolution of fever
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