MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

MMWR News Synopsis for July 25, 2014

1. Progress Toward Prevention of Transfusion-Transmitted Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Infection — Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2011

Progress has been made towards decreasing the risk of spreading hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus through blood transfusions in sub-Saharan Africa. Continued investments by national governments and global health organizations are needed to further improve blood safety in the region. In sub-Saharan Africa, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections spread through blood transfusions remain a public health burden.

2. Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents and Postlicensure Vaccine Safety Monitoring — United States, 2006–2014

Healthcare professionals should eliminate missed opportunities by giving a strong recommendation for HPV vaccine during the same visit they recommend Tdap and meningococcal vaccines for preteens (ages 11-12 years); bundling the recommendations for all of the adolescent vaccines—thus giving HPV vaccine recommendation the same weight and importance as the others—helps parents make the decision to get HPV vaccine for their children. With only a modest increase in coverage, HPV vaccination rates among adolescents remained low for another year.

3. National, Regional, and State Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2013

High coverage for all vaccines recommended for adolescents is achievable. Clinicians are urged to strongly recommend HPV vaccine the same way and the same day they recommend and administer meningococcal and Tdap vaccines. While there was a modest increase in vaccination coverage among adolescents (aged 13-17) for each of the routinely recommended adolescent vaccines from 2012 to 2013, progress is occurring at an unacceptably slow pace for HPV vaccination.

4. WHO Global Rotavirus Surveillance Network: A Strategic Review of the First 5 Years, 2008–2012

Consistent and high-quality sentinel hospital surveillance provides critical public health data to inform decisions made by countries regarding new vaccine introduction and use. Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis among children aged <5 years worldwide, accounting for approximately 5 percent of child deaths annually.