No 47 - 2015

The temporary vaccination programme will be discontinued as from the end of 2015

In the beginning of 2014, production issues relating to the polio component of Statens Serum Institut's childhood vaccines made necessary the introduction of a temporary vaccination programme, EPI-NEWS 3/14. Children who started vaccination under the programme after 15 January 2014 received a hexavalent vaccine, Infanrix hexa®, which in addition to the standard conditions also protected against hepatitis B.

The temporary vaccination programme started being phased-out on 1 January 2015.

In this connection, the Danish Health and Medicines Authority decided that all children who have received a minimum of one Infanrix hexa® under the temporary vaccination programme, and who have therefore also initiated a vaccination schedule against hepatitis B, should be given the opportunity to conclude their hepatitis B vaccination.

This offer will be discontinued as from the end of 2015. Nevertheless, see below for further information about the short back-order period in the autumn of 2015, EPI-NEWS 41/15.
(P.H. Andersen, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology)

Follow-up on the period during which the DTaP-IPV/Act-Hib vaccine was on back order

In the period 5-23 October 2015, the DTaP-IPV/Act-Hib vaccine for primary vaccination was on back order from Statens Serum Institut, EPI-NEWS 41/15.

In that situation, characterised by expected brief unavailability, we recommended that decentral stocks be prioritised so that primary vaccination of 3-month-old infants was given precedence to vaccination of 5-month-olds who in turn should be given precedence to 12-month-old children. Thus, unvaccinated children should be prioritised over children who had already received one or more DTaP-IPV/Act-Hib vaccines.

The lack of DTaP-IPV/Act-Hib vaccine could potentially cause a delay in the first primary vaccination, but physicians with Infanrix hexa® on stock earmarked for conclusion of vaccination under the temporary programme, EPI-NEWS 50/14, could consider using this vaccine as the initial, primary vaccination.

In pursuance of an agreement with the Danish Health Authority, the expectedly few children who had to initiate the vaccination series with Infanrix hexa® during the back-order period shall be given the opportunity to conclude their hepatitis B vaccination series in the same manner as they would have under the temporary vaccination programme in 2014, please see above.

Please note that these children shall receive their second hepatitis B vaccination before the end of January 2016, after which the temporary settlement code for the second hepatitis B vaccine (8353) will no longer be available. The vaccination may normally be given in conjunction with the second DTaP-IPV/Act-Hib vaccine.

The third hepatitis B vaccine (code 8354) shall be given no later than on 31 August 2016, after which its settlement code will also be discontinued. The vaccination may normally be given in conjunction with the third DTaP-IPV/Act-Hib vaccine.

Any delayed DTaP-IPV/Act-Hib primary vaccinations for children aged 5 and 12 months should be given as soon as possible, but observing current minimum intervals, EPI-NEWS 37/15.
(P.H. Andersen, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology)

European HIV Testing Week 20-27 November 2015 – Test. Treat. Prevent

This week, the third European HIV-Hepatitis Testing Week will run. This year's theme is "Test. Treat. Prevent", and as a new element, the week also addresses hepatitis B and C.

The objective of the European HIV Testing Week is to raise awareness of HIV and particularly to draw attention to the advantages of being tested so that treatment may be initiated early.

It has been demonstrated that the sooner you start treatment, the better are your chances of maintaining good health; and the risk of infecting others decreases.

Despite positive trends in many parts of Europe, far too many people remain unaware of their HIV and/or hepatitis status. Today, at least one in three of the 2.5 million people who live with HIV in Europe are unaware that they are HIV positive. Also, 50% are diagnosed late, which delays their access to treatment. Many are also unaware of their hepatitis status, but unfortunately data on this are not complete.

To remedy this situation, more than 300 NGOs, hospitals and clinics from all of Europe join forces during the European HIV Testing Week to have more people tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C. The participants offer testing, focus on the advantages associated with testing and with starting treatment, and try to increase awareness of HIV and hepatitis testing among political decision-makers in Europe.

The European HIV Testing Week is coordinated by HIV in europe, which is located with CHIP under Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Clinic for Infectious Medicine. Contact CHIP at hie.rigshospitalet@regionh.dk.

To sign up for the initiative, go to the website www.testingweek.eu where you will also find more information and material.

(S. Cowan, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology)

Link to previous issues of EPI-NEWS

18 November 2015