Vaccine Resources: Rashes on Dark Skin, VIS Updates and Tracking Influenza

Rashes on dark skin

The Instagram account titled “Brown Skin Matters” may be a useful resource for seeing what rashes look like on dark skin. The page includes images of both infectious and non-infectious conditions, including chickenpox, shingles, eczema, hives and more.

VIS updates

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently posted updated Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) for the below vaccines. All are dated Oct. 30, 2019. Links to the pertinent VIS page are listed for your convenience:

• Zoster/shingles (live)
• Zoster/shingles (recombinant)
• Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) — Note: This is an interim version.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23)
• Polio — Note: This is an interim version.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) — Note: This is an interim version.
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) — Note: this is an interim version.
• Rotavirus — Note: This is an interim version.
• Cholera
• Typhoid

The CDC indicated that providers should begin using the updated versions immediately, but they are allowing for existing stocks to be finished before converting. According to the Immunization Action Coalition’s (IAC) weekly publication, IAC Express, interim files will be finalized within about six months. IAC is translating the zoster and pneumococcal revised versions into seven other languages. Find out more from the IAC Express article.

Tracking influenza

Did you know that the CDC publishes a weekly update of influenza activity throughout the U.S.? Called FluView, the report summarizes:

• Percent of positive respiratory samples
• Circulating strains
• Outpatient illness rates, including color-coded maps of illness activity and geographic spread
• Hospitalization rates
• Percent of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I)
• Pediatric deaths
• A summary statement and key messages
• State-level information and historical data

So far the 2019-2020 season is mild with low, national rates of influenza disease, but two children have died as a result of influenza infection. At least for now, the circulating strains of influenza match the strains contained in the influenza vaccine.

Check out or bookmark the FluView section of the CDC site.
Note: You can also sign up for the weekly alerts by submitting your email address in the space provided in the left column, under the page navigation categories.