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Pedi-Tips

UTMB to Test H1N1 Virus Vaccine in Children

For immediate release: Aug. 14, 2009

GALVESTON, Texas – The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has been selected by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, to conduct pediatric vaccine trials for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

The pediatric trials are especially important for several reasons, said Dr. Christine Turley, principal investigator for the study, vice chairwoman for pediatric clinical services, and a scientist with the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development at UTMB. She explained that the virus potentially could affect younger people particularly hard.

Turley said that there could be another outbreak of the flu just as school begins, making the trials even more important to families across the nation. “We want to help parents protect their children from this disease,” Turley said. “The virus could hit pre-teens and teenagers especially hard. An effective vaccine will be an important part of the plan to protect the most vulnerable parts of our population. The help of the community is essential as we work to understand how best to produce an effective response to the pandemic.”

According to Turley, because older individuals have been exposed to influenza viruses many times in previous seasons, researchers believe there is some protection that will cross over in their immune systems to the new virus strain. “However, because children have had so many fewer seasons of exposure to influenza, their immune systems are considered naïve and at much higher risk for serious illness and death than adults,” Turley said. “This is a key reason that the vaccine is being studied in children so quickly.”

The government in April declared the H1N1 virus a public health emergency, and the World Health Organization has classified the H1N1 virus as a pandemic, which reflects the widespread nature of the outbreak.

UTMB will be conducting the trials as part of the government-funded H1N1 vaccines trial effort, under a subcontract with Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine. Baylor is an NIAID Vaccine Treatment and Evaluation Unit, one of eight federally-funded sites taking part in studies that will help determine the best dose of experimental vaccines designed to protect against the H1N1 virus.

In addition to Baylor and UTMB, other sites taking part in the pediatric vaccine trials include Cincinnati Children’s Hospital VTEU, Emory University VTEU, Saint Louis University VTEU, Seattle Children’s Hospital (affiliated with the Seattle Group Health Cooperative VTEU), the University of Iowa VTEU, the University of Maryland School of Medicine VTEU and Vanderbilt University VTEU. They will be joined by Children’s Mercy Hospital in Missouri and Duke University Medical Center

H1N1 Flu (Swine): How the flu spreads

Valuable information from the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/)

The main way that influenza viruses are thought to spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Influenza viruses may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands.

To find out more about how to care for people at home with novel H1N1 flu, please click on the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm

Back to School & Immunizations

Back to school time means more than just new backpacks and jeans, it also signals parents to check if their children's immunizations are up to date. This year in the State of Texas there are new requirements for immunizations that more closely conform with the CDC recommendations. These requirements are in effect beginning August 1, 2009.

Hepatitis A Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten will be required to have two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine.

Measles, Mumps, Rubelle (MMR) Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten will be required to have two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Varicella (chickenpox) Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten and 7th grade will be required to have two doses of the Varicella vaccine. A written statement from the parent (or legal guardian or managing conservator), school nurse or physician attesting to a child’s positive history of varicella disease (chickenpox), or of varicella immunity, is acceptable in lieu of either dose of varicella vaccine.

Tetanus, Diptheria and acellular pertussis-containing Vaccine (Tdap):
Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering 7th grade will be required to have one dose of Tdap vaccine. Students in the 7th grade will be required to have a booster shot of Tdap only if it has been five years since their last dose.. Students in grades 8-12 are required to have a booster shot of Tdap if it has been ten years since their previous dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Td is acceptable if a contraindication to pertussis exits.

Meningococcal Vaccine: Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering 7th grade will be required to have one dose of meningococcal vaccine. In addition, college freshmen or students in dorms are recommended to have a meningococcal vaccine.

For more information visit http://immunizetexas.com/ 
Or the Texas Department of Health Services. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/school/default.shtm

Reach Out and Read- UTMB Island Pediatrics 2009-2010 Program receives $2000 grant from Target

Recently, our local  Target Store donated a $2000 Grant to Island Pediatrics Clinic Reach Out and Read program.  These funds will be used to purchase books to give to Island Pediatrics Patients at Well Child Checks from 6 months to 5 years of age.  Reach Out and Read is a national, nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy by making books a routine part of pediatric care, training doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud to their children.   While getting guidance on feeding, development, and medical problems, parents get advise on reading aloud to their children.  Many children get their first book from Reach Out and Read. Over time, the children obtain a library of books to own and foster an early love of reading. By building on the unique relationship between parents and their medical providers, Reach Out and Read encourages early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for reading success.

Since 1946, Target stores have given 5 percent of it’s income to the communities it serves through local grants and supporting volunteer initiatives.  Target is proud to partner with organizations like Reach Out and Read to inspire education, make the arts affordable and accessible, and foster safe families and communities nationwide. 

Island Pediatrics Reach Out and Read  Program is managed by Physician Assistant, Peggy Haardt with  Suzanne LaForte, MD as the Medical Director for Island Pediatrics Literacy Programs.  Reach Out and Read is one of two Literacy Programs at Island Pediatrics.  Island Pediatrics Book Club  is a program developed at UTMB as an extension of Reach Out and Read.  This program provides books for children of any age to take home at any visit and includes books for Elementary, Middle and High School students. Children in our community are at increased risk for learning problems, school failure and drop out.  Continued reminders from the doctor or nurse to read regularly with books to own, reinforces the messages from schools and teachers of the importance of regular reading.  Island Pediatrics Book Club is currently funded through a 2 year UTMB President’s Cabinet Grant.  Look for both of these programs to expand to Island Pediatrics –West. 

Volume No.1, Issue No. 3

August 18, 2009

Copyright 2009 The University of Texas Medical Branch.
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