Synopsis for April 1, 2005

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EDT.

1. Tobacco Use, Access, and Exposure to Tobacco in Media Among Middle and High School Students ― United States, 2004
2. Inadvertent Laboratory Exposure to Bacillus Anthracis ― California, 2004
3. Estimated Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Adults and Children ― United States, September 01, 2004-January 31, 2005
4. Influenza Vaccine Pre-booking and Distribution Strategies for the 2005-06 Influenza Season

Tobacco Use, Access, and Exposure to Tobacco in Media Among Middle and High School Students ― United States, 2004

Because the prevalence of almost all tobacco product use did not change from 2002 to 2004, it will be important to determine if this means that progress toward meeting the Healthy People 2010 objectives for tobacco use by high school students is slowing.

This report summarizes tobacco use estimates from the 2004 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) and describes changes since 2002. The decline in youth smoking prevalence since the late 1990s has been a public health success, reversing the pattern of increase in the early 1990s. However, the lack of significant decreases in the use of almost all tobacco products among U.S. middle (i.e., grades 6–8) and high school (i.e., grades 9–12) students from 2002 to 2004 underscores the need to fully implement evidence-based strategies that are effective in preventing youth tobacco use. In 2004, 11.7 percent of middle school students reported current use of any tobacco product and 8.1 percent reported current cigarette use. Among high school students, 28 percent reported current use of any tobacco product and 22.3 percent reported current cigarette use in 2004.

Inadvertent Laboratory Exposure to Bacillus Anthracis ― California, 2004

While it was felt that the laboratory workers in this incident were at low-risk for inhalation of B. anthracis and none developed symptoms of anthrax, it is important that individuals working with killed B. anthracis organisms use appropriate bio-safety measures and adequately test materials to make sure that the organism has been inactivated.

In 2004, workers at a research laboratory in California were inadvertently exposed to viable Bacillus anthracis organisms. The laboratory was working with a material that they believed to contain killed B. anthracis. Inhalation anthrax results from breathing in aerosolized B. anthracis spores. The California Department of Health Services and CDC investigated procedures at the facility. Health officials felt that potentially exposed workers were at low-risk for inhalation of B. anthracis, but recommended they receive antibiotics. None of the workers developed symptoms of anthrax. B. anthracis can be resistant to heat and chemical disinfection. As a result, it is important that those working with killed B. anthracis organisms use appropriate bio-safety measures and adequately test materials to make sure that the organism has been inactivated.

Estimated Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Adults and Children ― United States, September 01, 2004-January 31, 2005

Despite the shortfall of influenza vaccine, the level of coverage achieved among those groups prioritized in 2004–05 appears to be similar to historical coverage.

During the 2004-05 influenza season most of the nation’s scarce influenza vaccine went to those at greatest risk for serious complications from influenza, including young children, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions. Vaccination coverage levels among adults in groups identified as priority by CDC approached those seen during previous seasons. Coverage levels among children aged 6-23 months were much higher than in the past because of a new vaccination recommendation for them. Approximately two-thirds of influenza vaccine administered through January went to persons in priority groups, compared to only about one-half of all doses in 2003. Also an estimated 17.5 million persons not in priority groups reported choosing to forego vaccination to save vaccine for people who needed it more. These data indicate the effectiveness of prioritization.

Influenza Vaccine Pre-booking and Distribution Strategies for the 2005-06 Influenza Season

Planning for different supply scenarios is necessary to improve the response depending on the number of doses available and whether or not priority groups will need to be targeted early in the season.

Immunization with influenza vaccine is the primary method for reducing infections and complications from influenza. Recent problems with influenza vaccine supply including last years shortage highlights the importance of planning for the upcoming 2005-06 influenza season. This includes planning for the prebooking (i.e., advance ordering of vaccine) and distribution mechanisms. The supply of inactivated influenza vaccine is projected to be adequate to meet the historical demand from persons in the priority groups established last year during the 2004-05 influenza season. If more vaccine becomes available, additional groups can also be targeted for vaccination in the upcoming 2005-06 season.

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