Travel health update

MHRA updates Yellow card reporting scheme; Oral typhoid vaccine; Live vaccine timing intervals; Latest ‘Yellow Book’ from CDC

MHRA AND THE YELLOW CARD

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website has moved to the GOV.UK website at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency. The new format is not easy on the eye although I’m sure it will improve with increased use. On closer scrutiny, I found clear information for patient group directions (PGDs) but nothing on patient specific directions (PSDs). The search facility failed to reveal anything either. The FAQ on my website ‘Prescribing for travel vaccines’ will however still take you back to the archived information for the time being if needed – see http://www.janechiodini.co.uk/news/faqs/faq-no-1/.

The MHRA front page has an image for the Yellow Card. This scheme is the system for recording adverse incidents with medicines and medical devices in the UK. Such reporting has just been simplified by bringing everything under the one system, so now the Yellow Card can be used to report incidents concerned with suspected adverse drug reactions, medical devices, defective medicines and suspected fake medicines. When a new drug is licenced and launched on the market it is usually designated with a black triangle symbol, indicating the need for increased vigilance. A useful video to educate about the meaning of this can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzM4NKPoovM&feature=share

PaxVax

PaxVax is a new vaccine company in the UK, adding to healthy competition in the market place, especially when travel vaccines can sometimes go ‘out of stock’. This company was founded in 2007 and originates from the USA. PaxVax is currently able to supply oral typhoid vaccine (Vivotif) in the UK but other vaccines such as hepatitis A and cholera may be part of their portfolio in time, with vaccine trials also in progress for other infectious diseases such as dengue and malaria. Vivotif has been used much more frequently in recent times during the injectable vaccine shortages. Buying in and keeping the vaccines in the surgery fridge is a convenient option with the vaccine reimbursement being claimed on an FP34D. However, if you opt to provide the drug on an FP10 you must ensure that the patient is fully aware of correct administration and that the vaccine capsules are kept at 2-8ËšC. Thermostability data are available and information can be obtained from the company by emailing medicalinformation@paxvax.com

As part of its launch, PaxVax has invested in an educational programme to inform nurses on the use of travel vaccines and bring them up to date with the latest developments in travel health. Graeme Whitehouse, Country Manager for PaxVax UK said: 'By supporting our UK launch with a nurses' education programme, we want to ensure healthcare professionals have the correct knowledge about vaccines and travel heatlh.' The programme, 'Excellence in Travel Health' is a series of free interactive courses that are open to practice nurses of all levels. For further information, visit www.excellencetravelhealth.com

LIVE VACCINES AGAIN

Public Health England has added new information to the table it produced last September for the live vaccine timing intervals. They’ve now added detail for tuberculin skin testing (Mantoux) and MMR. If a tuberculin skin test has already been initiated, then MMR should be delayed until the skin test has been read, unless protection against measles in required urgently. If a child has had a recent MMR and requires a tuberculin test, then a four week interval should be observed. For further details see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revised-recommendations-for-administering-more-than-1-live-vaccine

TRAVAX 30TH ANNIVERSARY

If you’re a TRAVAX user you’ll be aware of its birthday celebrations this year, including a newsletter that has covered topics such as the history of TRAVAX and background of the working team. Its leaflets, which could be given out in practice to make travellers aware of the benefit of fitfortravel, have also been redesigned in-keeping with the lovely bright and cheerful website. These can be ordered free of charge from NSS.HPSTravax@nhs.net

LATEST YELLOW BOOK FROM CDC

Health Information for International Travel 2016, also known as the ‘Yellow Book’ has been revised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should be available in the UK during July. This publication (available in electronic and hard copy format) is issued every two years and is a wealth knowledge for the travel health enthusiast. While the vaccine and malaria chemoprophylaxis data are provided from a US perspective, which will be different to UK guidance, the wealth of information and knowledge in the text is relevant and extremely useful.