The ACIP has made the following recommendations for the TBE vaccine11,12:
1. Vaccination is recommended for laboratory workers with a potential for exposure to TBE virus.
2. TBE vaccine also is recommended for individuals who are moving abroad or traveling to a TBE-endemic area and who will have extensive exposure to ticks based on their planned outdoor activities and itinerary.
3. TBE vaccine can be considered for people traveling or moving to a TBE-endemic area who might engage in outdoor activities in areas where ticks are likely to be found. The decision to vaccinate should be based on an assessment of the patient’s planned activities and itinerary, risk factors for a poorer medical outcome, and personal perception and tolerance of risk.
Cholera. ACIP now recommends CVD 103-HgR (PaxVax, VAXCHORA), a single-dose, live attenuated oral cholera vaccine, for travelers as young as 2 years who plan to visit an area that has active cholera transmission.14 In February 2022, ACIP expanded its recommendation for adults ages 18 to 64 years to include children and adolescents ages 2 to 17 years. This followed a 2020 FDA approval for the vaccine in the younger age group. Details about the vaccine were described in an MMWR publication.14
Cholera is caused by toxigenic bacteria. Infection occurs by ingestion of contaminated water or food and can be prevented by consumption of safe water and food, along with good sanitation and handwashing. Cholera produces a profuse watery diarrhea that can rapidly lead to death in 50% of those infected who do not receive rehydration therapy.15 Cholera is endemic is many countries and can cause large outbreaks. The World Health Organization estimates that 1 to 4 million cases of cholera and 21,000 to 143,000 related deaths occur globally each year.16
Staying current is moreimportant than ever
Vaccines are one of the most successful public health interventions of the past century, and maintaining a robust vaccine approval and safety monitoring system is an important priority. However, to gain the most benefit from vaccines, physicians need to stay current on vaccine recommendations—something that is becoming increasingly difficult to accomplish as the options expand. Consulting the literature and visiting the CDC’s website (www.cdc.gov) with frequency can be helpful to that end.