Issue Number 145            March 3, 2000

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

1. CDC publishes announcement of "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" satellite broadcast series in March
2. CDC publishes announcement of "Epidemiology in Action" course set for May 1-12
3. NIAID provides vaccine research information online
4. CDC publishes article on global laboratory network for poliomyelitis eradication, 1997-1999

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(1)
March 3, 2000
CDC PUBLISHES ANNOUNCEMENT OF "EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTION OF VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES" SATELLITE BROADCAST SERIES IN MARCH

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a "Notice to Readers" titled "Satellite Broadcast on Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" in the March 3, 2000, issue of the MMWR. The "Notice" reads in part:

"CDC's National Immunization Program (NIP) and the Public Health Training Network (PHTN) will co-sponsor a live satellite broadcast for physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, residents, medical and nursing students, and their colleagues who either give vaccinations or set policy in their workplace. The four-part series, "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases," will be broadcast on March 23, March 30, April 6, and April 13, 2000, from noon to 3:30 p.m. eastern time.

"The program will provide current information in the field of immunization. Session one will cover principles of vaccination, general recommendations on vaccination, and strategies to improve vaccination coverage levels; session two will cover diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, pneumococcal disease (childhood), and poliomyelitis; session three will cover measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella; and session four will focus on hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, influenza, and pneumococcal disease (adult).

"Course instructors are medical epidemiologists William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH, and Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH. Participants will be able to interact with the instructors through toll-free phone, fax, and TTY lines. Continuing education for a variety of professions will be offered based on 14 hours of instruction. Pharmacy credit will be available. There will be a $10 processing fee for nonmembers of the American Pharmaceutical Association.

". . . Course participants will be required to obtain their own copy of the primary course text, "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases," 6th edition (2000). The text is available from the Public Health Foundation for $25; telephone (877) 252-1200. All other course materials will be provided on site."

To obtain the text version (HTML format) of this MMWR article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4908a6.htm

To receive information about the course by fax, call CDC's automated fax information service at (888) 232-3299. Enter document no. 130020 and your fax number when prompted to do so. Information about the course is also available on the PHTN website at: http://www.cdc.gov/phtn/fact-sheets/epv2000.htm

To register for the course, contact your state or county immunization program. A list of state immunization coordinators is available on NIP's website at: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ed/coordinators.htm

For a detailed list of additional upcoming immunization and hepatitis conferences and events, visit IAC's "Calendar of Events" at: http://www.immunize.org/calendar/

For information on how to obtain a free electronic subscription to the MMWR, see the instructions that follow article four below.
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(2)
March 3, 2000
CDC PUBLISHES ANNOUNCEMENT OF "EPIDEMIOLOGY IN ACTION" COURSE SET FOR MAY 1-12

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a "Notice to Readers" titled "Epidemiology in Action Course" in the March 3, 2000, issue of the MMWR. This "Notice" is reprinted below and reads as follows:

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CDC and Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health will co-sponsor a course, "Epidemiology in Action," during May 1-12, 2000, at Emory University. The course is designed for state and local public health professionals. 

The course emphasizes the practical application of epidemiology to public health problems and will consist of lectures, workshops, classroom exercises (including actual epidemiologic problems), and roundtable discussions. Topics covered include descriptive epidemiology and biostatistics, analytic epidemiology, epidemic investigations, public health surveillance, surveys and sampling, Epi Info software training, and discussions of selected prevalent diseases. There is a tuition charge.

Deadline for application is April 1, 2000. Additional information and applications are available from:

Emory University
International Health Dept. (Attn: Pia)
1518 Clifton Rd. NE, Room 746
Atlanta, GA 30322
Telephone: (404) 727-3485
Fax: (404) 727-4590
World-Wide Web site: http://www.sph.emory.edu/EPICOURSES/
E-mail: pvaleri@sph.emory.edu

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To obtain the text version (HTML format) of this MMWR article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4908a7.htm

For a detailed list of additional upcoming immunization and hepatitis conferences and events, visit IAC's "Calendar of Events" at: http://www.immunize.org/calendar/

For information on how to obtain a free electronic subscription to the MMWR, see the instructions that follow article four below.
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(3)
March 3, 2000
NIAID PROVIDES VACCINE RESEARCH INFORMATION ONLINE

The National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has created a website devoted to vaccine research information. The site contains links to various brochures, fact sheets, and special recommendations and reports.

Recent materials posted on this site have included the "Final Report and Recommendations" of the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines; "The Jordan Report 2000: Accelerated Development of Vaccines"; fact sheets on specific diseases, the evolution of vaccine development, as well as new and experimental vaccines; calls for vaccine research participants; and general vaccine information brochures. Materials are available in either text version (HTML format) or camera-ready version (PDF format). The website also includes links to news articles on vaccine research and to related websites. 

NIAID's website can be accessed at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/vaccine.htm
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(4)
March 3, 2000
CDC PUBLISHES ARTICLE ON GLOBAL LABORATORY NETWORK FOR POLIOMYELITIS ERADICATION, 1997-1999

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an article titled "Developing and Expanding Contributions of the Global Laboratory Network for Poliomyelitis Eradication, 1997-1999" in the March 3, 2000, issue of the MMWR.

To obtain the text version (HTML format) of this MMWR article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4908a3.htm

HOW TO OBTAIN A FREE ELECTRONIC SUBSCRIPTION TO THE MMWR:
To obtain a free electronic subscription to the "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" (MMWR), visit CDC's MMWR website at: http://www2.cdc.gov/mmwr Select "Free MMWR Subscription" from the menu at the left of the screen. Once you have submitted the required information, weekly issues of the MMWR and all new ACIP statements (published as MMWR's "Recommendations and Reports") will arrive automatically by e-mail.