Issue Number
149
March 20,
2000
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- Two-dose hepatitis B vaccine schedule now an option
for adolescents
- AAP publishes policy statement on varicella vaccine
- AAP publishes policy statement on Lyme disease
prevention
- Employment opportunity! The Immunization Action Coalition is
looking for an administrative assistant
- HFI National Hepatitis Congress and Walk on Washington
scheduled for March 25-27, 2000
- The "Cat in the Hat" is back! IAC has a limited quantity of Dr.Seuss
immunization posters to distribute
- CDC publishes announcement of public health surveillance
course at Emory University
- CDC publishes erratum for March 10 MMWR article regarding
influenza activity
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(1)
March 20, 2000
TWO-DOSE HEPATITIS B VACCINE SCHEDULE NOW AN OPTION FOR ADOLESCENTS
A new dosing schedule option is now available for hepatitis B vaccine for use
in adolescents aged 11-15 years. In September 1999, the Food and Drug Administration approved an application by Merck
Vaccine Division for a two-dose hepatitis B vaccination schedule for adolescents 11 through 15
years of age. The schedule is approved for the use of two 10-mcg (adult)
doses of Recombivax HB. These two doses should be administered 4-6 months apart. Seroconversion rates and final antibody
titers for the two-dose (10mcg) alternative schedule are similar to the traditional three-dose (5mcg)
schedule.
This two-dose schedule is an "alternative" schedule. It may be used instead of
the three-dose schedule if the clinician chooses to do so.
This schedule is approved ONLY for Merck's Recombivax HB using the adult dose (10mcg) of vaccine, and ONLY
for children 11 through 15 years of age. If an adolescent has already begun the traditional three-dose schedule, he
or she should not be changed to the alternative two-dose schedule. The two-dose schedule must not be started
prior to 11 years of age, and must be completed before the child's 16th birthday.
On February 17, 2000, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices passed a Vaccines for Children
(VFC) resolution to add Merck's alternative two-dose hepatitis B 10-mcg regimen to the VFC program. It is
important to remember that vaccine supplied through the VFC program will not be available
until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention negotiates a vaccine contract for this alternative dosing schedule.
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(2)
March 20, 2000
AAP PUBLISHES POLICY STATEMENT ON VARICELLA VACCINE
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases published a policy statement titled
"Varicella Vaccine Update" in the January 2000 issue of "Pediatrics." The "Abstract" of the statement reads as
follows:
"ABSTRACT. Recommendations for routine varicella vaccination were published by the American Academy of
Pediatrics in May 1995, but many eligible children remain unimmunized. This update provides additional
information on the varicella disease burden before the availability of varicella
vaccine, potential barriers to immunization, efforts to increase the level of
coverage, new safety data, and new recommendations for use of the varicella vaccine after exposure and in children with
human immunodeficiency virus infections. Pediatricians are strongly encouraged to support public health
officials in the development and implementation of varicella immunization requirements for child care and school entry."
To obtain the complete text version (HTML format) of this AAP policy statement, go to:
http://www.aap.org/policy/re9941.html
The most recent (May 28, 1999) statement on varicella prevention from the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP) is titled "Prevention of Varicella Updated Recommendations." To obtain the text version (HTML
format) of this ACIP statement, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4806a1.htm
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(3)
March 20, 2000
AAP PUBLISHES POLICY STATEMENT ON LYME DISEASE PREVENTION
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases published a policy statement titled
"Prevention of Lyme Disease" in the January 2000 issue of "Pediatrics." The "Abstract" of the statement reads
as follows:
"ABSTRACT. Lyme disease is currently the most frequently reported vector-borne illness in the United States,
accounting for more than 95% of such cases. The purpose of this report is to provide recommendations for
preventing Lyme disease, including the use of Lyme disease vaccine. Individuals can reduce their risk of Lyme disease by
avoiding tick-infested habitats when in endemic areas. If exposure to tick-infested habitats cannot
be avoided, individuals may reduce their risk of infection by using repellants,
wearing protective clothing, and regularly checking for and removing attached
ticks. Morbidity from Lyme disease can be reduced significantly by detecting
and treating the infection in its early stages; early and appropriate treatment
almost always results in a prompt and uncomplicated cure. A Lyme disease vaccine (LYMErix,
SmithKline Beecham, Collegeville, PA) was licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration on December 21, 1998, for
persons 15 to 70 years of age. This vaccine seems to be safe and effective, but whether its
use is cost-effective has yet to be clearly established. Use of this vaccine
causes false-positive enzyme immunoassay results for Lyme disease. Lyme disease can be diagnosed in vaccinated persons
by immunoblot testing. Decisions about the use of this vaccine should be based on an assessment of
a person's risk as determined by activities and behaviors relating to tick exposure in endemic areas. This vaccine should be
considered an adjunct to, not a replacement for, the practice of personal protective measures against
tick exposure and the early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease."
To obtain the complete text version (HTML format) of this AAP policy statement, go to:
http://www.aap.org/policy/re9942.html
The most recent (June 4, 1999) statement on Lyme disease vaccine from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) is titled "Recommendations for the Use of Lyme Disease Vaccine." To obtain the text
version (HTML format) of this ACIP statement, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4807a1.htm
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(4)
March 20, 2000
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY! THE IMMUNIZATION ACTION COALITION IS LOOKING FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
If you or anyone you know might be interested in the following employment opportunity, please contact the
Immunization Action Coalition. Application instructions are listed in the following job description:
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Pack up your administrative skills and come to work at the Immunization Action Coalition, an award-winning,
national, nonprofit publishing organization. Join a small group of high-spirited professionals who are
dedicated, meticulous, and need your outstanding organizational skills! We want a detail-oriented
"people" person who handles multiple tasks and has extensive experience with databases and PCs.
Proofreading or editing experience a plus. Full benefits and competitive salary.
For a more complete job description, visit: http://www.immunize.org/admin/jobopp6.htm
To apply for this position, visit: http://www.immunize.org/
then fax your resume by April 11 to (651) 647-9131, or mail it to:
Immunization Action Coalition
1573 Selby Ave., Suite 234
St. Paul, MN 55104
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(5)
March 20, 2000
HFI NATIONAL HEPATITIS CONGRESS AND WALK ON WASHINGTON SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 25-27, 2000
The Hepatitis Foundation International (HFI) is sponsoring its Third Annual National Hepatitis Congress and Walk on
Washington on March 25, 26, and 27, at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA.
A "Support Group Leaders Workshop" will be held on Saturday, March 25 at 1:30 pm, and liver experts will discuss the
latest advances in research and treatment of viral hepatitis on Sunday, March 26 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. HFI's awards
banquet will be held Sunday evening at 7 pm. Honorees are Dr. Jay Hoofnagle, National Institute of Health; Dr. Mark
Kane, Bill and Melinda Gates Children's Vaccine Program; and Patrick Zenner, President of Hoffman
LaRoche, Inc. On Monday, March 27, buses will take participants up to Capitol Hill to
meet and talk with congressional leaders.
Registration for the congress is $30 (this does not include the luncheon or awards banquet dinner on Sunday). For more
information about this congress, call HFI at (800) 891-0707, or visit HFI's website at:
http://www.hepfi.org./walk2000.htm
For a detailed list of additional upcoming immunization and hepatitis conferences, visit the Immunization Action
Coalition's "Calendar of Events" at: http://www.immunize.org/calendar/
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(6)
March 20, 2000
THE "CAT IN THE HAT" IS BACK! IAC HAS A LIMITED QUANTITY OF DR. SEUSS IMMUNIZATION POSTERS TO DISTRIBUTE
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) is again offering Dr. Seuss posters for a limited time! A Dr. Seuss poster
that features the "Cat in the Hat" is now available from IAC for national bulk distribution to anyone who wants to
promote child health.
This full-color poster broadcasts the message "Help Keep Kids Healthy," and promotes the National Immunization
Information Hotline of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Created by CDC and the Department
of Health and Human Services, this poster measures 24" x 18". The minimum order is 100 posters; the maximum order is 300
per individual/group.
IAC has a limited quantity of these posters, and will distribute them on a first-come, first-served basis.
All we ask is that you provide the cost of shipping and handling and we will mail them within 2-4 weeks of
receiving your order. We can only ship posters within the United States.
PLEASE NOTE: We previously advertised the availability of Dr. Seuss posters on March 2, 2000. This current offer
is NOT the same as that previous offer for a set of 3 different posters.
To order your posters, go to the "Cat in the Hat" Poster Order Form on IAC's
website at: http://www.immunize.org/news.d/seuss2.htm
Print out this form, fill it in, and submit your request to IAC by fax or mail.
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(7)
March 17, 2000
CDC PUBLISHES ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE COURSE AT EMORY UNIVERSITY
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a "Notice to Readers" titled "Introduction to
Public Health Surveillance Course" in the March 17, 2000, issue of the MMWR. The "Notice" reads as follows:
***************************************
CDC and Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health will cosponsor a course, "Introduction to
Public Health Surveillance" during May 22-26, 2000, at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The course
is designed for state and local public health professionals.
The course will provide practicing public health professionals with the theoretic
and practical tools necessary to design, implement, and evaluate effective
surveillance programs. Topics include overview and history of surveillance systems; planning considerations;
sources and collection of data; analysis, interpretation, and communication of data; surveillance systems
technology; ethics and legalities; state and local concerns; and future considerations.
There is a tuition charge.
Deadline for applications is April 1. Additional information and applications are
available from:
Emory University
International Health Dept.
1518 Clifton Rd., N.E., 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/mm4910a6.htm
For information on how to obtain a free electronic subscription to the MMWR,
see the instructions that follow article 8 below.
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(8)
March 17, 2000
CDC PUBLISHES ERRATUM FOR MARCH 10 MMWR ARTICLE REGARDING INFLUENZA ACTIVITY
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a notice titled "Errata: Vol. 49, No. 9" in
the March 17, 2000, issue of the MMWR to correct errors in two articles published in the March 10, 2000, issue.
One of the errata concerned the article titled "Update: Influenza Activity--United
States, 1999-2000 Season."
To obtain the text version (HTML format) of this MMWR erratum, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4910a7.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.
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