Issue Number
153
March 31,
2000
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- CDC publishes article on FDA approval of alternative
two-dose hepatitis B vaccination schedule for adolescents
- Reminder! International symposium on hepatitis and liver disease set for April 9-13
- "Early bird" registration deadline is May 5 for National
Immunization Conference
- World Health Organization publishes special issue of
the "Bulletin" on immunization safety
- CDC publishes announcement of workshop on aluminum in
vaccines
- CDC announces availability of funds for research on the
impact of public health laws and policy
- CDC publishes article on progress toward polio
eradication in Democratic Republic of Congo
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(1)
March 31, 2000
CDC PUBLISHES ARTICLE ON FDA APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE TWO-DOSE HEPATITIS B VACCINATION SCHEDULE FOR ADOLESCENTS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a "Notice to Readers" titled "Alternate
Two-Dose Hepatitis B Vaccination Schedule for Adolescents Aged 11-15 Years" in the March 31, 2000,
issue of the MMWR. This "Notice" reads as follows:
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ALTERNATE TWO-DOSE HEPATITIS B VACCINATION SCHEDULE FOR ADOLESCENTS AGED 11-15 YEARS
In September 1999, Merck Vaccine Division (Merck & Co., Inc., West Point,
Pennsylvania) received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for an optional
two-dose schedule of Recombivax HB for vaccination of adolescents aged 11-15 years. The Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices approved the optional two-dose schedule in October 1999 and
recommended to include this schedule in the Vaccines for Children Program in
February 2000. Using the two-dose schedule, the adult dose of Recombivax HB (1.0 mL dose containing 10 mcg
of hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]) is administered to adolescents aged 11-15 years, with the second dose
given 4-6 months after the first dose. In immunogenicity studies among adolescents
aged 11-15 years, antibody concentrations and end seroprotection rates (greater
than or equal to 10 milli-international units per mL of antibody to HBsAg) were similar with the two-dose
schedule (1.0 mL dose containing 10 mcg of HBsAg) and the currently licensed three-dose schedule (0.5 mL dose
containing 5 mcg of HBsAg). The overall frequency of adverse events was similar for the two-dose schedule
and the three-dose schedule. Short-term (2-year) follow-up data indicate that the rate of decline in antibody
levels for the two-dose schedule was similar to that for the three-dose schedule. No data
are available to assess long-term protection (beyond 2 years) or immune memory following vaccination with the two-dose schedule,
and it is not known whether booster doses of vaccine will be required. As with other hepatitis B
vaccination schedules, if administration of the two-dose schedule is interrupted it is not necessary to restart the series.
Children and adolescents who have begun vaccination with a dose of 5 mcg of Recombivax HB should
complete the three-dose series with this dose. If it is not clear which dose an adolescent was administered at the start
of a series, the series should be completed with the three-dose schedule.
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To obtain the text version (HTML format) of this MMWR "Notice to Readers," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4912a5.htm
For information on how to obtain a free electronic subscription to the MMWR,
see the instructions that follow article seven below.
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(2)
March 31, 2000
REMINDER! INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON HEPATITIS AND LIVER DISEASE SET FOR APRIL 9-13
The 10th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease is fast
approaching! The conference will be held April 9-13 at the Marriott Marquis in
Atlanta, GA, and is being hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This symposium will bring together international experts to discuss current research, science, and policy issues
related to viral hepatitis and liver disease, and will highlight the importance of hepatitis surveillance,
research, treatment, vaccination, and prevention programs in the developing world.
Although it is too late to mail in your registration for this conference, onsite
registration will be available. For information about the conference, call (404)
233-4490 or visit: http://www.hep2000.com
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(3)
March 31, 2000
"EARLY BIRD" REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MAY 5 FOR NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION CONFERENCE
The 34th National Immunization Conference set for July 5-8 in Washington, DC, is the largest annual
immunization conference in the United States. Participants must register before May 5 to take
advantage of the "early bird" registration fee of $60. Individuals who register after May 5 but before
June 16 will pay $85, while those who register onsite will pay $100.
For registration information, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/NIC/
You can also call the National Immunization Program at (404) 639-8225 or request information by fax at
(404) 639-8828.
"IAC EXPRESS" will publish updates on the conference agenda as information becomes available.
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(4)
March 31, 2000
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES SPECIAL ISSUE OF THE "BULLETIN" ON IMMUNIZATION SAFETY
The World Health Organization recently published a "Special Theme" issue of the "Bulletin of the World
Health Organization" (Vol. 78, no. 2) titled "Immunization Safety." The issue contains 12 articles
on vaccine safety, including feature articles on vaccine quality and clinical safety issues,
monitoring adverse events, and the Vaccine Safety Datalink; a round table discussion on vaccine adverse events in the new
millennium; reprints of several "classic" public health articles on immunization safety; and an editorial
on immunization safety as a global priority.
Many of these articles are available online as camera-ready documents (PDF format) at:
http://www.who.int/bulletin/tableofcontents/2000/vol.78no.2.html
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(5)
March 31, 2000
CDC PUBLISHES ANNOUNCEMENT OF WORKSHOP ON ALUMINUM IN VACCINES
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a "Notice to Readers" titled "National Vaccine
Program Office Workshop on Aluminum in Vaccines" in the March 31, 2000, issue of the MMWR. The "Notice" reads:
"CDC's National Vaccine Program Office will sponsor Workshop on Aluminum in Vaccines during May 11-12, 2000.
The workshop will be held at the Caribe Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, immediately following the Metal Ions in
Biology and Medicine Conference. Discussion topics include vaccine adjuvants, aluminum salts in vaccines, the
pharmacology and toxicology of aluminum, and macrophagic myofascitis. Additional information is available on
the World-Wide Web at http://www.cdc.gov/od/nvpo/calendar.htm, or
telephone (404) 687-6672."
To obtain the text version (HTML format) of this MMWR "Notice to Readers," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4912a7.htm
For information on how to obtain a free electronic subscription to the MMWR,
see the instructions that follow article seven below.
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(6)
March 31, 2000
CDC ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued the following request for applications for research
funds:
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RESEARCH PROPOSALS TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF LAWS ON PUBLIC HEALTH INVITED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Prevention Research Initiative, seeks to
stimulate research evaluating the implementation and effects of laws on public health. Diverse statutes,
regulations, contract specifications, licensing requirements, and other legally
enforceable public policies are perceived to affect the prevention of disease,
injury, and disability, the promotion of health, and the performance of public
health services.
Research findings are expected to be valuable to public health practitioners
and policy makers in their efforts to improve health in our communities. Areas
of law and policies that affect public health for which CDC specifically encourages research
proposals include: immunization, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, injury related to motor vehicles,
occupational safety and health, public health reporting laws, emergency public health practice, urban
planning, infectious disease screening and treatment for immigrants, and the
public health system and infrastructure. Proposals addressing other areas of
law are also invited.
CDC will award $500,000 in competitive grant funding for new studies in this area in fiscal year 2000.
Letters of intent to apply are due by April 21 and applications are due by June 2, 2000.
The request for applications is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/00051.htm
and [was] published in the "Federal Register" during the week of March 13.
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Application forms for this research grant are available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html
To request that an application kit be sent by U.S. mail, call CDC's Grants Management Branch at (888) 472-6874.
Ask for the application kit for announcement #00051, titled "Research on the Impact of Laws and Policies in
Public Health."
Contact information for business technical assistance and program technical assistance can be found in the
request for applications, which is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/00051.htm
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(7)
March 31, 2000
CDC PUBLISHES ARTICLE ON PROGRESS TOWARD POLIO ERADICATION IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published "Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication--Democratic Republic of Congo, 1996-1999"
in the March 31, 2000, issue of the MMWR. This report, along with reports from other war-torn areas, suggests that
even under extremely adverse conditions, effective polio eradication strategies can be implemented.
To obtain the complete text version (HTML format) of this MMWR article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4912a3.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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