Issue Number 211            November 21, 2000

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

NEW! CURRENT INFORMATION ON STATE IMMUNIZATION MANDATES
AVAILABLE ON IAC'S WEBSITE

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The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) offers a new online resource to help health professionals and others find current information about state mandates on vaccine-preventable diseases.

Go to: http://www.immunize.org/laws to get the latest information compiled by IAC on state mandates for hepatitis B and varicella prevention. This web page also links to information on state mandates for DTP, MMR, polio, and Hib vaccination, reprinted from "State Immunization Requirements 1998-1999" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This information will be updated when CDC revises its publication.

To view IAC's chart of state mandates for varicella prevention and their implementation dates, go to: http://www.immunize.org/laws/varicel.htm

To view IAC's chart of state mandates for hepatitis B prevention and their implementation dates, go to: http://www.immunize.org/laws/hepb.htm

Some of the changes that have taken place since we highlighted these mandates in NEEDLE TIPS in August 2000 include new state mandates for varicella immunization in Alabama and Alaska. This brings the total number of states with varicella vaccination requirements to 25. Other states such as Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are considering adding varicella vaccination requirements. Alaska, Arkansas, and New Jersey have new state mandates for hepatitis B prevention. This leaves only seven states without childhood hepatitis B immunization requirements.

We depend on our readers to help us stay informed and to ensure this is the most accurate and current information available. Please let us know when any changes occur in your state.

State laws and regulations for hepatitis A immunization will be posted on IAC's website in the future, and we will continue to highlight new immunization laws and mandates in upcoming issues of IAC EXPRESS.

For periodic updates on current mandates, please check back to: http://www.immunize.org/laws