Issue Number 22                               September 16, 1998

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

1. Great news! CDC now has a new "Vaccine Safety" website
2. Terrifico! Pneumococcal and influenza vaccine information statements in Spanish and six
    other languages!
3. PBS to air "A Paralyzing Fear: The Story Of Polio In America" on October 5
4. Starting a hepatitis B campaign for college students?  Free materials are available!
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(1)
September 16, 1998
GREAT NEWS! CDC NOW HAS A NEW "VACCINE SAFETY" WEBSITE

"Vaccine Safety: What You Need to Know" is a new website from the National Immunization Program. There is a wealth of vaccine information at this site: what vaccines are made of, how they are licensed, how side effects are monitored, and the reasons why we need widespread immunization programs when infectious diseases are at an all-time low. This page also has fact sheets, vaccine safety publications, and much more that is currently under construction. Click here for this page: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/.We're sure you'll visit frequently!
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(2)
September 16, 1998
TERRIFICO! PNEUMOCOCCAL AND INFLUENZA VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENTS IN SPANISH AND SIX OTHER LANGUAGES!

Spanish translations (and six other languages!) of the current influenza and pneumococcal Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are available on the web, thanks to the Minnesota Department of Health. To view and/or download the VISs in Spanish, Cambodian, Hmong, Vietnamese, Laotian, Russian, and/or Somali, click here:  http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/dpc/adps/adps.htm.   If you are not able to access them over the Internet and need to have a camera-ready copy sent, you may call the Minnesota Department of Health, at 612-676-5237.
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(3)
October 5, 1998
PBS TO AIR "A PARALYZING FEAR: THE STORY OF POLIO IN AMERICA" ON OCTOBER 5

"A Paralyzing Fear: The Story of Polio in America" airs on PBS on Monday, October 5, from 9 to 11 p.m., EST. In this documentary, polio survivors talk about their frightening battle with the crippling disease as the viewer is led through a historical journey that chronicles the polio era from epidemic to vaccine. The 90-minute film will be followed by a half-hour panel discussion entitled, "Conquering Fear: Epidemic Disease Today." The discussion will feature U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher. The program will examine current polio issues in the U.S. and abroad, and will also discuss the future of childhood immunization.
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(4)
September 16, 1998
STARTING A HEPATITIS B CAMPAIGN FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS?  FREE MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE!

If you are going to start a campaign to get college students vaccinated for hepatitis B virus infection, the American College Health Association (ACHA) has information to help you with your campaign. ACHA, in collaboration with SmithKline Beecham, has developed a national campaign, "Hepatitis B: Why Take the Risk?" to educate college students about hepatitis B and the importance of prevention. As part of the campaign, MTV is currently running public service announcements for college students about the risk of hepatitis B virus infection.

To find out how you can get a "Hepatitis B Implementation Kit," call Susan Ainsworth, at ACHA, 410-859-1500, ext. 222. The kit contains hepatitis B fact sheets, recommendations, success stories, a brochure for students, posters, a video, and other materials that can help make your campaign a success.