Issue Number
220 December
28,
2000
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- CDC issues recommendations for the use of vaccines
manufactured with bovine-derived materials
- AAP updates recommendation on meningococcal disease in
college students
- Online article for immunization professionals: advising
parents on immunization
- Abstract deadline is February 2, 2001, for NFID's
vaccine research conference
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(1)
December 22, 2000
CDC ISSUES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE USE OF VACCINES MANUFACTURED WITH BOVINE-DERIVED MATERIALS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Notice to Readers titled "Public Health Service
Recommendations for the Use of Vaccines Manufactured with Bovine-Derived Materials" in the December 22, 2000, issue
of MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORTS (MMWR).
The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), learned earlier
this year that some vaccines have been manufactured with bovine-derived materials from countries in which bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or a substantial risk for BSE exists. Because
variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) has been linked to eating beef from
cattle infected with the BSE agent, CBER investigated.
According to the article, "No evidence exists that cases of vCJD are related to the
use of vaccines, and no cases of vCJD have been reported in the United States."
After assessing the risk for vCJD from vaccines, CBER "concluded that the risk
for vCJD posed by vaccines in the scenarios presented was theoretical and remote" because of
the low risk of the bovine materials involved and the dilutions of materials during manufacture. The committees
stressed that "the benefits of vaccination outweigh any remote risks for vCJD."
As a precautionary measure, the committees recommended that vaccine manufacturers who use bovine-derived materials from
countries with a substantial risk of BSE replace them with materials from countries that have no risk. This
recommendation is intended to reduce even the remote theoretical risk for vCJD
from vaccines.
The article states, "All of the affected manufacturers have
agreed to implement these changes or have already done so," and FDA anticipates such changes will
be completed in 2001.
Further information about BSE or vaccines manufactured with bovine-derived
materials can be obtained from the following sources:
FDA:
http://www.fda.gov/cber/BSE/BSE.htm
National Network for Immunization Information:
http://www.immunizationinfo.org/healthProfessionals/hp_featuredArticle.cfm?ID=21
CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/bse/default.htm
CBER's Office of Communications, Training and Manufacturers Assistance: (800)
835-4709.
To view the complete text of this article online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a4.htm
HOW TO OBTAIN A FREE ELECTRONIC SUBSCRIPTION TO THE MMWR:
To obtain a free electronic subscription to MMWR, visit CDC's MMWR website at:
http://www.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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(2)
December 28, 2000
AAP UPDATES RECOMMENDATION ON MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE IN COLLEGE STUDENTS
Incoming college students, specifically those living in dormitories, should be made aware
of the increased risk of meningococcal disease, according to a policy statement
released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in the December 2000 issue of
PEDIATRICS. This recommendation reinforces the recommendations of the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
According to the AAP statement, the incidence of meningitis in first-year college students
living in dormitories was almost five times the rate found in the general population.
The vaccine prevents at least 60 percent of meningococcal cases.
While the article does not recommend mandatory meningococcal immunizations for
college students, it does recommend that students and their parents be made aware of
the risks of contracting the disease in a dormitory setting. It also recommends that students'
physicians and college health services provide information about the disease, as well as
vaccinations for those who request them.
To read the complete statement on AAP's website, go to: http://www.aap.org/policy/re0035.html
For further information on meningococcal disease and vaccine, go to IAC's website: http://www.immunize.org/genr.d/menin.htm
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(3)
December 28, 2000
ONLINE ARTICLE FOR IMMUNIZATION PROFESSIONALS: ADVISING PARENTS ON IMMUNIZATION
The Canadian Immunization Awareness Program (CIAP) offers an online version of the
article "How to Advise Parents Unsure About Immunization," by Scott A. Halperin, MD.
Published in the CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CME, this article provides a practical
step-by-step approach for discussing vaccination with parents who have fears or
misinformation, as well as case studies and vivid examples.
To obtain this article, go to CIAP's website: http://www.immunize.cpha.ca/english/resource/Parents/pg1.htm
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(4)
December 28, 2000
ABSTRACT DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 2, 2001, FOR NFID'S VACCINE RESEARCH CONFERENCE
The Fourth Annual Conference on Vaccine Research, sponsored by the National
Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), will be held April 23-25, 2001, at the Hyatt
Regency Crystal City, in Arlington, Va. The deadline for submitting abstracts is February
2, 2001.
This annual conference is dedicated to presenting and discussing the latest
vaccine-related scientific data, results, and issues. It links vaccine scientists and
producers, public health officials, and medical personnel who conduct clinical and field
studies.
For guidelines on submitting abstracts or for registration information, contact NFID by
telephone at (301) 656-0003 ext. 19, by fax at (301) 907-0878, or by email at
info@nfid.org. Information and registration forms are also
available on NFID's website at: http://www.nfid.org/conferences/vaccine01/
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/
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