Issue Number 248            May 24, 2001

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

1. NVAC meeting set for June 5-6 in Washington, D.C.
2. New! "Understanding the Screening Questionnaire for Adult Immunization" is now available from IAC
3. NVAC seeks public comments on vaccine financing
4. IOM Committee on Immunization Finance offers workshop June 15 in Chicago
5. Ad hoc meeting on provider immunization education programs at the National Immunization Conference
6. National Network of Immunization Nurses and Associates to meet at the National Immunization Conference

----------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(1)
May 24, 2001
NVAC MEETING SET FOR JUNE 5-6 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) will meet June 5-6, 2001, in Washington, D.C., at the Hubert Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue. NVAC meets three times a year in Washington, D.C., to advise and make recommendations to the Director of the National Vaccine Program. NVAC's purpose includes studying and recommending research priorities and ways to encourage an adequate supply of safe and effective vaccines in the United States.

The meeting agenda is available from the website of the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/nvpo/calendar.htm

The NVAC Subcommittee on Vaccine Safety and Communications meeting on June 5 from 2 to 5:30 pm will provide a forum for the public to make recommendations on safety issues to be reviewed by the Institute of Medicine's Vaccine Safety Review Committee in 2002. This will be one of the first opportunities for the public to provide comments on hypotheses that are being considered for future review. A complete agenda for this subcommittee meeting can be found on the website of the NVPO at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/nvpo/vacsafejune2001.pdf

For more information on the NVAC meeting, contact Shaunette Crawford of NVPO at (404) 687-6672.

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/
------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(2)
May 24, 2001
NEW! "UNDERSTANDING THE SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE FOR ADULT IMMUNIZATION" IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM IAC

The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has updated its popular "Screening Questionnaire for Adult Immunization" to include guidance for health professionals on understanding contraindications to vaccine administration. Created in May 2001 and reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for technical accuracy, this one-page companion piece to the screening questionnaire for adult immunization explains why each question is asked.

To obtain a copy of the screening questionnaire and its companion guide, go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4065scr.htm
------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(3)
May 24, 2001
NVAC SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON VACCINE FINANCING

The NVAC Work Group on the Introduction of New Vaccines is seeking comments on issues that may be barriers to implementing new vaccines. The work group is evaluating how vaccine financing affects the standards of care for different subgroups of the population. NVAC asks that partner organizations and groups submit comments on the advantages and disadvantages of the current vaccine financing system and suggest possible solutions for any perceived financial barriers to optimal vaccine implementation.

Submit written comments by May 31 to the National Vaccine Program Office, Attn: Introduction of New Vaccines, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MS D-66, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333. Federal Express address: 200 E Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030. Fax: (404) 687-6687. Email: nvpo@cdc.gov
------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(4)
May 24, 2001
IOM COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION FINANCE OFFERS WORKSHOP JUNE 15 IN CHICAGO

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Immunization Finance will hold a workshop on June 15 at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Based on the IOM report "Calling the Shots," the workshop will discuss the implications of the report for the states of Illinois and Michigan, with an emphasis on Chicago and Detroit. 

For more information on "Calling the Shots" and the meeting, including an agenda and registration form, go to: http://www.iom.edu/iom/iomhome.nsf/Pages/HCS+Immunization+Finance+dissemination
or contact Ryan Palugod at (202) 334-3973 or rpalugod@nas.edu

Those who cannot attend the workshop are invited to participate by listening to a live audio webcast of the event. Online participants will be able to submit questions to the speakers using an e-mail form. Both the webcast link and the form will be available on the link above at the time of the workshop.

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/
------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(5)
May 24, 2001
AD HOC MEETING ON PROVIDER IMMUNIZATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION CONFERENCE

An informal meeting for those who are involved in provider immunization education programs will be held Thursday, May 31, at the National Immunization Conference in Atlanta. The meeting will run from 5:30 to 7 pm in the Copenhagen Room at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. The meeting is designed to bring people from different programs together to discuss improving communication, locating ongoing programs, identifying areas where there are few or no programs, sharing ideas, and developing support networks. It will interest those who would like to start a provider education program in their community, state, or region and those want to improve an existing program.

If you have an existing program, please bring a one-page fact sheet providing information and details about your program to the meeting. If you cannot attend but wish to be included in the networking list, please fax a fact sheet to Vicki Evans, National Immunization Program, at (404) 639-8555.

If you have any questions, please call (404) 639-8375.
------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Top

(6)
May 24, 2001
NATIONAL NETWORK OF IMMUNIZATION NURSES AND ASSOCIATES TO MEET AT THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION CONFERENCE

The National Network of Immunization Nurses and Associates (NNINA) will hold its business meeting and educational program on Thursday, May 31, from 6 to 9 pm, at the National Immunization Conference in Atlanta.

The educational program will feature Beth Hibbs, RN, from the Vaccine Safety and Development Program of CDC's National Immunization Program. She will provide an interactive session titled "Working with Persons Who Have Experienced an Adverse Event Following Vaccination." All nurses and other associates working in the area of immunizations are welcome to come to this networking meeting!

For further information, contact Lynn Bahta, RN, of IAC by email at lynn@immunize.org or telephone at (651) 647-9009, or visit the NNINA booth at the conference.