Issue
Number 345
October 28, 2002
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- All at IAC mourn the loss of Senator Paul
Wellstone and his wife, Sheila Wellstone
- IAC launches a new website tailor-made for
parents, patients, and the media!
- Maine adds varicella vaccination to its list of
required immunizations
- IAC puts easy-to-read version of CDC's
Recommended Adult Immunization Schedules on its website
- FDA approves preservative-free formulation of
pediatric Fluzone influenza virus vaccine
- CDC promotes use of federal government's Vaccine
Adverse Event Reporting System
- Updated! CDC's redesigned IDU/HIV Prevention
website includes new "Viral Hepatitis" fact sheet series
- MMWR notifies readers about 25th anniversary of
the last case of naturally acquired smallpox
- MMWR publishes report on U.S. influenza
surveillance data collected from October 1997 through September 2000
- Institute of Medicine releases report on
SV40-contaminated polio vaccine and cancer
- New! Asia Pacific Vaccination Council announces
launch of VacciNews website
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October 28, 2002
All AT IAC MOURN THE LOSS OF SENATOR PAUL WELLSTONE AND HIS WIFE, SHEILA
WELLSTONE
With the deaths of Paul and Sheila Wellstone in a plane crash on October 25,
advocates for social justice everywhere, including those of us in the health
care community, lost two caring and committed friends.
Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) was a passionate and compassionate advocate
for the health and well-being of all people, particularly those without a
voice in politics. As committed as her husband, Sheila Wellstone championed
the cause of battered women, working to ensure passage of laws to aid them
and their children.
We at the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) extend our deepest sympathy to
the Wellstone family and the families of the six others who died with Paul
and Sheila.
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October 28, 2002
IAC LAUNCHES A NEW WEBSITE TAILOR-MADE FOR PARENTS, PATIENTS, AND THE MEDIA!
After spending months collecting and developing the best information about
vaccine issues for parents, patients, and members of the news media, site
developer Teresa Anderson, DDS, MPH, consultant to the Immunization
Action Coalition (IAC), is pleased to announce the launch of IAC's newest
website, "Vaccine Information for the Public."
The site presents information about each vaccine-preventable disease (VPD)
and its vaccine(s), along with photos, case histories, recommendations,
journal articles, and resources for patients and health professionals.
Of special interest are the expanded selection of VPD photographs and a new
section of video clips, which can be viewed or downloaded from the site.
The video footage features former First Lady Rosalynn Carter recounting her
daughter's six-week ordeal with chickenpox as a college student. Dr.
Barbara Watson of the Philadelphia Department of Health, talks about her
3-year-old sister's chickenpox complications, which included encephalitis
and a three-month coma. We hope these powerful video and audio images will
help bring home to parents the reality of VPDs and the importance of
vaccination.
Other sections of the new website include "Vaccine Safety Information," "The
Importance of Vaccines," "Statistics on Immunization Coverage and Disease
Incidence," "State Immunization Laws and Mandates," "Topics of Special
Interest," and more.
This website is exclusively supported by Cooperative Agreement No.
U50/CCU518789 from the National Immunization Program of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the
responsibility of IAC and do not necessarily represent the official views of
CDC.
To visit this new website, go to:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org The site is still under
development, so check back frequently for new information.
To visit the special page of video clips, go to:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/video/
If you know of other resources that should be included as part of this site,
or have ideas for other topics to include, contact IAC by email at
evaluation@immunize.org
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October 28, 2002
MAINE ADDS VARICELLA VACCINATION TO ITS LIST OF REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS
Earlier this year, Maine's governor, Angus King, signed a bill that added
varicella to the list of immunizations required of children entering
school. This brings the number of states mandating childhood varicella
vaccination to 36.
Effective this November, Maine will require varicella vaccination for
children entering daycare. At the start of school year 2003, kindergarten
and first-grade students entering elementary school will have to show proof
of varicella vaccination or immunity. After the 2003 school year, students
will be required to show proof incrementally by grade. By the start of
school year 2007, all students from kindergarten through twelfth grade will
have to show proof of vaccination or immunity.
To view the table of state varicella prevention mandates and their
implementation dates, go to the website of the Immunization Action Coalition
(IAC):
http://www.immunize.org/laws/varicel.htm
For other state vaccination laws for school entry, visit the IAC's web page
"State Mandates on Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Disease" at
http://www.immunize.org/laws/
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 by emailing IAC at
admin@immunize.org or calling
(651) 647-9009.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new "State Immunization
Requirements 2000-2001" will be posted on IAC's website soon. Look for an
announcement in an upcoming issue of "IAC EXPRESS."
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October 28, 2002
IAC PUTS EASY-TO-READ VERSION OF CDC'S RECOMMENDED ADULT IMMUNIZATION
SCHEDULES ON ITS WEBSITE
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) recently created an easy-to-read,
four-page version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's two
new adult immunization schedules--"Recommended Adult Immunization
Schedule, United States, 2002-2003" and "Recommended Immunizations for
Adults with Medical Conditions, United States, 2002-2003."
The four-page document can be printed in color or black and white on 8-1/2"
x 11" paper. To access the document, go to the IAC's website at
http://www.immunize.org/cdc/schd85x11.pdf
A two-page version that can be printed in color or black and white on 8-1/2"
x 11" or 11" x 17" paper can be accessed at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/adult-schedule.pdf
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October 28, 2002
FDA APPROVES PRESERVATIVE-FREE FORMULATION OF PEDIATRIC FLUZONE INFLUENZA
VIRUS VACCINE
On September 4, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a supplement
to the biologics licensure application for the influenza virus vaccine
Fluzone, manufactured by Aventis Pasteur, to include a preservative-free
formulation.
Intended for infants age six to 35 months, the vaccine will be available in
limited quantity for shipment in early to mid-November.
To view the product approval letter, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/cber/approvltr/inflave090402L.htm
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October 28, 2002
CDC PROMOTES USE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S VACCINE ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING
SYSTEM
In an article in the October 2002 issue of its electronic newsletter
"Immunization Works," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
explained the federal government's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
and encouraged health professionals to use it to report adverse events, even
if they are not sure a vaccine caused the event. The text of the article
follows:
***************
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System: The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting
System (VAERS) is one cornerstone in the Federal Government's vaccine safety
monitoring program. It provides a central registry where providers can
inform CDC and FDA about adverse events that individuals may experience
following immunizations. CDC and FDA conduct analyses of VAERS data to
identify potential new vaccine safety concerns. These findings may
contribute in turn to improving knowledge of immunization risks and
benefits, identifying opportunities to revise precautions and
contraindications and the development of ever safer vaccines.
CDC and FDA encourage providers to report to
VAERS, even if it is not certain that a vaccine caused the event. The VAERS
website, www.vaers.org, provides a
number of resources to assist with reporting.
- The Table of Reportable Events provides a
list of vaccines and adverse events for which the National Childhood
Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 mandates a report. Information required
includes date of administration of the vaccine, vaccine
manufacturer, the lot number of the vaccine, and the name and contact
information of the reporter. Details about the vaccination should be
available from required vaccination records.
- The VAERS Reporting Form may be downloaded
and printed for mail or fax submission.
- A secure web-link is available to report
an adverse event online.
- Vaccine Safety Post-marketing
Surveillance: The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a free CDC
online continuing medical education program (#SS3092), provides further
information on VAERS.
- Link to information on other important
roles providers play in vaccine safety.
For additional information or assistance on
vaccine adverse event reporting, please contact the VAERS program at
info@vaers.org by calling (800)
822-7967, or by faxing your request to (877) 721-0366.
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October 28, 2002
UPDATED! CDC'S REDESIGNED IDU/HIV PREVENTION WEBSITE INCLUDES NEW "VIRAL
HEPATITIS" FACT SHEET SERIES
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently redesigned its
Intravenous Drug Users/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (IDU/HIV) Prevention
website. The site contains a wealth of information on the role injection
drug use plays in the transmission of blood-borne infections, particularly
HIV and hepatitis B and C. To access the site, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/idu/
Part of the redesign included adding a new fact sheet series, "Viral
Hepatitis," comprising five fact sheets. To view the new series in its
entirety, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/idu/hepatitis/
Following is information for accessing a camera-ready (PDF) version of each
fact sheet separately.
- For "Viral Hepatitis and Injection Drug
Users," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/idu/hepatitis/viral_hep_drug_use.pdf
- For "Medical Management of Chronic
Hepatitis B and Chronic Hepatitis C," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/idu/hepatitis/manage_chronich_hep_b-c.pdf
- For "Vaccines to Prevent Hepatitis A and
Hepatitis B," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/idu/hepatitis/vaccines.pdf
- For "Hepatitis C Virus and HIV Coinfection,"
go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/idu/hepatitis/hepc_and_hiv_co.pdf
- For "Viral Hepatitis and the Criminal
Justice System," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/idu/hepatitis/viralhep_crimhal_just.pdf
For up to 10 free copies of the series, send
an email to Georgia Fontana at
gfontana@cdc.gov, or fax her at (404) 639-5260. Include your mailing
address and the number of copies you want; copies will be mailed within
several weeks.
The site also has three other series of fact sheets: "Substance Abuse
Treatment," "Criminal Justice," and "Access to Sterile Syringes." To access
them, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/idu/facts/
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October 28, 2002
MMWR NOTIFIES READERS ABOUT 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAST CASE OF NATURALLY
ACQUIRED SMALLPOX
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Notice to
Readers titled "25th Anniversary of the Last Case of Naturally Acquired
Smallpox" in the October 25, 2002, issue of Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report (MMWR).
The article discusses the eradication of the disease, globally and in the
United States, and briefly outlines the preparedness plan the U.S. public
health system is developing against the potential use of smallpox (variola)
virus as a bioterrorism agent.
The entire article, excepting the two footnoted references, reads as
follows:
************************
On October 26, 1977, the last case of naturally acquired smallpox occurred
in the Merca District of Somalia. In May 1980, the World Health Assembly
certified the world free of naturally occurring smallpox. The
eradication of a disease was an unprecedented accomplishment. Eradication
efforts for both paralytic poliomyelitis and dracunculiasis (i.e., guinea
worm disease) are ongoing. Beyond the benefit to the world population's
health and economy, smallpox eradication demonstrated the benefits of
international commitment and cooperation toward a common cause in public
health. Improvements made in international vaccination programs,
global disease surveillance, and public health logistics systems that were
results of the smallpox eradication program continue today.
Although smallpox was eradicated in 1977, the risk for importation of
disease into the United States had greatly decreased before that time. As a
result, the United States discontinued routine smallpox vaccinations for the
general population in 1971, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices recommended against routine vaccination of health-care workers in
1976. The last case of smallpox in the United States occurred in 1949. An
MMWR report in 1997 commemorating the 20th anniversary of the eradication of
smallpox noted that smallpox vaccine and its eradication of smallpox disease
were on the list of things that need be done only once in the history of the
world.
The U.S. public health system is preparing for the potential use of smallpox
(variola) virus as a bioterrorism agent. Although preparedness efforts have
been ongoing since at least 1999 and a strategic plan for preparedness and
response against biologic and chemical terrorism was published in
April 2000, the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11,
2001, prompted extensive review of policies and procedures about potential
acts of bioterrorism, especially the intentional release of smallpox virus.
To enhance preparedness, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
has contracted for production of enough smallpox vaccine for the entire U.S.
population if vaccination becomes necessary, developed a plan for responding
to a smallpox attack (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/response-plan/index.asp),
and is reviewing whether increased vaccination before an attack is warranted
and how such a vaccination program would be implemented. A final U.S. policy
on smallpox vaccination is pending. Additional information on smallpox is
available at
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/index.asp.
************************
To obtain the complete text of the article online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5142a5.htm
To obtain a camera-ready (PDF format) copy of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5142.pdf
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://www.cdc.gov/mmwr Select
"Free 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 email.
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October 28, 2002
MMWR PUBLISHES REPORT ON U.S. INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE DATA COLLECTED FROM
OCTOBER 1997 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2000
On October 25, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Surveillance
Summary titled "Surveillance for Influenza--United States, 1997-98,
1998-99, and 1999-00 Seasons."
In summing up U.S. influenza surveillance data collected from October 1997
through September 2000, the report states that influenza epidemics occur in
the United States nearly every winter and are responsible for an
average of approximately 114,000 hospitalizations and 20,000 deaths a year.
The Interpretation section of the abstract states the following:
***************************
Influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B viruses circulated during 1997-2000, but
influenza A(H3N2) was the most frequently reported virus type/subtype during
all three seasons. Influenza A(H3N2) is the virus type/subtype most
frequently associated with excess P&I [pneumonia and influenza] mortality.
Influenza activity during all three seasons occurred at moderate to severe
levels, and excess P&I mortality was reported during 10 or more weeks each
year."
***************************
To view the complete text of the report online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5107a1.htm
For a camera-ready (PDF) copy, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/ss/ss5107.pdf
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October 28, 2002
INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE RELEASES REPORT ON SV40-CONTAMINATED POLIO VACCINE AND
CANCER
On October 22, the Immunization Safety Review Committee of the Institute of
Medicine of the National Academies released its report "SV40 Contamination
of Polio Vaccine and Cancer."
The first two paragraphs of the National Academies' press release stated the
following:
*************************
Scientific evidence is insufficient to prove or disprove the theory that
exposure to polio vaccine contaminated with a monkey virus between 1955 and
1963 has triggered cancer in humans, says a new report from the Institute of
Medicine of the National Academies.
The vast majority of population studies, which carry the most weight in
establishing causal relationships, have found no increased rates of cancer
in people who received the vaccine contaminated with simian virus-40 (SV40).
However, a possible link cannot be completely ruled out because of
limitations in the available data and in the way the studies were conducted.
*************************
To view the full press release, go to:
http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309086108?OpenDocument
The final version of the report is not yet available. To pre-order copies
electronically, go to:
http://books.nap.edu/contact.html
To pre-order by phone, call (888) 624-8373.
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October 28, 2002
NEW! ASIA-PACIFIC VACCINATION COUNCIL ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF VACCINEWS WEBSITE
The Asia-Pacific Vaccination Council (APVC) announced the launch of its
VacciNews website on October 1. Intended for use by health professionals in
the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere in the world, the site has information
on the following:
Worldwide immunization schedules
Diseases and available vaccines
Responses to concerns about vaccination
Vaccinator resources
APVC's newsletter
"Ask an Expert" interactive feature (under construction) and visitor
feedback option
To access this new site, go to:
http://www.vaccinews.com/
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