Issue
Number 392
June 16, 2003
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- Four states enact immunization legislation for college
attendance
- CDC reports on current multistate outbreak of monkeypox
- New: IAC adds "Evaluating Health Information on the Internet"
to two of its websites
- IAC's Adult Immunization Record Cards make your patients
partners in staying current on immunizations
- Attention pharmacists: sign up now for free credit for the
"Adult Immunization Update 2003" Web and satellite broadcast
- Registration opens June 17 for "AIDS Vaccine 2003" conference
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(1 of 6)
June 16, 2003
FOUR STATES ENACT IMMUNIZATION LEGISLATION FOR COLLEGE ATTENDANCE
Four states--Georgia, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Washington--have enacted
legislation concerning meningococcal immunization for students starting
post-secondary education. In addition, Tennessee has enacted similar
legislation for hepatitis B immunization.
MENINGOCOCCAL IMMUNIZATION
Georgia. The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation requiring public
and nonpublic post-secondary educational institutions give students residing
on campus information about meningococcal disease and vaccine and to require
students to document they have received immunization against the disease or
declined it. The governor signed the legislation on May 28; it goes into
effect January 1, 2004.
Nebraska. The Nebraska Legislature passed legislation requiring every
postsecondary educational institution to give newly enrolled students
residing on campus information about meningococcal disease and
vaccine, recommend meningococcal vaccination, and request confirmation of
receipt of such information. The governor signed the legislation May 28; it
goes into effect in the 2003-2004 school year.
Tennessee. The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation requiring
incoming students at public and private institutions of higher learning who
live in on-campus housing to return a waiver indicating they have
received information about the meningococcal disease and vaccine and have
either received the vaccine or declined it. The governor signed the
legislation May 12; it goes into effect July 1, 2003.
Washington. The Washington State Legislature passed legislation requiring
public and private post-secondary educational institutions (except community
and technical colleges) that offer on-campus or group housing to give all
students information about meningococcal disease and vaccine. Community and
technical colleges must provide the information only to those students
offered on-campus or group housing. The governor signed the legislation May
20; it goes into effect July 1, 2004.
HEPATITIS B IMMUNIZATION
Tennessee. The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation requiring
incoming students at public and private institutions of higher learning to
return a waiver indicating they have received information about the
hepatitis B virus and vaccine and have either received the vaccine or
declined it. The governor signed the legislation May 19; it goes into effect
July 1, 2003.
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has compiled information about all
states that have meningococcal prevention mandates for colleges and
universities. To access the information, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/laws/menin.htm
IAC is developing a new web page of information about states that have
hepatitis B prevention mandates for colleges and universities. For this
information (and for comprehensive information on state laws for a variety
of immunizations), please check our state laws web page soon by going to
http://www.immunize.org/laws
We depend on our readers to help us stay informed and to ensure
our website contains the most current and accurate information
available. Please let us know when any changes occur in your
state.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(2 of 6)
June 16, 2003
CDC REPORTS ON CURRENT MULTISTATE OUTBREAK OF MONKEYPOX
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published
"Multistate Outbreak of Monkeypox--Illinois, Indiana, and
Wisconsin, 2003" in the June 13 issue of the "Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report" (MMWR).
According to the article, as of June 10, a total of 53 cases of
monkeypox had been investigated in Illinois, Indiana, and
Wisconsin. The article summarizes initial descriptive
epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory data, interim infection-control guidance, and new animal import regulations.
The article's concluding paragraph instructs health care
professionals about reporting suspected monkeypox in humans and
animals: "Health-care providers, veterinarians, and public
health officials who suspect monkeypox in animals or humans
should report such cases to their state and local health
departments. CDC requests that reports of suspect cases from
state health departments be directed to the CDC Emergency
Operations Center, telephone (770) 488-7100. Additional
information about monkeypox, including an interim case
definition, is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox
and http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/casedefinition.htm
respectively."
To obtain the complete text of the article online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5223a1.htm
To obtain a camera-ready (PDF format) copy of this issue of
MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5223.pdf
To access the complete text of the interim guidance on using
smallpox vaccine, cidofovir, and vaccinia immune globulin in
preventing and treating monkeypox infections, go to the CDC's
Health Alert Network web page at
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/han/Documents/AlertDocs/146.asp
To access a press release about CDC's recommendation that
persons exposed to monkeypox be given smallpox vaccination, go
to the CDC website at
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r030611.htm
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(3 of 6)
June 16, 2003
NEW: IAC ADDS "EVALUATING HEALTH INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET" TO
TWO OF ITS WEBSITES
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has added a new web
page, "Evaluating Health Information on the Internet," to both
its main website (www.immunize.org) and its public website
(www.vaccineinformation.org). The new web page is intended to
give health professionals an easy way to direct patients to
sound health information on the Web and to help patients
evaluate the information they find.
According to a Harris Poll conducted in March 2002, 110 million
U.S. adults are online; of those 80 percent use the Internet to
access health information. When they use IAC's new web page,
health consumers will find links to resources from various
organizations that will teach them how to evaluate the
trustworthiness of health information on the Internet and how to
access good health information from MEDLINE, PubMed, and other
reliable websites.
To access the new web page from IAC's main website, go to:
http://www.immunize.org Scroll down the index on the right to
"Topics of Interest," click on "Responding to Concerns About
Vaccines, and then click on "Evaluating Health Information on
the Internet."
To access the new web page from IAC's public website, go to
http://www.vaccineinformation.org Scroll down the index on the
left, click on "Special Topics," and then click on "Evaluating
Health Information on the Internet."
To access the new web page directly, go to:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/topics/internetinfo.asp
--------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(4 of 6)
June 16, 2003
IAC'S ADULT IMMUNIZATION RECORD CARDS MAKE YOUR PATIENTS
PARTNERS IN STAYING CURRENT ON IMMUNIZATIONS
Just one look at the Adult Immunization Record Cards will
convince you that they're a great tool for reminding adults that
vaccines aren't just for kids. The card lists seven vaccines
that all adults, adults with certain medical conditions, or
adults with an unreliable vaccination history should receive.
Use the card during patient visits to discuss a patient's
vaccination status with them. Then give it to them and encourage
them to refer to it to find out when they're due for their next
Td booster, pneumococcal vaccine dose, or other immunization.
Since introducing Adult Immunization Record Cards in May 2002,
the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has shipped more than a
million cards to health care providers across the United States.
Health professionals nationwide have found the card invaluable
for educating patients that immunization is a lifelong process
and for giving patients the means to keep a lifetime record of
their immunization status.
In addition, IAC has developed a separate adult record card with
space for listing smallpox vaccine in addition to the seven
vaccines mentioned above. For information, see the section
below, "ADULT IMMUNIZATION RECORD CARD INCLUDING SMALLPOX
VACCINE."
ADULT IMMUNIZATION RECORD CARD (NOT INCLUDING SMALLPOX VACCINE)
Printed on smudge-proof, rip-proof, waterproof paper, the card
comes pre-folded to fit in a wallet. Its bright, canary-yellow
color makes it easy to spot among credit cards and other items.
The cost for one 250-count box is $25; two boxes (500 cards),
$45; three boxes (750 cards), $60; four boxes (1,000 cards),
$70. Additional pricing for larger quantities can be found on
the online order form (see link below).
To view a color image of IAC's Adult Immunization Record Card,
go to:
http://www.immunize.org/adultizcards/pictures.htm
To order IAC's Adult Immunization Record Cards online (including
online with a purchase order), go to:
https://www.immunize.org/adultizcards
To print an order form to send with payment information by fax
or mail, go to:
https://www.immunize.org/adultizcards/izorder.pdf
ADULT IMMUNIZATION RECORD CARD INCLUDING SMALLPOX VACCINE
Since introducing this card in early 2003, IAC has sold close to
75,000. Modeled on the popular Adult Immunization Record Card,
the Adult Immunization Record Card Including Smallpox Vaccine is
also printed on smudge-proof, rip-proof, waterproof paper and
comes pre-folded to fit in a wallet. Its parrot green color and
space for recording smallpox vaccination distinguishes it from
the Adult Immunization Record Card.
The cost for one 250-count box is $40; two boxes (500 cards),
$75; three boxes (750 cards), $105; four boxes (1,000 cards),
$130. Additional pricing for larger quantities can be found on
the online order form (see link below).
To view a color image of IAC's Adult Immunization Record Card
Including Smallpox, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/smallpoxizcards/smallpoxcard.pdf
To order IAC's Adult Immunization Record Cards Including
Smallpox online (including online with a purchase order), go to:
https://www.immunize.org/smallpoxizcards
To print an order form to send with payment information by fax
or mail, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/smallpoxizcards/sm_orderform.pdf
If you have questions about IAC's Adult Immunization Record Card
or Adult Immunization Record Card Including Smallpox, call us at
(651) 647-9009, or email us at admin@immunize.org
----------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(5 of 6)
June 16, 2003
ATTENTION PHARMACISTS: SIGN UP NOW FOR FREE CREDIT FOR THE
"ADULT IMMUNIZATION UPDATE 2003" WEB AND SATELLITE BROADCAST
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the
American Pharmacists Association (APhA) are collaborating to
offer pharmacists 2.5 hours of free continuing education credit
for taking the "Adult Immunization Update 2003" course.
Scheduled for broadcast June 26 from noon to 2:30 pm ET, the
course is intended to bring health care providers up to date on
current adult immunization practices and on improving adult
immunization coverage levels. Sponsored by CDC, the course will
feature a Q&A session in which participants nationwide can
interact with the course instructors via toll-free telephone
lines.
The course instructors are William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH, medical
epidemiologist, and Donna L. Weaver, RN, MN, nurse educator.
Both are with the CDC's National Immunization Program. For
information about program content, email
nipinfo@cdc.gov
Only online registration is available. To register on the Public
Health Training Network website, go to:
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtnonline
For additional registration information, call (800) 418-7246 or
email ce@cdc.gov
To access information about pharmacy credit and for
comprehensive information about all aspects of viewing the web
cast and attending the broadcast, go to the APhA website at
http://www.pharmacist.com/livece
----------------------------------------------------------------
Back to Top
(6 of 6)
June 16, 2003
REGISTRATION OPENS JUNE 17 FOR "AIDS VACCINE 2003" CONFERENCE
"AIDS Vaccine 2003" is scheduled for September 18-21 at the
Hilton New York in Manhattan. Early conference registration
($500) begins June 17 and ends July 11; it saves conference
participants $75 off the regular registration fee and $150 off
the on-site registration fee.
Sponsored by the Foundation for AIDS Vaccine Research and
Development, the conference is a forum for convening more than
1,000 researchers, clinicians, epidemiologists, public health
officials, policy makers, and representatives from the
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry from around the world.
Held annually, the conference provides a setting for presenting
the latest basic, clinical, and public health data relevant to
AIDS vaccine development. Its goal is to facilitate
international and interdisciplinary collaborations in the field
of AIDS vaccinology.
For comprehensive conference information, including
registration, housing, and the preliminary program, go to:
http://www.aidsvaccine2003.org/2003
For additional information, call (703) 535-6863 or email
info@aidsvaccine2003.org
|
