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July 14, 2003
"NEW YORK TIMES" EDITORIAL CHAMPIONS ADULT IMMUNIZATION
In the space of six fact-packed paragraphs, "Vaccines for
Adults," a "New York Times" editorial published July 9, makes a
strong case for adult immunization.
The editorial opens by informing readers that almost 50,000 U.S.
adults die from vaccine-preventable diseases each year. While
pointing out that adult immunization is more difficult to
achieve than its childhood counterpart because adults have
varied immunization needs, the editorial suggests that
physicians such as gynecologists and cardiologists, specialists
who are likely to regularly see adult patients, should inform
patients about adult vaccinations and also provide them. The
editorial concludes with a call for doctors, hospitals,
Medicare, and private insurers to educate the public about the
importance of adult immunization, pay for it or reimburse its
cost, and develop a system that allows adult patients to track
their immunization status.
The complete editorial is available on the newspaper's website
until at least July 14; after then, only the first two
paragraphs will be available. To access the complete editorial
or the opening paragraphs, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/09/opinion/09WED2.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fEditorials
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July 14, 2003
NMA BROCHURE ON MENINGITIS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES NOW AVAILABLE
"Meningitis on Campus: Don't Wait. Vaccinate," a brochure
produced by the National Meningitis Association (NMA), offers
college-bound students and their parents a succinct, practical
introduction to meningococcal meningitis. In the space of two
pages, it outlines the etiology and epidemiology of the disease
and makes a strong case for vaccination.
Designed to be printed on 8-1/2" x 11" paper, the brochure can
be folded in thirds for mailing or display. Because quantities
are limited, NMA requests that individuals and organizations
requiring fewer than 50 brochures download the file and print
copies, if possible. To view and download a camera-ready (PDF)
copy of the brochure from the NMA website, go to:
http://www.nmaus.org/pdf/brochures/NMA%20Brochure_150%20DPI.pdf
To order printed brochures, call NMA at (866) 366-3662. NMA
requests a donation to cover postage and handling.
To access an array of information about meningococcal
meningitis, visit the NMA website at http://www.nmaus.org
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July 14, 2003
INDIANA ENACTS VARICELLA LEGISLATION FOR KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST
GRADE ATTENDANCE
The General Assembly of Indiana passed legislation requiring
children who enter kindergarten or first grade to be immunized
against chickenpox or have a legal exemption for medical reasons
or religious beliefs. The governor signed the legislation May 8;
it will go into effect for the 2004-2005 academic year.
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has compiled information
about all states that have varicella prevention mandates. To
access the information, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/laws/varicel.htm
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.
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July 14, 2003
WHO'S "WEEKLY EPIDEMIOLOGIC RECORD" KEEPS READERS INFORMED ABOUT
DISEASE OUTBREAKS AROUND THE GLOBE
A publication of the World Health Organization (WHO), the
"Weekly Epidemiologic Record" (WER) gathers and disseminates
epidemiological data useful in disease surveillance on a global
level. Priority is given to diseases or risk factors known to
threaten international health.
Now in its seventh decade, WER is published in a bilingual
English/French format; it is available electronically and in
print.
To subscribe to the electronic edition, email
majordomo@who.ch
Leave the subject field blank and enter "subscribe wer-reh" in
the message field.
To subscribe to the print edition, go to:
http://bookorders.who.int click on "subscription" in the left
column, and scroll down to the WER listing.
For more information about WER, go to:
http://www.who.int/wer/en
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July 14, 2003
ERIE COUNTY PROFESSIONAL IMMUNIZATION SEMINAR SET FOR
SEPTEMBER 24
The Erie County Department of Health will hold the "Professional
Immunization Seminar 2003" on September 24 at the Ambassador
Convention Center, Erie, PA. Registration, which is free, is
required; the deadline is September 17.
Part of the day's program will focus on responding to the
potential use of biological weapons and to terroristic threats.
The remainder will educate participants in current immunization
practices, including the importance of the newborn dose of
hepatitis B vaccine, the comparison of symptoms of pertussis
with those of other upper respiratory infections, the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices' most recent recommendations
regarding influenza vaccine, vaccine safety issues, and more.
Intended for health professionals who give immunizations or set
immunization policy in offices, clinics, or other health care
settings, the seminar will feature presentations by William
Atkinson, MD, MPH, epidemiologist with the National Immunization
Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and
Neal Halsey, MD, Director, Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
For complete information on the seminar, including the agenda,
continuing education credit, and registration, go to the seminar
web page at
http://ecdh.org/documents/Immi/Pro%20Imi%20Sem%202003.htm
For additional information, contact Angie King by email at
aking@ecdh.org or by phone at (800) 352-0026 or (814) 451-6700.
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July 14, 2003
APHA ANNUAL MEETING PLANNED FOR NOVEMBER 15-19 IN SAN FRANCISCO
The American Public Health Association (APHA) will hold its
131st Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Francisco on November
15-19. September 5 is the early-bird registration deadline.
With the theme "Behavior, Lifestyle, and Social Determinants of
Health," the meeting program will address the most promising
intervention strategies, research gaps, and the state of the
science relating to behavior, lifestyle, and determinants of
health. It will also focus on the role of public health in
addressing behavioral risk factors.
For comprehensive meeting information from the APHA meeting web
page, go to: http://www.apha.org/meetings
For an array of contact information from the meeting's contact
page, go to: http://www.apha.org/meetings/contact.htm
For registration information, contact Edward Shipley by email at
edward.shipley@apha.org or by phone at (202) 777-2478.
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July 14, 2003
CDC PUBLISHES AN UPDATE OF SMALLPOX ADVERSE EVENTS SURVEILLANCE
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published
"Update: Cardiac and Other Adverse Events Following Civilian
Smallpox Vaccination--United States, 2003" in the July 11 issue
of the "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" (MMWR).
The article reports that 37,802 civilian health care and public
workers received smallpox vaccine between January 24, the start
of the civilian smallpox vaccination program, and June 20. The
article updates information received as of June 20 by CDC from
the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) on vaccine-associated adverse events among civilian vaccinees and among
contacts of vaccinees.
Between January 24 and June 20, two cases of dilated
cardiomyopathy (DCM) were diagnosed three months after
vaccination; the article includes case reports on both. A total
of 21 cases of myo/pericarditis were reported, as were eight
cases of ischemic heart disease, including five cases of
myocardial infarction and three of angina.
In addition, 12 other serious events were reported, including
one case of suspected generalized vaccinia and two cases of
cardiomyopathy identified three months after smallpox
vaccination in persons with no previous history of
cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease (CAD), or congestive
heart failure. Of the nine other serious events reported, three
were cases of chest pain, one of gastro-esophageal reflux
disease, one of cholecystitis, one of sudden death caused by
artherosclerotic CAD 69 days postvaccination, and three were
neurologic cases.
To obtain the complete text of the article online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5227a4.htm
To obtain a camera-ready (PDF format) copy of this issue of
MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5227.pdf
To access an array of smallpox information from the CDC website,
go to: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox
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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July 14, 2003
CDC PUBLISHES AN UPDATE ON THE CURRENT MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published
"Update: Multistate Outbreak of Monkeypox--Illinois, Indiana,
Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, 2003" in the July 11
issue of the "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" (MMWR). A
portion of the article's first two paragraphs is reprinted
below.
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CDC and state and local health departments continue to
investigate cases of monkeypox among persons in the United
States who had contact with wild or exotic mammalian pets or
with persons with monkeypox. This report updates results of the
epidemiologic investigation, provides information on the use of
smallpox vaccine during the outbreak, and summarizes the animal
tracing activities to identify the origin and subsequent
distribution of infected animals.
Epidemiologic Investigation
As of July 8, 2003, a total of 71 cases of monkeypox have been
reported to CDC from Wisconsin (39), Indiana (16), Illinois
(12), Missouri (two), Kansas (one), and Ohio (one); these
include 35 (49%) cases laboratory-confirmed at CDC and 36 (51%)
suspect and probable cases under investigation by state and
local health departments. Eleven cases were excluded from those
reported previously because they met the exclusion criteria
outlined in the updated national case definition, and one new
case was added.
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To obtain the complete text of the article online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5227a5.htm
To obtain a camera-ready (PDF format) copy of this issue of
MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5227.pdf
To access an array of information on monkeypox from the CDC
website, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox
