Issue Number 51            January 28, 1999

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

1. CDC's updated Q and A on hepatitis B answers vaccine safety questions raised by ABC's 20/20 broadcast

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January 28, 1999
CDC'S UPDATED Q AND A ON HEPATITIS B ANSWERS VACCINE SAFETY QUESTIONS RAISED BY ABC'S 20/20 BROADCAST

CDC's Q and A on hepatitis B has been updated and has excellent answers to questions that many health professionals are being asked due to last Friday's 20/20 broadcast on hepatitis B vaccine. The update now includes answers to these important questions:

Q: Why is vaccination for hepatitis B required by many states for school entry?

Q: Are there any studies being conducted to examine what relationship, if any, exists between the hepatitis B vaccine and multiple sclerosis (MS)?

Q: Does the scientific evidence support a causal link between hepatitis B vaccine and infant deaths?

Q: Can the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) be used to determine the number of side effects that occur after people receive hepatitis B vaccine?

These questions and their answers can be found in the CDC document "Questions and Answers About Hepatitis B and the Vaccine That Protects You." You may download this document from the National Immunization Program's website at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/fs/qhepb.htm