Issue Number 513            February 28, 2005

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

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ABBREVIATIONS: AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics; ACIP, Advisory Committee on  Immunization Practices; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; IAC, Immunization Action Coalition; MMWR, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; NIP, National Immunization Program; VIS, Vaccine Information Statement; VPD, vaccine-preventable disease; WHO, World Health Organization.
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February 28, 2005
FREE: ORDER TWO PADS OF THE VACCINE EDUCATION CENTER'S
MENINGOCOCCUS EDUCATION SHEETS AT NO CHARGE

In February, the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia published a two-page education sheet, "Meningococcus: What you should know." Intended for patients and providers, the sheet answers commonly asked questions about meningococcus and provides information about the newly licensed meningococcus vaccine. English- and Spanish-language versions are available.

Health professionals can order two 50-sheet pads in each language at no charge. Additional pads are available for $3 each, plus shipping.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version in ENGLISH, click here.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version in SPANISH, click here.

To order online, go to:
https://www.chop.edu/vaccine/vec/vecprof_order.cfm

Order by email at vaccines@email.chop.edu or by phone at (215) 590-9990.

For additional ordering information, including ordering in bulk, go to:
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=75982
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February 28, 2005
NEW: GEORGIA AND OHIO ENACT IMMUNIZATION LEGISLATION

Georgia recently enacted legislation regarding immunization of residents in long-term care facilities, and Ohio now requires proof of varicella vaccination for children entering kindergarten.

GEORGIA. On May 13, 2004, the governor signed a bill into law that requires nursing homes to offer annual influenza vaccination to residents and pneumococcal (PPV23) vaccination to residents 65 years of age and older. The law became effective September 8, 2004.

IAC has compiled information about all states that have influenza or pneumococcal (PPV23) vaccination mandates for residents of long-term care facilities. To access this information, go to: http://www.immunize.org/laws/ltc.htm

This information is also depicted visually on a map of the United States. To access the map, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/laws/ltcmap.pdf

OHIO. On February 1, 2005, the governor signed a bill into law requiring children entering kindergarten to have proof of varicella vaccination or verification of disease history. The law goes into effect at the beginning of the 2006-07 school year. With the enactment of this law, Ohio becomes the 44th state to require varicella vaccination for school entry since the vaccine was licensed in 1995.

IAC has compiled information about all states that have varicella prevention mandates for school attendance. To access this information, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/laws/varicel.htm

This information is also depicted visually on a map of the United States. To access the map, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/laws/varimap.pdf

For complete and current information about state mandates for a variety of immunizations, go 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.
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February 28, 2005
NEWLY POSTED: IOM'S REPORT ON VACCINE SAFETY AND CDC'S STATEMENT IN RESPONSE

On February 17, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report, "Vaccine Safety Research, Data Access, and Public Trust," that calls for independent oversight of the Vaccine Safety Datalink to ensure greater transparency and enhance public trust. The same day, CDC issued a statement affirming its commitment to the principles that guided the IOM committee and its intention to review the report's recommendations and assess them for possible implementation.

To access the IOM report, go to:
http://www.iom.edu/report.asp?id=25184

To access the CDC statement, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/iom-rpt-0502.htm
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February 28, 2005
NEW: FEBRUARY 22 ISSUE OF IAC'S HEP EXPRESS ELECTRONIC  NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

The February 22 issue of Hep Express, an electronic newsletter published by IAC, is now available online. Hep Express is intended for health and social service professionals involved in the prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis. The February 22 issue includes articles on the following:

• CDC's draft of the ACIP hepatitis B recommendations
• The National Institutes of Health's Action Plan for Liver
  Disease Research
• The addition of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus to the
  Department of Health and Human Service's list of known
  carcinogens
• Three articles on protection from bloodborne pathogens
• The Hepatitis B Foundation's new research institute, the
  Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research
• Recent journal articles related to viral hepatitis prevention
  or treatment

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February 28, 2005
CDC REPORTS ON EUROPE'S PROGRESS TOWARD ELIMINATING MEASLES AND PREVENTING CONGENITAL RUBELLA SYNDROME

CDC published "Progress Toward Elimination of Measles and Prevention of Congenital Rubella Infection--European Region, 1990-2004" in the February 25 issue of MMWR. A portion of a summary made available to the press is reprinted below.

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[The] European Region (EUR) of the World Health Organization aims to eliminate indigenous measles and reduce incidence of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) to <1 per 100,000 live births by 2010. In 2004, all 52 countries in EUR had routine 2-dose measles vaccination programs; 47 countries also used a rubella-containing vaccine. Routine coverage with the first dose of measles-containing vaccine among children aged 1 year has been >=80% since early 1990s (>90% during 1990-2003). During 1994-2004, approximately 27 million persons have been vaccinated against measles through supplemental vaccination implemented in nine countries. Measles incidence declined from 36.2 per 100,000 populations in 1990 to 3.2 in 2004, and some countries (e.g., Finland) succeeded in eliminating measles, mumps, and rubella. However, measles and rubella outbreaks continue to occur.

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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5407a5.htm

To access a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5407.pdf

To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which includes new ACIP statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html