Issue
Number 516
March 21, 2005
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- New: The CDC-INFO Contact Center now answers phone-in
immunization questions; VISs are changed accordingly
- Mark your calendar: April 14 is the date for CDC's next
Current Issues in Immunization net conference
- FDA approves new preservative-free formulation of
sanofi-pasteur's pediatric influenza vaccine
- National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable meeting set for
April 10-12
- National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference website
now live
- New issue of "Viral Hepatitis" available on VHPB website
- New: March 18 issue of IAC's Hep Express electronic
newsletter now available online
- New conference listings: Immunization coalition
conference call and hepatitis B meeting are set for April
- CDC publishes recommendations for animal rabies
prevention and control
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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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March 21, 2005
NEW: THE CDC-INFO CONTACT CENTER NOW ANSWERS PHONE-IN IMMUNIZATION
QUESTIONS; VISs ARE CHANGED ACCORDINGLY
Effective March 15, a new service, the CDC-INFO Contact Center, began
answering immunization questions placed by phone from the public and health
professionals. Previously, the National Immunization Information Hotline
answered phone-in immunization questions.
The new contact center phone number is (800) 232-4636 (i.e., [800]
CDC-INFO). Both English- and Spanish-speaking callers can get information
from the contact center; the first message callers hear is the option to
select English or Spanish. For the next
few months, calls placed to the old hotline number will roll over to the new
contact center number. NIP staff is still answering email immunization
questions sent to nipinfo@cdc.gov PLEASE NOTE: The new contact center service is not dedicated to
immunization; it is an integrated CDC hotline service that answers questions
on many topics. Callers to the contact center will pick among several
options, one of which is immunization.
HOTLINE NUMBER CHANGES ON VISs
All VISs that contained the old hotline number have been changed to show the
new contact center number. The change was made to VISs in the section titled
"How Can I Learn More?" The VIS dates have not changed; the only change is
to the telephone number. Because the new contact center service will handle
calls made to the old hotline number for a few months, there is no need to
discard stocks of VISs that have the old number.
To access English-language VISs updated with the new contact center number,
go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/default.htm
To access updated VISs in English and 31 additional languages, go to IAC's
VIS web section at
http://www.immunize.org/vis
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GRATITUDE FOR THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION HOTLINE
Operated since 1997 by the American Social Health Association of Research
Triangle Park, NC, the National Immunization Information Hotline earned the
respect and praise of Dr. William L. Atkinson. In speaking about the
hotline, Atkinson, a medical epidemiologist with NIP, said the following:
"I have personally worked with the hotline supervisors and staff almost
continuously since the beginning. Together we have worked through vaccine
shortages, new vaccines, anthrax, smallpox, thimerosal, hurricanes,
snowstorms, blackouts, and many other immunization crises. The hotline
supervisors and staff, past and present, always rose to the challenges we
faced. They have been a trusted source of immunization information for both
the public and providers. I am proud to have had the opportunity to work
with such a fine group of people. I know I speak for all of us at the
National Immunization Program when I thank the National Immunization
Information Hotline and the American Social Health Association for their
service to this country. We wish them success in their post-hotline
endeavors."
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March 21, 2005
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: APRIL 14 IS THE DATE FOR CDC'S NEXT CURRENT ISSUES IN
IMMUNIZATION NET CONFERENCE
Scheduled for April 14, at noon ET, the net conference Current Issues in
Immunization is designed to provide clinicians with up-to-date information
on immunization. The one-hour program has two primary topics: (1) the new
recommendations for meningococcal vaccine and (2) an influenza update.
The conference requires pre-registration, as space is limited. Registration
will close when the course is full or on April 11 (midnight ET). To register
for the conference, go to:
http://www2.cdc.gov/nip/isd/ciinc
The program will combine a telephone audio conference and simultaneous
online visual content. Participants can join the Q&A session by telephone or
Internet. Internet access and a separate phone line are needed to
participate. Graphics will be available to download as a PowerPoint file
after the presentation. For instructions and system requirements, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ed/ciinc/instructions.htm
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March 21, 2005
FDA APPROVES NEW PRESERVATIVE-FREE FORMULATION OF SANOFI-PASTEUR'S PEDIATRIC
INFLUENZA VACCINE
On March 9, sanofi-pasteur announced that FDA has approved the company's
license supplement to market the new formulation of its pediatric influenza
vaccine. The new formulation (Fluzone, influenza virus vaccine, no
preservative) contains no thimerosal. The newly licensed formulation will
replace the previously licensed sanofi-pasteur pediatric formulation, which
contained trace amounts of thimerosal.
The new formulation will be available in single-dose, prefilled syringes in
both a pediatric-dose package (Fluzone, influenza virus vaccine, no
preservative: pediatric dose) for children ages 6-35 months and a
standard-dose package (Fluzone, influenza virus vaccine, no preservative)
for children ages three years and older. The pediatric-dose package will
contain 0.25 mL of vaccine and the standard-dose package will contain 0.50
mL.
The company plans to manufacture approximately eight million doses of the
new formulation for the 2005-06 influenza season.
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March 21, 2005
NATIONAL VIRAL HEPATITIS ROUNDTABLE MEETING SET FOR APRIL 10-12
[The following is cross posted from IAC's Hep Express electronic newsletter,
3/18/05.]
The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) has planned its national
meeting for April 10-12 in Washington, DC.
NVHR is a coalition of public, private, and voluntary organizations
dedicated to reducing the incidence of infection, morbidity, and mortality
from viral hepatitis in the United States through strategic planning,
leadership, coordination, advocacy, and research.
If your organization is interested in becoming a part of NVHR, and/or
attending the meeting in Washington, DC, please contact Richard T. Conlon,
by phone (404) 325-0900, fax (404) 325-0032, or email at
rconlon@nvhr.org Information about
NVHR and the conference is also available at
http://www.nvhr.org
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March 21, 2005
NATIONAL VIRAL HEPATITIS PREVENTION CONFERENCE WEBSITE NOW LIVE
[The following is cross posted from IAC's Hep Express electronic newsletter,
3/18/05.]
The link for the National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference website is
now live at http://www.nvhpc.com
The conference is scheduled for December 5-9 in Washington, DC. As a result
of attending this conference participants will be able to
- Outline strategies for hepatitis
prevention for infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
- Identify specific intervention strategies
that address the needs of individuals in high-risk groups including, but
not limited to, infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers, clients engaged in
injection drug use/substance abuse, clients in STD/HIV clinics, men who
have sex with men, homeless populations, and inmates in correctional
settings.
- Identify specific intervention strategies
that address the viral hepatitis prevention needs of individuals in groups
with health disparities including, but not limited to, Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and African-Americans.
- Describe methods for integrating and
evaluating viral hepatitis prevention services into existing programs.
- Identify and access communication,
education, and training needs and available resources for viral hepatitis
prevention and control; evaluate the effectiveness of education and
training methods.
Visit the conference website for additional
information. Abstracts are being solicited and must be submitted by May 27.
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March 21, 2005
NEW ISSUE OF "VIRAL HEPATITIS" AVAILABLE ON VHPB WEBSITE
[The following is cross posted from IAC's Hep Express electronic
newsletter, 3/18/05.]
The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB) website has been updated to
include a new issue of the publication "Viral Hepatitis."
"Viral Hepatitis," Volume 13, Number 2, provides an update of the
epidemiological situation of viral hepatitis in France, gives an overview
of the surveillance systems for infectious diseases and adverse events
following vaccination, and offers an evaluation of the current French
prevention and control measures. The issue is titled "Prevention and
Control of Viral Hepatitis in France: Lessons Learnt and the Way Forward."
To access the ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue, go to
http://www.vhpb.org/Default.asp?navItem=newsletters
To access the home page of the VHPB website, go to:
http://www.vhpb.org
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March 21, 2005
NEW: MARCH 18 ISSUE OF IAC'S HEP EXPRESS ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER NOW
AVAILABLE ONLINE
The March 18 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. Previous issues of IAC Express have covered some of the
articles found in the March 18 issue. Following is information about three
articles we have not covered:
- CDC's brochure on viral hepatitis
integration for HIV-prevention community planners
- Medline's online hepatitis B tutorial
- Bilingual hepatitis B posters
To access the March 18 issue, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/issue27.asp
To sign up for a free subscription to Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/signup.asp
To access previous issues of Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/index.asp
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March 21, 2005
NEW CONFERENCE LISTINGS: IMMUNIZATION COALITION CONFERENCE CALL AND
HEPATITIS B MEETING ARE SET FOR APRIL
IAC recently posted the following to its Calendar of Events web section:
1. CONFERENCE CALL: RECRUITING AND RETAINING MEMBERS TO SECURE THE
FUTURE OF YOUR COALITION
SCHEDULED FOR April 12, 1PM ET.
FACILITATED BY Pamela White MSSW, executive director, Community
Anti-Drug Coalitions Across Tennessee.
SPONSORED BY the National Immunization Coalition TA [technical
assistance] Network.
TO REGISTER contact Katherine Shrout by email at
kshrout@aed.org and type "sign
me up for the recruiting and retaining members call" in the body of your
email.
2. MEETING: CHANGING THE LEGACY: HEPATITIS B AND ASIAN & PACIFIC
ISLANDER COMMUNITIES
SCHEDULED FOR April 28, 6:00PM to 9:30PM PT, San Gabriel Valley Medical
Center, San Gabriel Valley, CA. Dinner included. No fee; registration
required.
INTENDED FOR physicians, nurses, medical assistants, and other health
professionals.
SPEAKERS INCLUDE Myron J. Tong, MD, PhD, Huntington Memorial Liver
Center, Joanna Buffington, MD, MPH, Division of Viral Hepatitis, CDC,
and many more.
SPONSORS INCLUDE Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Long
Beach Department of Health Services, and others.
TO REGISTER, or for additional information, contact Wendy by email at
wberger@ladhs.org or phone at
(213) 351-7477.
FOR INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL CONFERENCES of interest to those in the
immunization community, visit the IAC Calendar of Events web section at
http://www.immunize.org/calendar
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March 21, 2005
CDC PUBLISHES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANIMAL RABIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL
CDC published "Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2005:
National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV)"
in the March 18 issue of "MMWR Recommendations and Reports." The
introductory paragraph is reprinted below in its entirety, excluding
references.
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Rabies is a fatal viral zoonosis and a serious public health problem.
The recommendations in this compendium serve as the basis for animal
rabies prevention and control programs throughout the United States and
facilitate standardization of procedures among jurisdictions, thereby
contributing to an effective national rabies-control program. This
document is reviewed annually and revised as necessary. Principles of
rabies prevention and control are detailed in Part I; Part II contains
recommendations for parenteral vaccination procedures; all animal rabies
vaccines licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
and marketed in the United States are listed in Part III.
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To obtain a web-text (HTML) version of the report online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5403a1.htm
To obtain a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5403.pdf
To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which includes new
ACIP statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html |
