Issue
Number 586
March 6, 2006
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- Dr. Paul A. Offit to deliver Hilleman lecture at
National Immunization Conference
- HHS secretary Mike Leavitt to address NIC's opening
plenary session
- HHS prepares for potential influenza pandemic by buying
additional antiviral medications
- CDC posts provisional ACIP recommendations for wider use
of varicella vaccine, including a second dose during outbreaks
- New: CDC announces addition of Hib module to its "You
Call the Shots" training course
- CDC updates its Influenza web section with news about
the geographical spread of avian influenza
- IAC's hepatitis website celebrates five years of sharing
good ideas!
- MMWR includes an article about investigational product
for varicella postexposure prophylaxis
- CDC reports on U.S. influenza activity during February
12–18
- February 28 issue of IAC's Hep Express newsletter now
online
- B Informed patient conference scheduled for June 10–11
- Points Across III health promotion conference will
introduce Coalition University
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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 6, 2006
DR. PAUL A. OFFIT TO DELIVER HILLEMAN LECTURE AT NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION
CONFERENCE
Paul A. Offit, MD, will deliver the ninth annual Jeryl Lynn Hilleman Endowed
Lecture at the 2006 National Immunization Conference. The person selected to
deliver the Hilleman lecture is one who, through work or leadership, has
made significant contributions to the prevention of disease through
immunization.
Dr. Offit holds three positions at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia:
chief, Infectious Diseases; Maurice R. Hilleman Endowed Chair in Vaccinology;
and director, Vaccine Education Center. In addition, he is co-inventor,
along with Stanley A. Plotkin, MD, and H. Fred Clark, DVM, PhD, of RotaTeq
rotavirus vaccine. FDA recently licensed the vaccine for use among infants
in the United States.
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March 6, 2006
HHS SECRETARY MIKE LEAVITT TO ADDRESS NIC'S OPENING PLENARY SESSION
On March 1, CDC issued a media advisory announcing that Health and Human
Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt will speak at the opening plenary
session of the National Immunization Conference (NIC). Portions of the
advisory are reprinted below.
*************************
For immediate release
March 1, 2006
NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION CONFERENCE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY MIKE
LEAVITT AND CDC DIRECTOR DR. JULIE GERBERDING WILL ADDRESS IMMUNIZATION
PROFESSIONALS
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt will address the Opening Plenary Session in the
Grand Ballroom, Monday, March 6, at 9 a.m.; Secretary Leavitt will discuss
the nation's influenza pandemic planning, the importance of new technologies
and expanding vaccine manufacturing capacity to meet the threat of a
world-wide pandemic. Other conference speakers include CDC Director Dr.
Julie Gerberding; NIP Director Dr. Anne Schuchat; Dr. Bob Davis, director of
CDC's new Office of Vaccine Safety; Dr. Jon Abramson, chair, Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (New Vaccines Across the Lifespan); Dr.
Bruce Gellin, director of the National Vaccine Program Office; and Dr. Walt
Orenstein, associate director of the Emory Vaccine Center and professor of
medicine and pediatrics at Emory University (and former CDC NIP director). .
. .
For more information about [the NIC] program and registration go to:
www.cdc.gov/nip/nic
*************************
To access the complete media advisory, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/a060301a.htm
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March 6, 2006
HHS PREPARES FOR POTENTIAL INFLUENZA PANDEMIC BY BUYING ADDITIONAL ANTIVIRAL
MEDICATIONS
On March 1, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a press
release announcing that it has ordered additional antiviral drugs for use
during a potential influenza pandemic. The opening paragraph of the release
is reprinted below.
*************************
For immediate release
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
HHS BUYS ADDITIONAL ANTIVIRAL MEDICATION AS PREPARATIONS FOR POTENTIAL
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC CONTINUE
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the purchase of additional
antiviral drugs that could be used in the event of a potential influenza
pandemic. The department has ordered 1.75 million treatment courses of
antiviral drug zanamivir (Relenza) from GlaxoSmithKline and 12.4 million
treatment courses of oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) from Roche. These drugs
will be added to the already purchased 5.5 million treatment courses of
antiviral drugs for the Strategic National Stockpile and be provided to the
states when an influenza pandemic is deemed to be imminent. . . .
*************************
To access the complete press release, go to:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060301.html
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March 6, 2006
CDC POSTS PROVISIONAL ACIP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WIDER USE OF VARICELLA
VACCINE, INCLUDING A SECOND DOSE DURING OUTBREAKS
NIP's web section Provisional ACIP Recommendations includes a link to
provisional recommendations for prevention of varicella. ACIP voted to
expand its recommendations for varicella vaccine at its June 2005 meeting.
Titled Prevention of Varicella—Provisional Updated ACIP Recommendations for
Varicella Vaccine Use, the provisional recommendations are intended to
promote wider use of the vaccine among adolescents, adults, and HIV-infected
children. In addition, it calls for certain persons to receive a second dose
of vaccine during varicella outbreak situations.
To access the provisional varicella recommendations, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vaccine/varicella/varicella_acip_recs.pdf
To access all provisional recommendations, which include those for Tdap
vaccination for adults, hepatitis A vaccination for children, and hepatitis
B vaccination for adults, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/provisional_recs/default.htm
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March 6, 2006
NEW: CDC ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF HIB MODULE TO ITS "YOU CALL THE SHOTS"
TRAINING COURSE
CDC recently announced the addition of a Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
module to NIP's web-based training course "Immunization: You Call the
Shots." This module discusses characteristics of Hib-related diseases, the
Hib vaccine, and recommendations for vaccine use. Extra learning
opportunities, self-test practice questions, reference and resource
materials, and a glossary are provided.
For additional information on "You Call the Shots," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ed/youcalltheshots.htm
To access the Hib module, go to:
http://www2.cdc.gov/nip/isd/ycts/mod1/courses/hib/start.asp
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March 6, 2006
CDC UPDATES ITS INFLUENZA WEB SECTION WITH NEWS ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHICAL
SPREAD OF AVIAN INFLUENZA
CDC recently updated its Influenza web section with information that the
following were added to a list of countries reporting animal cases of avian
influenza: Serbia and Montenegro (posted 3/2/06); Hungary (posted 3/1/06);
Niger (posted 2/28/06); and Slovak Republic and Switzerland (posted
2/27/06).
To access these resources, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm#updated and click on the pertinent
link(s).
In addition, the order to embargo birds and bird products (dated February 4,
2004) was amended to include birds and bird products from Niger (posted
3/2/06) and Egypt (posted 2/27/06).
To access these resources, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm#new and click on the pertinent
link(s).
To access a broad range of continually updated information on seasonal
influenza, avian influenza, and pandemic influenza, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu
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March 6, 2006
IAC'S HEPATITIS WEBSITE CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS OF SHARING GOOD IDEAS!
[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action Coalition's Hep
Express electronic newsletter, 2/28/06.]
IAC's hepatitis prevention programs website,
http://www.hepprograms.org, was
launched in March 2001 as part of a cooperative agreement with CDC's
Division of Viral Hepatitis. The site features programs successfully
preventing hepatitis A, B, and/or C in adolescents and adults at risk of
infection. The content is targeted toward public health and social service
managers who might be able to use the information to start or improve
hepatitis prevention programs.
Originally, the website included 32 programs; currently, the site highlights
107 programs in 10 risk categories.
The following twelve projects have been added since the last article about
the website in Hep Express.
Addiction Recovery Hepatitis Intervention (South Florida)
Category: harm reduction
http://www.hepprograms.org/drug/drug13.asp
Addictions Treatment Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System
(Washington state)
Category: harm reduction
http://www.hepprograms.org/drug/drug14.asp
B-Empowered (Bucks County, PA)
Category: other
http://www.hepprograms.org/other/other9.asp
Community Health Care Van (New Haven, CT)
Categories: STD/HIV, harm reduction, homeless
http://www.hepprograms.org/drug/drug15.asp
Crossroads Rhode Island Viral Hepatitis Prevention Program
Category: homeless
http://www.hepprograms.org/homeless/home5.asp
Genesis House (Chicago, IL)
Category: other
http://www.hepprograms.org/other/other10.asp
HIV and Hepatitis Program, Panhandle Community Services (Nebraska)
Categories: STD/HIV, MSM [men who have sex with men], harm reduction
http://www.hepprograms.org/std/std17.asp
Korean American Hepatitis B Church Project
(Colorado Springs, CO)
Category: Asian Pacific Islander American
http://www.hepprograms.org/apia/apia11.asp
North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Category: adult corrections
http://www.hepprograms.org/adult/adult14.asp
Next Stop Care Program (Boston, MA)
Categories: harm reduction, homeless
http://www.hepprograms.org/homeless/home6.asp
Twinrix Project (North Carolina)
Categories: STD/HIV, MSM, harm reduction, adult corrections
http://www.hepprograms.org/std/std15.asp
Vaccine for Adults at High Risk Program (Kansas)
Category: STD/HIV
http://www.hepprograms.org/std/std16.asp
Several other programs have updated their information as well. "Posted" or
"Updated" dates are listed on each category index page.
In addition to the program descriptions, the website also offers support
group information, hepatitis A and hepatitis B FAQs, case histories, photos,
and video clips. This information was added over the years to help the
approximately 600 visitors who access this website every day, many of whom
are members of the public, not health professionals.
As always, we need your input! If you have a model program to share, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/tellus.htm If you know of additional HBV
[hepatitis B virus] or HCV [hepatitis C virus] support groups, have viral
hepatitis resources to share (including brochures, manuals, slide sets,
photos, or videos), write
admin@hepprograms.org
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March 6, 2006
MMWR INCLUDES AN ARTICLE ABOUT INVESTIGATIONAL PRODUCT FOR VARICELLA
POSTEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS
CDC published "A New Product (VariZIG) for Postexposure Prophylaxis of
Varicella Available Under an Investigational New Drug Application Expanded
Access Protocol" in the March 3 issue of MMWR. Previously, the article was
available only in electronic format as an MMWR Early Release.
To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5508a5.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5508.pdf
To receive a FREE electronic subscription to MMWR (which includes new ACIP
statements), go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwrsubscribe.html
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March 6, 2006
CDC REPORTS ON U.S. INFLUENZA ACTIVITY DURING FEBRUARY 12–18
CDC published "Update: Influenza Activity—United States, February 12–18,
2006" in the March 3 issue of MMWR. The article's opening paragraph is
reprinted below.
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During February 12–18, 2006, the number of states reporting widespread
influenza activity increased to 17. Eighteen states reported regional
activity, 10 reported local activity, and four reported sporadic activity.
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To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5508a6.htm
To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5508.pdf
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March 6, 2006
FEBRUARY 28 ISSUE OF IAC'S HEP EXPRESS NEWSLETTER NOW ONLINE
The February 28 issue of Hep Express, an electronic newsletter published by
IAC, is now available online. It is intended for health and social service
professionals involved in the prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis.
IAC Express has already covered some of the information presented in the
February 28 Hep Express; titles of articles we have not yet covered follow.
-
CDC posts presentations from the February 2 NetConference on ACIP's new
childhood hepatitis B recommendations
-
California Hepatitis C Task Force meeting scheduled for April 7–8
-
Hepatitis B Foundation redesigns its website
-
Asian American Hepatitis B Program launches new website
-
Hepatitis B Foundation posts Fall 2005 issue of the "B Informed"
newsletter on its website
To access the February 28 issue, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/issue41.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
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March 6, 2006
B INFORMED PATIENT CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 10–11
[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action Coalition's
Hep Express electronic newsletter, 2/28/06.]
The B Informed Patient Conference will take place at the Asian Liver
Center on the campus of Stanford University in California on June 10–11.
The conference is sponsored by the Hepatitis B Foundation in partnership
with the Hepatitis B Information and Support List and the Asian Liver
Center.
The B Informed Conference is an opportunity for hepatitis B patients and
their loved ones to meet with experts and share their experiences with
others. The conference will provide valuable information about treatment
updates, disease management, and lifestyle issues to help individuals live
successfully with chronic HBV [hepatitis B virus] infection.
For more information, go to:
http://www.hepb.org/patients/patient_conference.htm
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March 6, 2006
POINTS ACROSS III HEALTH PROMOTION CONFERENCE WILL INTRODUCE COALITION
UNIVERSITY
Sponsored by the Maryland Partnership for Prevention (MPP), Points Across
III: Making and Measuring a Difference in Health Promotion is scheduled
for May 17 in Columbia, MD. The event will feature workshops on
fundraising, event planning, strategic planning, health literacy, and
public relations.
In a pre-conference event planned for May 16, MPP will introduce Coalition
University, a series of workshops designed to help public health
professionals build and maintain healthy coalitions.
For a brochure with comprehensive information on Points Across III and
Coalition University, go to:
http://www.edcp.org/pdf/Brochure-FINAL_020906.pdf
For additional information, email
mdpartnershipforprevention@msn.com or call (410) 902-4677. |
