Remember, influenza vaccination should continue through the early months of 2007. Visit the following websites often to find the information you need to keep vaccinating. Both are continually updated with the latest resources.

The National Influenza Vaccine Summit website at
http://www.preventinfluenza.org

CDC's Influenza web section at http://www.cdc.gov/flu

Owing to the increasing rates of pertussis in Boulder County, CO, Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) recently developed a social marketing campaign aimed at educating parents about the risks of the disease and encouraging them to have their 10-to-19-year-old children vaccinated with Tdap, the recently licensed pertussis booster.

In conjunction with the campaign, BCPH launched a new website (www.keeppertussisout.org) where it has posted educational materials for parents and professionals. The agency will share the materials at no cost with health professionals who find them useful.

The parent materials include information about the disease and childhood/adolescent vaccines. It also offers posters and parent-notification postcards (in English and Spanish) suitable for use in medical settings and schools. Materials for health professionals include two quick-reference cards, one for prophylaxis and immunization and one for diagnosis, reporting, and education.

To view the materials, go to www.keeppertussisout.org, which will take you to
http://www.co.boulder.co.us/health/hpe/pertussis

To use the materials (available in source file format) and learn more about the campaign, which includes sample media materials and a PowerPoint presentation for health professionals, contact BCPH's health communication specialist, Chana Goussetis, at cgoussetis@co.boulder.co.us or (303) 441-1457.

The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) has extended the deadline for nominations for the annual Natalie J. Smith award to February 16. The award was established in memory of former AIM Chair and NIP Deputy Director Natalie J. Smith, MD, to recognize the high ideals, innovation, and commitment to excellence that characterized Dr. Smith's career. AIM gives the award annually to a program manager whose accomplishments and visionary leadership have had a significant impact on achieving vaccine-preventable disease goals.

Eligible candidates are current or recently retired (within the last two years) program managers whose designated responsibility is to actively direct one of the 64 city, state, or territorial immunization programs directly funded by CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. These programs are limited to the following locations: the 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Micronesia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Chicago, New York, Houston, San Antonio, and Philadelphia.

To access the nomination criteria and a nomination form, go to:
http://www.immunizationmanagers.org/pdfs/
NatalieJSmithAwardNominationForm2007.doc

For additional information, contact Claire Hannan or Helen Fox Fields at (301) 424-6080.

On February 6, the federal government's website for pandemic and avian influenza (www.pandemicflu.gov) posted information about a document developed by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Titled "Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic," the document is available at http://www.osha.gov/Publications/influenza_pandemic.html