IAC recently added seven Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) in translation to its website. Details follow.

(1) The Immunization Branch of the California Department of Public Health provided the 2007-08 Inactivated Influenza VIS in Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the Inactivated Influenza VIS in Arabic, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ab_flu06.pdf

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the Inactivated Influenza VIS in Cambodian, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ca_flu04.pdf

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the Inactivated Influenza VIS in Chinese, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ch_flu06.pdf

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the Inactivated Influenza VIS in Korean, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ko_flu06.pdf

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the Inactivated Influenza VIS in Tagalog, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/ta_flu06.pdf

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the Inactivated Influenza VIS in Vietnamese, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/vn_flu06.pdf

To obtain it in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/2flu.pdf

(2) Healthy Roads Media provided a translation of the MMR VIS in French.

To obtain a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the MMR VIS in French, go to: http://www.immunize.org/vis/fr_mmr98.pdf

To obtain it in English, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/mmr03.pdf

For information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in more than 30 languages, visit IAC's VIS web section at http://www.immunize.org/vis

On September 1, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release announcing that it had approved a second-generation smallpox vaccine made by Acambis Inc.

The vaccine, ACAM2000, is intended for the inoculation of people at high risk of exposure to smallpox and could be used to protect individuals and populations during a bioterrorist attack. It will be included in CDC's Strategic National Stockpile of medical supplies.

To access the press release from the FDA, go to:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01693.html

IAC recently made changes to six of its print educational materials. Details follow.

(1) "Summary of Recommendations for Childhood and Adolescent Immunization" was updated to reflect recommendation changes for influenza and meningococcal vaccines.

To access this revised professional-education piece, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2010.pdf

(2) "Summary of Recommendations for Adult Immunization" was updated to take into account changes in influenza, MMR, varicella, and meningococcal vaccine recommendations.

To access this revised professional-education piece, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2011.pdf

(3) "Questions Frequently Asked about Hepatitis B" was completely updated.

To access this five-page piece for the general public, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4090.pdf

(4) "Screening Questionnaire for Child and Teen Immunization" had one question added.

To access the revised version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4060.pdf

(5) "Screening Questionnaire for Intranasal Influenza Vaccination" was updated with minor changes.

To access the revised version, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4067.pdf

(6) "Hepatitis A & B vaccines . . . Be sure your patient gets the correct dose!" was revised to add the accelerated four-dose schedule for Twinrix to the chart.

To access this revised professional-education piece, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2081.pdf

Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases (PKIDS) offers many tools for organizations, clinics, and parent school groups to use when fighting the annual influenza battle.

PKIDs' Flu's Gonna Lose campaign urges family and community members stay healthy by getting vaccinated, washing hands, staying home when sick, and blocking sneezes and coughs. The campaign's website includes everything from PSA scripts to a do-it-yourself flu clinic guide. Print materials are designed to be easily customized by local organizations.

To access these resources, go to:
http://www.pkids.org/dis_influ_fgl.php

November 15 is the deadline for submitting abstracts for CDC's 2008 National Immunization Conference, which will be held in Atlanta, GA, on March 17-20, 2008. Abstracts must be submitted online. To access submission guidelines, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/nic/default.htm#abstracts

The deadline for early-bird registration ($200) is January 25. The deadline for regular registration ($225) is February 29. Late and on-site registration will be $250.

For general information on the 42nd National Immunization Conference, including conference goals, objectives, and registration, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/nic

Those without Internet access can contact the conference planning team at (404) 639-8225 or nipnic@cdc.gov

CDC published "Notice to Readers: World Rabies Day--September 8, 2007" in the September 7 issue of MMWR. The article follows in its entirety.

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

The Penn Center for Bioethics is a leader in bioethics research and its deployment in the ethical, efficient, and compassionate practice of the life sciences and medicine. The study of ethical issues associated with vaccines and vaccination programs has been a research focus of the Center for Bioethics since January 2005.

The VaccineEthics.org website is a production of the Center. September 4 marked the completion of a major expansion and redesign of this website, the first and only site devoted to the ethics of vaccines. The site includes a news blog; "issue briefs" (essays that review significant topics, developments, and controversies in vaccine ethics and policy); references on vaccine ethics, policy, and history; and other unique resources.

To visit this website, go to: http://www.vaccineethics.org

Healthy Roads Media offers free health education materials in a number of languages and a variety of formats. The organization has developed Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) in enhanced formats (audio, multimedia, web-video, and mobile video). Full-length English, Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, French, Russian, Farsi, and Somali versions of the MMR and Polio VISs are available on the website.

In addition, shortened versions of VISs in these enhanced formats are now available in the above languages. These versions have shorter run times (2-4 minutes) and cover just the key messages. They were created for use in clinical settings when patients are receiving multiple vaccines or in other situations where time is limited. Full-length written versions of VISs are required to be given to patients who receive vaccines, so no shortened versions in written format will be developed.

To access these resources and more, go to:
http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/topics/immunization.htm

CDC is currently hosting an exhibit titled "The End of Polio: Photographs of Sebastião Salgado." This photography exhibit by world-acclaimed Brazilian photojournalist Sebastião Salgado documents the global effort to eradicate the crippling disease poliomyelitis.

Salgado's photographs documenting the eradication efforts can be viewed by the public in the Global Health Odyssey, Tom Harkin Global Communications Center, on the CDC campus at 1600 Clifton Road from August 27, 2007, through January 4, 2008. For more information about touring the exhibit, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/gcc/exhibit

See http://www.endofpolio.org for an exhibit preview.

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases; the Emory Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases; and the Emory Vaccine Center are sponsoring a Clinical Vaccinology Course in Bethesda, Maryland on November 9-11, 2007.

This course focuses on new developments and issues related to the use of vaccines. Expert faculty will provide the latest information on both current and prospective vaccines through lectures and interactive case presentations. Leading infectious disease experts, pediatricians, and researchers will present newly available vaccines and vaccines in the pipeline, as well as older vaccines whose continued administration is essential to improving disease prevention efforts.

For more information, including the agenda and list of course faculty, go to: http://www.nfid.org/conferences/idcourse07 Online registration is also available via this web page. Alternatively, you can call (301) 656-0003, extension 19, for more information.

Featured presenters include Alan Hinman, MD, MPH, Task Force for Child Survival and Development; Paul Offit, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Greg Poland, MD, Mayo Clinic; Litjen (L.J.) Tan, MS, PhD, Infectious Disease, Immunology, and Molecular Medicine, American Medical Association; and Donna Weaver, RN, MN, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state and local experts.

Registration deadline is September 28; early bird registration deadline is September 20.

For more information about the program, go to:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/conference/brochure.pdf

To register online, go to:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/conference/confreg.html

The 15th annual Louisiana Shots for Tots conference will take place November 29-30 in New Orleans. Presenters include Alan Hinman, MD, MPH, Task Force for Child Survival and Development; and Bill Atkinson, MD, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more information about the agenda or registration dates and fees, go to: http://www.shotsfortots.com/html/conference.html Those without Internet access can call (504) 838-5300 or email gina.deris@charter.net