On May 1, the CDC website posted Spanish-language versions of its three 2008 immunization schedules for children and teens: "Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0-6 Years," "Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 7-18 Years," and "Catch-up Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 4 Months-18 Years Who Start Late or Who Are More Than 1 Month Behind."

To access them, go to http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm#printable Click on the link titled "2008 Schedules in Spanish."

To access the English-language versions in a variety of formats, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm#printable Click on the link titled "2008 Schedules."

Updated and released on May 1, the professional-education course "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" is now available in DVD and web-on-demand formats. Continuing-education credit expires on March 31, 2009. Note: In previous years, the course was delivered by satellite broadcast. In 2007, it was decided that going forward, it would be available only on DVD and by Internet.

For comprehensive information--which includes links to a video on influenza vaccination of healthcare providers; ordering and downloading information for the course textbook (the second printing of the Pink Book); textbook updates; and additional resources and slides--go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/epivac

CDC has created a set of materials to help state and local health departments support the implementation of ACIP's adolescent vaccine recommendations. Available in English and Spanish, the materials refer to meningococcal disease and pertussis (whooping cough). They are, however, provided as templates that can be customized to include human papillomavirus (HPV) and other recommended vaccines.

Materials titled "It's their turn!" are intended for parents of adolescents; those titled "It's my turn!" are intended for pre-teens and adolescents.

To access the materials, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/preteens-adol/prof-matls/state-materials.htm

CDC encourages health departments and organizations to use the materials. Users interested in customizing the materials to their state can contact the Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch at (800) 232-4636.

The CDC website recently posted four full-color print ads that health professionals can use to educate their older patients about shingles disease and vaccine. Three of them measure 8.5" x 11"; they are "Shingles Fact Sheet," "Older Adult Fact Sheet (includes information about pneumococcal, influenza, and Tdap vaccines, as well as shingles vaccine), and "Shingles Personal Story." "Shingles Poster" measures 18" x 24".

To access the shingles print ads, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/print-ads.htm and click on the pertinent link.

CDC published "Measles--United States, January 1-April 25, 2008" in the May 9 MMWR. Previously, the article was available only in electronic format as an MMWR Early Release (published May 1).

To access a web-text (HTML) version of the complete article, go to: http http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5718a5.htm

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5718.pdf

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

On May 7, CDC issued a media advisory announcing that the 2008 meeting of the National Influenza Vaccine Summit is scheduled for May 12-13 in Atlanta. Summit participants will meet to identify influenza vaccination issues experienced during the 2007-08 influenza vaccination season and develop recommendations and activities for the 2008-09 season, focusing on vaccine supply and distribution issues.

Members of the media who wish to attend should contact Curtis Allen at (404) 639-8487 or cea6@cdc.gov

Members of the media are asked to check-in at the conference registration table. There will be a media table with telephone lines for print reporters and an area for cameras with sound connections for broadcast media.

To access the media advisory, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/2008/a080507.htm

Two online immunization resources have recently become available for parents of young children. Both are available for downloading in English and Spanish. Details follow:

(1) "What to Expect Guide to Immunizations," is a detailed, well written, and well organized 20-page guide that explains how vaccines work, makes the case for immunization, answers questions parents frequently ask about vaccination, gives tips on handling children's tears and fears, and presents information about each vaccine children ages 0-6 years are recommended to receive. It is published by the What to Expect Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the popular "What to Expect When You're Expecting" series of prenatal and parenting books.

To download the English or Spanish versions of "What to Expect Guide to Immunizations," go to http://www.whattoexpect.org/news/immunizations and click on the pertinent link.

(2) "Recommended Immunizations for Babies, 2008," a colorful one-page chart, lists all the vaccines babies ages 0-15 months are recommended to receive and specifies the ages at which each should be given. Developed by CDC, it is adapted from IAC's "Immunizations for Babies--A Guide for Parents" and CDC's "Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0-6 Years, 2008."

To access the English version of "Recommended Immunizations for Babies," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/infants/downloads/rec-iz-babies.pdf

To access the Spanish version of "Recommended Immunizations for Babies," go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/infants/downloads/rec-iz-babies-sp.pdf

The first annual World Hepatitis Day (WHD) will be observed on May 19. The day has been launched in response to the concern that though 500 million people worldwide are currently infected with hepatitis B or C, the public is ignorant of the magnitude of these diseases. The great majority of those infected are unaware of the fact, and the world public is largely uninformed about infection risks. World Hepatitis Day is a worldwide patient-led initiative. It is coordinated by the newly established World Hepatitis Alliance in Geneva, Switzerland.

The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable has posted documents regarding WHD in the U.S. on its website.

For background information on WHD, go to: http://www.nvhr.org/resources.htm

For promotional materials, including website banners, a press release, and information about submitting a photo or patient story, go to: http://www.nvhr.org/NVHR_World_Hepatitis_Day.htm

On May 19, the official WHD website will become fully operational. Go to http://www.aminumber12.org on or after that date to view photos and stories from around the world.

On May 7, CDC published "Human Rabies Prevention--United States, 2008: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices" as an MMWR Early Release. CDC publishes the web-based MMWR Early Release for the immediate release of important public health information. The recommendations will be published in the standard MMWR format in the near future.

The summary section of the recommendations is reprinted below.

To access a web-text (HTML) version of the Early Release, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr57e507a1.htm

The CDC website recently posted the Summary Report of ACIP's February 27-28 meeting. To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of the report, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/downloads/min-feb08.pdf

Influenza is currently circulating, and vaccination should continue through the spring months. 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 Seasonal Flu web section at http://www.cdc.gov/flu

The Alliance for Immunization in Michigan (AIM) recently announced the availability of its 2008 Providers Immunization Toolkit for Children & Adults. The toolkit is a resource guide containing the most current standards of practice, forms, and methodologies for immunization in Michigan.

To access the online version, go to: http://www.aimtoolkit.org/adult_immun.htm Click on the colored tab at the top of the page that corresponds to the information you are seeking (e.g. "Children," "Adolescents," and so forth).

For Michigan immunization providers: To order one free print copy, go to http://www.aimtoolkit.org Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the link that follows "To order your free copy of the kit."

CDC published "Progress Toward Interruption of Wild Poliovirus Transmission--Worldwide, January 2007-April 2008" in the May 9 MMWR. Portions of a press summary of the article are reprinted below.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5718.pdf

The eighth annual International Rotavirus Symposium will be held in Istanbul on June 3-4. The event will provide updates on clinical trials of new rotavirus vaccines, early post-marketing data on vaccine impact and safety, issues in vaccine policy and introduction, and other relevant topics.

For comprehensive information, including a preliminary program, go to: http://www.rotavirus2008.com