Issue Number 8                                            May 14, 1998

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

1. A vaccine to prevent rotavirus disease is on the horizon.
Get the facts here!
2. "VACCINATE ADULTS!" is in the mail and on our website, too!
3. VFC Program (Vaccines For Children) now has its own website.
4. It take a whole country to develop a national immunization
registry. Here's your chance to help!
5. Health care worker immunization recommendations to be covered
at June 4th adult immunization satellite conference
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(1)
May 14, 1998
A VACCINE TO PREVENT ROTAVIRUS IS ON THE HORIZON. GET THE
FACTS HERE!

A vaccine to prevent rotavirus infection is expected to be licensed in the near future. What is rotavirus? How effective is the vaccine? What will the recommended schedule be? Get  answers to these questions and more by clicking here for a rotavirus fact sheet developed by CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/.
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(2)
May 14, 1998
"VACCINATE ADULTS!" IS IN THE MAIL AND ON OUR WEBSITE, TOO!

The second issue of "VACCINATE ADULTS," the Coalition's newest publication, is on its way to 100,000 adult medicine specialists across the nation. The entire newsletter is now available on our website, too. If you're a primary care internist, nephrologist, infectious disease specialist, gastroenterologist, nephrology nurse, or an STD clinic manager, or if you've signed up to receive "VACCINATE ADULTS!," you'll most likely receive your copy in 1-2 weeks. If you aren't on the mailing list for "VACCINATE ADULTS!" but if you receive "NEEDLE TIPS," be assured that you have received all the information that's in "VACCINATE ADULTS!" since it's excerpted from "NEEDLE TIPS." To download "VACCINATE ADULTS!" from our website, visit our home page at http://www.immunize.org and click on "VACCINATE ADULTS!"  Voila!
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(3)
May 14, 1998
VFC PROGRAM (VACCINES FOR CHILDREN) NOW HAS ITS OWN WEBSITE

Looking for VFC forms? Want a copy of the current CDC vaccine price list? Looking for VFC program data? The VFC website is now up and running with a trainload of information. (And after July you'll be able to download ACIP resolutions regarding the use of VFC vaccines.) Click here to get to their website: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vfc/.   That will bring you to the train!
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(4)
May 14, 1998
IT TAKES A WHOLE COUNTRY TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION
REGISTRY. HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO HELP!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) are currently conducting public meetings to solicit input on the development of a National Immunization Registry Plan of Action which is scheduled to be launched by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in the winter of 1998/1999. Four key issues have been identified associated with the Initiative and they are: (1) Privacy and Confidentiality; (2) Resource Issues; (3) Technical and Operational Issues; and (4) Ensuring Provider Participation. The first meeting was held in New Orleans on April 6, 1998. A second  meeting was held on May 13 - 14 in Washington. Future meetings will be held in San Francisco (June 18-19), and Atlanta (July 16-17). During these meetings national experts provide ten minute testimonials responding to each issue. Time is then allotted for the public to provide comments and feedback. For additional information regarding the Initiative and for an opportunity to provide input, please access the National Immunization Clearinghouse website at: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/registry or phone: (800) 799-7062; Fax: (404) 639-8548, or send e-mail to: siisclear@cdc.gov or click here mailto@siisclear@cdc.gov.
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(5)
June 4, 1998
HEALTH CARE WORKER IMMUNIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE COVERED
AT JUNE 4TH ADULT IMMUNIZATION SATELLITE CONFERENCE

The most recent recommendations for immunization of health care workers will be among the adult immunization technical issues discussed on Thursday, June 4, during a live interactive video conference entitled, "Adult Immunization: Technical Issues."   Led by William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH, and Sharon Humiston, MD, MPH, medical epidemiologists with the National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the conference will feature in-depth discussions of vaccines, particularly influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccine. The broadcast will also feature a question and answer session during which participants may interact with the moderators via toll-free telephone lines. The 2.5 hour conference will be broadcast twice: once at 9am and again at 12 noon (Eastern Time). The course will be presented in a Spanish language version at select locations.  CEUs are available. Call your state immunization program to find out the satellite site that is most convenient for you.  Click here http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n18/coord18.htm to find your state immunization program's phone number.

NOTE: In the last issue of "IAC Express," we incorrectly reported that the June 4 satellite conference was titled "Adult Immunization: Strategies that Work." That satellite broadcast will be aired in October of this year.