On October 30, Dr. Paul Offit was interviewed on NBC's Today Show by Dr. Nancy Snyderman, NBC's chief medical editor. Dr. Offit is chief of Infectious Diseases and director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is also the author of a recently published book, "Autism's False Prophets: Bad science, risky medicine, and the search for a cure." (Information about the book appears at the end of this IAC Express article.)

Titled "Doctor disputes vaccine, autism link," an online video of the NBC interview is available at
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27440647

The Nov. 3 issue of Newsweek magazine includes an article based on an interview with Dr. Offit. Titled "Stomping through a Medical Minefield: The author of a new book about autism says exactly what he thinks about vaccines and other hot topics," the article is available online at http://www.newsweek.com/id/165644

IAC Express editor's note: The websites of television networks and national magazines typically retain online videos of interviews and online versions of articles for a limited time. IAC Express encourages interested readers to access the online versions of the interview and article above as soon as possible.

Dr. Offit's new book was published in September by Columbia University Press. To order it directly from the publisher, go to:
http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-231-14636-4/autisms-false-prophets/webFeatures

The book is also available on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites and from your local bookseller.

IAC recently updated its parent-education print resource "When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?" Sections pertaining to the vaccines that protect against rotavirus, human papillomavirus (HPV), and influenza were revised.

To access the updated version of "When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?" go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4050.pdf

IAC's Print Materials web section offers healthcare professionals and the public nearly 250 FREE, English-language materials (many also available in translation), which we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely. To access all of IAC's free print materials, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/printmaterials

The October issue of Parents PACK, an electronic newsletter published by the Vaccine Education Center (VEC) of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, has a feature article of special interest to parents and healthcare professionals.

Titled "Perspective of a Polio Survivor," the article is written by Janice Nichols, a polio survivor who has written a book about how her family was affected by polio in the 1950s. Nichols lost her twin brother to polio in 1953, during a polio outbreak in her community, DeWitt, New York. Shortly after, Nichols herself was diagnosed with the disease. Six other children in the classroom shared by Nichols and her brother were also diagnosed.

To access the October issue of Parents PACK, go to:
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=89364

For additional information about the Parents PACK newsletter, including subscription information, go to:
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=79354

Information about Nichols's book, "Twin Voices: A memoir of polio, the forgotten killer," is available at
http://www.twinvoices.com/About_Twin_Voices.html

A project of the American Lung Association, the "Flu Clinic Locator" gives individuals a way to find an influenza clinic that's near their home or workplace. And it gives healthcare providers a way to promote their clinics to people in their community. In either case, the first step is to go to http://www.flucliniclocator.org

To find a clinic: Individuals enter their home or workplace zip code and other information in the tinted box titled "Flu Clinic Locator," located toward the right of the page. The individual is then taken to a chart that gives the location of nearby influenza clinics, their dates and times, and their distance from the zip code entered.

To promote a clinic: Providers interested in having their clinics listed will find detailed information by clicking on the box titled "All About the Flu Clinic Locator." It is located in the vertical bar to the left of the page. Providers will be taken to a page of information and instructions.

Influenza vaccine for the 2008-09 influenza season is available. Vaccination should continue through the spring months of 2009. 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

CDC recently updated the following pages on its Seasonal Flu web section:

"Seasonal Flu Information for Parents" (new content)
"Free Flu Materials" (Spanish-language poster and flyer)
"Seasonal Flu Information for Workplaces & Employees" (redirected links)
"Patient & Provider Information" (listings added for Georgia, Texas, and Virginia)

To access these resources, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm and click on the pertinent link.

To access a broad range of continually updated information on seasonal influenza, avian influenza, pandemic influenza, swine influenza, and canine influenza, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu

The National Influenza Vaccine Summit's website also contains extensive information and resources on influenza. Visit www.preventinfluenza.org often.

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases' (NFID) Clinical Vaccinology course will be held November 14-16 in Bethesda, MD. It is intended for primary care physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, public health specialists, infectious disease specialists, and other healthcare professionals involved with clinical aspects of vaccinology. Continuing education credit is available.

To access the course brochure, go to:
http://www.nfid.org/pdf/conferences/idcourse08.pdf

To register online, go to:
https://secure.bnt.com/webresponse/nfid/idcourse08

CDC published "Progress Toward Elimination of Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome--the Americas, 2003-2008" in the October 31 issue of MMWR. Portions of a summary made available to the press are reprinted below.

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

CDC published "Revised Product Labels for Pediatric Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Medicines" in the October 31 issue of MMWR. The article is reprinted below in its entirety, excluding references.

To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue of MMWR, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5743.pdf