Issue Number 351            December 2, 2002

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

  1. Registration begins December 2 for CDC's Smallpox Preparedness distance learning satellite videoconference
  2. Two-year World AIDS Campaign 2002-2003 focuses on eliminating stigma and discrimination
  3. New! California's parent education sheet "Be There for Your Child During Shots" now available online
  4. New! IAC posts two web pages about disparities in immunization rates
  5. 114 immunization coalitions have posted information on IAC's "IZ Coalitions" website--is yours one of them?
  6. November issue of CDC's "Immunization Works!" newsletter presents ways to increase adult immunization rates
  7. CDC reports on progress in eradicating polio in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan

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December 2, 2002
REGISTRATION BEGINS DECEMBER 2 FOR CDC'S SMALLPOX PREPAREDNESS DISTANCE LEARNING SATELLITE VIDEOCONFERENCE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will offer a two-day distance learning satellite videoconference, "CDC Bioterrorism Update: Smallpox Preparedness," December 5 and 6 from 12:30 to 5:30 pm ET.

The faculty members are Julie Gerberding, MD, Director, CDC; Walt Orenstein, MD, Director, National Immunization Program, CDC; and Joseph M. Henderson, Associate Director, Office of Terrorism Preparedness and Response, CDC.

Developed to provide the basic education required to implement a smallpox vaccination preparedness program, the videoconference is intended for the following persons:

  • State and local public health vaccine program implementers
  • Vaccine clinic personnel
  • Clinicians and health care workers and public health personnel considering vaccine program participation
  • Clinicians and health care workers in hospitals designated as healthcare response teams
  • Front line and primary care clinicians

For a course overview, go to:
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/smallpox.asp

Registration is online only and begins December 2. To register, go to:
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtnonline/

These programs will each have a live webcast and will also be available for viewing after each live broadcast via the CDC website. To view the webcast, your browser must be Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, or Netscape 4.7 or later. To access the webcast, go to: http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/webcast/smallpox/default.asp

The Public Health Foundation will distribute videotapes, CD-ROMs, and selected print materials, free of charge, shortly after the programs. Contact the Public Health Foundation at http://www.phf.org/ or call (877) 252-1200.

For additional information, email ce@cdc.gov or call (800) 418-7246.
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December 2, 2002
TWO-YEAR WORLD AIDS CAMPAIGN 2002-2003 FOCUSES ON ELIMINATING STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION

The following is crossposted from "Signpost," the email newsletter of the Safe Injection Global Network (SIGN), which is at http://www.injectionsafety.org/

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"Live and Let Live" is the slogan of the two-year World AIDS Campaign 2002-2003, which will focus on eliminating stigma and discrimination.

Stigma and discrimination are the major obstacles to effective HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Fear of discrimination may prevent people from seeking treatment for AIDS or from acknowledging their HIV status publicly. People with, or suspected of having, HIV may be turned away from health care services, denied housing and employment, shunned by their friends and colleagues, turned down for insurance coverage or refused entry into foreign countries. In some cases, they may be evicted from home by their families, divorced by their spouses, and suffer physical violence or even murder. The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS may extend into the next generation, placing an emotional burden on children who may also be trying to cope with the death of their parents from AIDS.

With its focus on stigma and discrimination, the Campaign will encourage people to break the silence and the barriers to effective HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Only by confronting stigma and discrimination will the fight against HIV/AIDS be won.

For more information on the World AIDS Campaign or to order materials, contact Andrew Doupe, World AIDS Campaign Coordinator, UNAIDS, Geneva; telephone: +41 22 791 4765, email: doupea@unaids.org

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SIGN is an international coalition formed to encourage innovative, cost-effective solutions that support safe and appropriate use of injections. To find out more about the organization and to sign up for the "Signpost" email newsletter, go to: http://www.injectionsafety.org/html/joining.html
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December 2, 2002
NEW! CALIFORNIA'S PARENT EDUCATION SHEET "BE THERE FOR YOUR CHILD DURING SHOTS" NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

An attractive, highly informative parent information sheet, "Be There for Your Child During Shots," is available online in English and Spanish.

Developed by the Immunization Branch of the California Department of Health Services, the one-page sheet gives parents detailed information on caring for infants and toddlers before, during, and after immunization to reduce the stress associated with the immunization experience.

For camera-ready (PDF format) copies of the English and Spanish versions, go to: http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/dcdc/izgroup/pdf/comft.pdf
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December 2, 2002
NEW! IAC POSTS TWO WEB PAGES ABOUT DISPARITIES IN IMMUNIZATION RATES

The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has developed two new web pages about disparities in immunization rates. "Immunization Disparities by Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status" and "Immunization Disparities by Age" each include journal articles and other resources for health professionals and patients.

In the United States, children of low socioeconomic status, immigrants, the poor, and the elderly, particularly African-Americans and Hispanics, continue to be less well immunized than the general population and suffer disproportionately from vaccine-preventable diseases. Health professionals can use these new web pages to learn about the issues and about strategies to reduce such disparities in their own health care settings.

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December 2, 2002
114 IMMUNIZATION COALITIONS HAVE POSTED INFORMATION ON IAC'S "IZ COALITIONS" WEBSITE--IS YOURS ONE OF THEM?

Since launching its "IZ Coalitions" website in January, the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has posted information from 114 immunization coalitions--organizations that work to increase immunization rates in their communities or regions. The site includes data from coalitions at all levels (local, state, regional, national, and international) and of all types, vaccine-specific as well as age-specific (childhood, adult, senior).

This online database allows health professionals, parents, immunization advocates, and others to contact specific coalitions to find resources, share ideas, and form strategic partnerships. Searches  can be done by name or geographic area.

Be sure your coalition is part of this powerful web-based networking tool by logging on and signing up today. If you're already signed up, and information about your coalition has changed recently, be sure to update your listing to help us keep the site current and accurate.
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December 2, 2002
NOVEMBER ISSUE OF CDC'S "IMMUNIZATION WORKS!" NEWSLETTER LISTS WAYS TO INCREASE ADULT IMMUNIZATION RATES

The November issue of "Immunization Works!" the electronic newsletter published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is now available on the website of the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC).

The lead article, "Increasing Adult Vaccination Rates--Effective Population Based Approaches," is an overview of seven proven techniques health professionals can use to boost immunization rates among various adult populations.

Other articles include "Flu Patient-Education Material Promoting 'Catch-Up' Now Available," "VAERS Program Promoted," and "National Immunization Registry Conference Highlights."

To access past issues of "Immunization Works!" on CDC's website, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/news/newsltrs/imwrks/imwrks.htm
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December 2, 2002
CDC REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN ERADICATING POLIO IN ETHOPIA, SOMALIA, AND SUDAN

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published "Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication--Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, January 2001-October 2002" in the November 29 issue of "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" (MMWR).

The report describes intensified polio eradication activities in the three countries during January 2001-October 2002 and summarizes progress made thus far.

To obtain the complete text of the article online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5147a3.htm

To obtain a camera-ready (PDF format) copy of this issue of MMWR, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5147.pdf

HOW TO OBTAIN A FREE ELECTRONIC SUBSCRIPTION TO THE MMWR:
To obtain a free electronic subscription to the "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" (MMWR), visit CDC's MMWR website at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr Select "Free Subscription" from the menu at the left of the screen. Once you have submitted the required information, weekly issues of the MMWR and all new ACIP statements (published as MMWR's "Recommendations and Reports") will arrive automatically by email. 

About IZ Express

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Editorial Information

  • Editor-in-Chief
    Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
  • Managing Editor
    John D. Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
  • Associate Editor
    Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH
  • Writer/Publication Coordinator
    Taryn Chapman, MS
    Courtnay Londo, MA
  • Style and Copy Editor
    Marian Deegan, JD
  • Web Edition Managers
    Arkady Shakhnovich
    Jermaine Royes
  • Contributing Writer
    Laurel H. Wood, MPA
  • Technical Reviewer
    Kayla Ohlde

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