Issue Number 516            March 21, 2005

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

  1. New: The CDC-INFO Contact Center now answers phone-in immunization questions; VISs are changed accordingly
  2. Mark your calendar: April 14 is the date for CDC's next Current Issues in Immunization net conference
  3. FDA approves new preservative-free formulation of sanofi-pasteur's pediatric influenza vaccine
  4. National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable meeting set for April 10-12
  5. National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference website now live
  6. New issue of "Viral Hepatitis" available on VHPB website
  7. New: March 18 issue of IAC's Hep Express electronic newsletter now available online
  8. New conference listings: Immunization coalition conference call and hepatitis B meeting are set for April
  9. CDC publishes recommendations for animal rabies prevention and control

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ABBREVIATIONS: AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians; AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics; ACIP, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; IAC, Immunization Action Coalition; MMWR, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; NIP, National Immunization Program; VIS, Vaccine Information Statement; VPD, vaccine-preventable disease; WHO, World Health Organization.
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March 21, 2005
NEW: THE CDC-INFO CONTACT CENTER NOW ANSWERS PHONE-IN IMMUNIZATION QUESTIONS; VISs ARE CHANGED ACCORDINGLY

Effective March 15, a new service, the CDC-INFO Contact Center, began answering immunization questions placed by phone from the public and health professionals. Previously, the National Immunization Information Hotline answered phone-in immunization questions.

The new contact center phone number is (800) 232-4636 (i.e., [800] CDC-INFO). Both English- and Spanish-speaking callers can get information from the contact center; the first message callers hear is the option to select English or Spanish.

For the next few months, calls placed to the old hotline number will roll over to the new contact center number. NIP staff is still answering email immunization questions sent to nipinfo@cdc.gov

PLEASE NOTE: The new contact center service is not dedicated to immunization; it is an integrated CDC hotline service that answers questions on many topics. Callers to the contact center will pick among several options, one of which is immunization.

HOTLINE NUMBER CHANGES ON VISs
All VISs that contained the old hotline number have been changed to show the new contact center number. The change was made to VISs in the section titled "How Can I Learn More?" The VIS dates have not changed; the only change is to the telephone number. Because the new contact center service will handle calls made to the old hotline number for a few months, there is no need to discard stocks of VISs that have the old number.

To access English-language VISs updated with the new contact center number, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/default.htm

To access updated VISs in English and 31 additional languages, go to IAC's VIS web section at http://www.immunize.org/vis

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GRATITUDE FOR THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION HOTLINE
Operated since 1997 by the American Social Health Association of Research Triangle Park, NC, the National Immunization Information Hotline earned the respect and praise of Dr. William L. Atkinson. In speaking about the hotline, Atkinson, a medical epidemiologist with NIP, said the following:

"I have personally worked with the hotline supervisors and staff almost continuously since the beginning. Together we have worked through vaccine shortages, new vaccines, anthrax, smallpox, thimerosal, hurricanes, snowstorms, blackouts, and many other immunization crises. The hotline supervisors and staff, past and present, always rose to the challenges we faced. They have been a trusted source of immunization information for both the public and providers. I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with such a fine group of people. I know I speak for all of us at the National Immunization Program when I thank the National Immunization Information Hotline and the American Social Health Association for their service to this country. We wish them success in their post-hotline endeavors."

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March 21, 2005
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: APRIL 14 IS THE DATE FOR CDC'S NEXT CURRENT ISSUES IN IMMUNIZATION NET CONFERENCE

Scheduled for April 14, at noon ET, the net conference Current Issues in Immunization is designed to provide clinicians with up-to-date information on immunization. The one-hour program has two primary topics: (1) the new recommendations for meningococcal vaccine and (2) an influenza update.

The conference requires pre-registration, as space is limited. Registration will close when the course is full or on April 11 (midnight ET). To register for the conference, go to: http://www2.cdc.gov/nip/isd/ciinc

The program will combine a telephone audio conference and simultaneous online visual content. Participants can join the Q&A session by telephone or Internet. Internet access and a separate phone line are needed to participate. Graphics will be available to download as a PowerPoint file after the presentation. For instructions and system requirements, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ed/ciinc/instructions.htm
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March 21, 2005
FDA APPROVES NEW PRESERVATIVE-FREE FORMULATION OF SANOFI-PASTEUR'S PEDIATRIC INFLUENZA VACCINE

On March 9, sanofi-pasteur announced that FDA has approved the company's license supplement to market the new formulation of its pediatric influenza vaccine. The new formulation (Fluzone, influenza virus vaccine, no preservative) contains no thimerosal. The newly licensed formulation will replace the previously licensed sanofi-pasteur pediatric formulation, which contained trace amounts of thimerosal.

The new formulation will be available in single-dose, prefilled syringes in both a pediatric-dose package (Fluzone, influenza virus vaccine, no preservative: pediatric dose) for children ages 6-35 months and a standard-dose package (Fluzone, influenza virus vaccine, no preservative) for children ages three years and older. The pediatric-dose package will contain 0.25 mL of vaccine and the standard-dose package will contain 0.50 mL.

The company plans to manufacture approximately eight million doses of the new formulation for the 2005-06 influenza season.
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March 21, 2005
NATIONAL VIRAL HEPATITIS ROUNDTABLE MEETING SET FOR APRIL 10-12

[The following is cross posted from IAC's Hep Express electronic newsletter, 3/18/05.]

The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) has planned its national meeting for April 10-12 in Washington, DC.

NVHR is a coalition of public, private, and voluntary organizations dedicated to reducing the incidence of infection, morbidity, and mortality from viral hepatitis in the United States through strategic planning, leadership, coordination, advocacy, and research.

If your organization is interested in becoming a part of NVHR, and/or attending the meeting in Washington, DC, please contact Richard T. Conlon, by phone (404) 325-0900, fax (404) 325-0032, or email at rconlon@nvhr.org Information about NVHR and the conference is also available at http://www.nvhr.org
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March 21, 2005
NATIONAL VIRAL HEPATITIS PREVENTION CONFERENCE WEBSITE NOW LIVE

[The following is cross posted from IAC's Hep Express electronic newsletter, 3/18/05.]

The link for the National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference website is now live at http://www.nvhpc.com

The conference is scheduled for December 5-9 in Washington, DC. As a result of attending this conference participants will be able to

  • Outline strategies for hepatitis prevention for infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
     
  • Identify specific intervention strategies that address the needs of individuals in high-risk groups including, but not limited to, infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers, clients engaged in injection drug use/substance abuse, clients in STD/HIV clinics, men who have sex with men, homeless populations, and inmates in correctional settings.
     
  • Identify specific intervention strategies that address the viral hepatitis prevention needs of individuals in groups with health disparities including, but not limited to, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and African-Americans.
     
  • Describe methods for integrating and evaluating viral hepatitis prevention services into existing programs.
     
  • Identify and access communication, education, and training needs and available resources for viral hepatitis prevention and control; evaluate the effectiveness of education and training methods.

Visit the conference website for additional information. Abstracts are being solicited and must be submitted by May 27.
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March 21, 2005
NEW ISSUE OF "VIRAL HEPATITIS" AVAILABLE ON VHPB WEBSITE

[The following is cross posted from IAC's Hep Express electronic newsletter, 3/18/05.]

The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB) website has been updated to include a new issue of the publication "Viral Hepatitis."

"Viral Hepatitis," Volume 13, Number 2, provides an update of the epidemiological situation of viral hepatitis in France, gives an overview of the surveillance systems for infectious diseases and adverse events following vaccination, and offers an evaluation of the current French prevention and control measures. The issue is titled "Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis in France: Lessons Learnt and the Way Forward."

To access the ready-to-print (PDF) version of this issue, go to
http://www.vhpb.org/Default.asp?navItem=newsletters

To access the home page of the VHPB website, go to:
http://www.vhpb.org
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March 21, 2005
NEW: MARCH 18 ISSUE OF IAC'S HEP EXPRESS ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

The March 18 issue of Hep Express, an electronic newsletter published by IAC, is now available online. Hep Express is intended for health and social service professionals involved in the prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis. Previous issues of IAC Express have covered some of the articles found in the March 18 issue. Following is information about three articles we have not covered:

  • CDC's brochure on viral hepatitis integration for HIV-prevention community planners
     
  • Medline's online hepatitis B tutorial
     
  • Bilingual hepatitis B posters

To access the March 18 issue, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/issue27.asp

To sign up for a free subscription to Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/signup.asp

To access previous issues of Hep Express, go to:
http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress/index.asp
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March 21, 2005
NEW CONFERENCE LISTINGS: IMMUNIZATION COALITION CONFERENCE CALL AND HEPATITIS B MEETING ARE SET FOR APRIL

IAC recently posted the following to its Calendar of Events web section:

1. CONFERENCE CALL: RECRUITING AND RETAINING MEMBERS TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF YOUR COALITION

SCHEDULED FOR April 12, 1PM ET.

FACILITATED BY Pamela White MSSW, executive director, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions Across Tennessee.

SPONSORED BY the National Immunization Coalition TA [technical assistance] Network.

TO REGISTER contact Katherine Shrout by email at kshrout@aed.org and type "sign me up for the recruiting and retaining members call" in the body of your email.

2. MEETING: CHANGING THE LEGACY: HEPATITIS B AND ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES

SCHEDULED FOR April 28, 6:00PM to 9:30PM PT, San Gabriel Valley Medical Center, San Gabriel Valley, CA. Dinner included. No fee; registration required.

INTENDED FOR physicians, nurses, medical assistants, and other health professionals.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE Myron J. Tong, MD, PhD, Huntington Memorial Liver Center, Joanna Buffington, MD, MPH, Division of Viral Hepatitis, CDC, and many more.

SPONSORS INCLUDE Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Long Beach Department of Health Services, and others.

TO REGISTER, or for additional information, contact Wendy by email at wberger@ladhs.org or phone at (213) 351-7477.

FOR INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL CONFERENCES of interest to those in the immunization community, visit the IAC Calendar of Events web section at http://www.immunize.org/calendar
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March 21, 2005
CDC PUBLISHES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANIMAL RABIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL

CDC published "Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2005: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV)" in the March 18 issue of "MMWR Recommendations and Reports." The introductory paragraph is reprinted below in its entirety, excluding references.

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Rabies is a fatal viral zoonosis and a serious public health problem. The recommendations in this compendium serve as the basis for animal rabies prevention and control programs throughout the United States and facilitate standardization of procedures among jurisdictions, thereby contributing to an effective national rabies-control program. This document is reviewed annually and revised as necessary. Principles of rabies prevention and control are detailed in Part I; Part II contains recommendations for parenteral vaccination procedures; all animal rabies vaccines licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and marketed in the United States are listed in Part III.

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To obtain a web-text (HTML) version of the report online, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5403a1.htm

To obtain a ready-to-copy (PDF) version of it, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5403.pdf

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

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    Courtnay Londo, MA
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