Issue Number 80
May 21, 1999
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
- Great news! France officially supports
hepatitis B vaccine for children and teens!
- CDC's satellite broadcast
"Vaccinating Adults: The Technical Issues" set for June 3
- "Proven Methods for Raising
Immunization Rates" is the focus of CME teleconferences, May 24 - July 1
- HCFA announces June 10th satellite
broadcast on adult immunization
- Calendar of Events
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February 1999
GREAT NEWS! FRANCE OFFICIALLY SUPPORTS HEPATITIS B VACCINE FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS!
It has come to IAC's attention that France DOES support hepatitis B vaccination for
children and teens and there's an official statement to prove it!
A statement on the official French position on hepatitis B vaccination was reprinted in
the February 1999 issue of "EPI Newsletter: Expanded Program on Immunization in the
Americas," a publication of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Merci, PAHO for helping to set us straight! According to PAHO, the French Ministry of
Health decided to issue the letter because of the misinterpretations by the mass media
which resulted in confusion by the public. The letter is as follows:
OFFICIAL FRENCH POSITION ON HEPATITIS B VACCINATION
Text of official letter from French Ministry:
"Subsequent to a meeting of experts during which all the studies carried out in
France of adverse events following hepatitis B vaccination were examined, on October 1,
1998 the Secretary of State for Health and Welfare decided the following:
- To maintain the recommendation that children
should be vaccinated against hepatitis B
- To maintain the recommendation that adolescents
receive a dose of hepatitis B vaccine, if they were not vaccinated in the past
- To maintain the recommendation that adults at risk
should be vaccinated against hepatitis B, in conformity with the opinion issued in July
1998 by the Technical Committee on Vaccination
- To maintain the obligation for health
professionals to be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
"The only change that has been announced
relates to the strategy for adolescents; it has been decided to temporarily suspend
vaccination campaign in secondary schools. The reason for the change is that the
conditions under which campaigns are conducted do not allow adequate explanations to be
provided (i.e. parents are not present at school vaccinations), particularly in light of
the publicity given to the hypothetical adverse effects of vaccination which has
undermined the population's confidence in hepatitis B vaccination."
Source: Director-General for Health, Ministry of Employment and Solidarity, France,
January 29, 1999.
To view the original article on PAHO's website, click here: http://www.paho.org/english/hvp/downloads/sne2101.pdf
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May 21, 1999
CDC'S SATELLITE BROADCAST "VACCINATING ADULTS: THE TECHNICAL ISSUES" SET FOR
JUNE 3
The following announcement appeared in the MMWR Notice to Readers on May 21, 1999:
"On June 3 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. eastern daylight time, CDC's National Immunization
Program and the Public Health Training Network will cosponsor a satellite broadcast,
Vaccinating Adults: The Technical Issues. The broadcast is intended for physicians,
physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, medical students, and
others who provide vaccinations or establish immunization policy, and will present an
in-depth discussion of the vaccines for influenza, pneumococcal disease, and hepatitis B,
including vaccine indications, contraindications, and adverse reactions. This is a taped
re-broadcast and will not contain a live question and answer session.
"Course registration information is available from state health department
immunization programs; from two CDC World-Wide Websites, http://www.cdc.gov/nip or http://www.cdc.gov/phtn and from the course
coordinator, telephone (404) 639-8799. Continuing education credit for a variety of
professions will be offered based on 2 hours of instruction."
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May 21, 1999
"PROVEN METHODS FOR RAISING IMMUNIZATION RATES" IS THE FOCUS OF CME
TELECONFERENCES, MAY 24 - JULY 1
Presented in several time slots between May 24 and July 1, 1999, CDC medical
epidemiologist, Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH, will lead this 30-minute forum on
"Proven Methods for Raising Immunization Rates." CDC medical epidemiologist,
William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH, will introduce the teleconference. Sponsored by Montefiore
Medical Center (Bronx, New York) the teleconference will address changes in the 1999
Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
In addition, participants will receive information about methods for improving vaccine
coverage rates and for ensuring proper storage and handling of vaccines.
Each teleconference will run for 30 minutes and is scheduled at a wide variety of times to
allow participants flexibility in their attendance. A 15-minute interactive question and
answer session will follow each teleconference. Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits
will be issued by Albert Einstein College of Medicine through the New York State Nurses
Association.
Following the teleconference, participants will be able to:
- Describe the benefits of the new Recommended
Childhood Immunization Schedule
- Understand the storage and handling requirements
for vaccines
- Understand the methods to improve childhood
immunization rates
To register for the teleconference or to receive
more information, call 1-888-375-9573 between 9:00am and 5:30pm (ET) weekdays.
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May 21, 1999
HCFA ANNOUNCES JUNE 10TH SATELLITE BROADCAST ON ADULT IMMUNIZATION
"Steps to Promoting Wellness: Adult Immunization" will be the topic of a June
10th live satellite broadcast sponsored by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA)
and First Coast Service Options, Inc. As part of the newly created Medicare Preventive
Services Education Program, this 90-minute program is designed to provide information to
health care providers regarding Medicare preventive benefits.
Special emphasis will be placed on prevention of pneumococcal and influenza disease.
According to an announcement for the broadcast, "ninety percent of these deaths are
in the Medicare population." The program aims to increase awareness of these risks
and expand the use of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. In addition, issues facing
minority populations over the age of 65 will be addressed.
As a result of this satellite program, participants will be able to:
- Better understand the importance of immunizations
and identify ways to increase the immunization rates in their healthcare communities
- Build their practices by promoting wellness with
their adult patients
- Understand Medicare's coverage and reimbursement
of adult immunizations
- Understand mass immunizer and roster billing
guidelines
There is no cost for participation. To view the
broadcast you will need a steerable satellite dish that receives a KU signal. Most
health departments, hospitals, and universities have one.
Registration for this broadcast is required by June 4, 1999. To receive a registration
form, contact Mary Barnes at (904) 791-8392 or by e-mail at mbarnes@medicaretraining.com or
fill out a form online at http://www.medicaretraining.com/wellness.htm
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May 21, 1999
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
| JUNE |
|
| DATE/TIME: |
June 3, 1999,
12:00-2:00 pm, EDT |
| EVENT: |
"Vaccinating
Adults: The Technical Issues" (a satellite rebroadcast) |
| SPONSOR: |
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention |
| PLACE: |
For information about
where to view the broadcast, contact your local coordinator. Find his/her phone number at:
http://www.cdc.gov/phtn/stcoords.htm |
| CONTACT: |
For more information
about course content, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/phtn/130024.htm
(link discontinued) or call 888-232-3299 and request document 130024. |
| |
|
| DATE/TIME: |
June 7, 1999
(Conference to be held June 22-25, 1999 in Dallas, TX) |
| EVENT: |
Last day for
"Regular Registration" for the National Immunization Conference (but you can
still register at the conference) |
| SPONSOR: |
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention |
| CONTACT: |
To order a registration
booklet, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/NIC/nic-reg-mat-req-em.htm
(link discontinued) or fax a request to 404-639-8828. Draft agenda available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/NIC/nic-draft-agenda.pdf |
|
|
|
| DATE/TIME: |
June 22-25, 1999 |
| EVENT: |
33rd National
Immunization Conference, Dallas, TX |
| SPONSOR: |
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention |
| PLACE: |
Adam's Mark Hotel,
Dallas, TX |
| CONTACT: |
To order a registration
booklet, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/NIC/nic-reg-mat-req-em.htm
or fax a request to 404-639-8828. Draft agenda available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/NIC/nic-draft-agenda.pdf |
|
|
|
| SEPTEMBER
|
|
| DATE/TIME: |
Sept. 16, 1999,
8:00-10:30 am, EST and 12:00-2:30 pm, EST |
| EVENT: |
"Immunization
Update 1999" live satellite broadcast |
| SPONSOR: |
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention |
| CONTACT: |
More information will
be available soon |
|
|
|
| NOVEMBER |
|
| DATE/TIME: |
Nov. 27-28, 1999 |
| EVENT: |
"Travel-Related
Vaccine Preventable Illnesses" course |
| SPONSOR: |
American Society of
Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in cooperation with the American Committee on Clinical
Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health |
| PLACE: |
Washington Hilton and
Towers; Washington, D.C. |
| CONTACT: |
Call ASTMH at
847-480-9592 |
|
|
|
| DECEMBER |
|
| DATE/TIME: |
Dec. 2, 1999,
11:00-2:30 pm, (ET) |
| EVENT: |
"Surveillance of
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" live satellite broadcast |
| SPONSOR: |
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention |
| CONTACT: |
More information will
be available soon |
If you have a national conference
that you would like us to consider for inclusion in this calendar, please fax the
information to us at 651-647-9131 or you can send us an e-mail at admin@immunize.org or click here: mailto:admin@immunize.org
This calendar will soon be available on our homepage at http://www.immunize.org |
