HEP EXPRESS
Viral hepatitis news from the Immunization Action Coalition

Combined Federal Campaign #0233
Federal employees, including military, may contribute
to IAC by using code #0233 on their pledge cards.
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Issue Number 25 January 21, 2005

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

1. Save the date: National Viral Hepatitis Prevention
Conference set for December 5-9 in Washington, D.C.
2. CDC publishes hepatitis A and hepatitis E information for
tsunami survivors
3. CDC launches web page devoted to perinatal hepatitis B
information and resources
4. New: PKIDS launches listservs for kids with hepatitis C
and B
5. CDC, AAP, and AAFP release the Recommended Childhood and
Adolescent Immunization Schedule for 2005
6. Summer camp for kids with hepatitis--send for an
application before January 31
7. AAP website posts an overview of changes in vaccination
administration procedure codes and their valuation for 2005
8. IAC updates viral hepatitis education pieces
9. DHHS announces availability of funds for prevention of
substance abuse, HIV, and hepatitis in minority populations
10. Act soon: January 28 is the deadline for NIC's early-bird
registration
11. Registration opens January 19 for CDC's satellite broadcast
on Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable
Diseases
12. AASLD schedules Single Topic Conference for March 4-5, in
Chicago
13. VHPB posts presentations from November meeting on
website
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ABBREVIATIONS: ACIP, Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; DVH,
Division of Viral Hepatitis; HAV, hepatitis A virus; HBV,
hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; IAC, Immunization
Action Coalition; IDU, injection drug user; MMWR, Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report; MSM, men who have sex with men; STD,
sexually transmitted disease; VIS, Vaccine Information
Statement; WHO, World Health Organization.
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(1 of 13)
January 21, 2005
SAVE THE DATE: NATIONAL VIRAL HEPATITIS PREVENTION CONFERENCE
SET FOR DECEMBER 5-9 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference
(previously known as the National Hepatitis Coordinators'
Conference) will be held on December 5-9, in Washington, D.C.

The focus of the conference will be on the prevention of viral
hepatitis though every stage of life. Attendees will receive the
latest scientific updates related to hepatitis A, B, and C.
Workshops will address providing services to injection drug
users and men who have sex with men; overcoming health
disparities; designing, implementing, and evaluating successful
outreach, education, and counseling activities; identifying and
overcoming barriers to integrating hepatitis prevention
activities into existing programs; and obtaining funding and
other resources.

The conference is intended for public health professionals,
counselors, administrators, health policy makers, educators, and
others interested in the control of viral hepatitis, including
those working in perinatal or immunization programs, STD and HIV
clinics, correctional health care, and substance abuse programs.

For more information, visit
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/conference.htm
Registration information, abstract submission guidelines, and a
draft conference agenda will be forthcoming on this site.
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(2 of 13)
January 21, 2005
CDC PUBLISHES HEPATITIS A AND HEPATITIS E INFORMATION FOR
TSUNAMI SURVIVORS

CDC's Division of Viral Hepatitis has produced two one-page fact
sheets for tsunami survivors.

"Hepatitis A Information Specific for Tsunami Survivors" is
targeted toward the public, and includes five simple questions
and answers.

To download this document in ready-to-print (PDF) format, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/a/hav_tsunami.pdf

"Hepatitis E Information Specific for Tsunami Survivors" is a
similar Q & A piece about the hepatitis E virus.

To download this document in ready-to-print (PDF) format, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/e/hev_fact_tsunami.pdf
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(3 of 13)
January 21, 2005
CDC LAUNCHES WEB PAGE DEVOTED TO PERINATAL HEPATITIS B
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

CDC's National Immunization Program (NIP) has recently added a
web page of perinatal hepatitis B information to its website.
The new section features pertinent brochures, flyers, slide
sets, and websites for parents, healthcare professionals, and
state hepatitis B coordinators.

The new web page also includes a link to 2003 National
Immunization Survey (NIS) data, which includes the 2003 birth
dose data.

Visit this valuable new resource at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/hepB/pubs_other.htm
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(4 of 13)
January 21, 2005
NEW: PKIDS LAUNCHES LISTSERVS FOR KIDS WITH HEPATITIS C AND B

[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action
Coalition's "IAC EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 1/10/05]

Thanks to PKIDs, children and teens living with hepatitis C or B
now have their own Internet listservs, giving them a chance to
"talk" with other infected youth from around the United States
and the world. The two listservs, one for children ages 8 to 12
and one for teens ages 13 to 19, are designed to allow youth the
freedom to speak from their hearts. To help ensure a safe
environment, the lists are moderated and there are no
identifiers for those posting to the lists.

PKIDs (Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases) is a national
nonprofit organization serving families of children infected
with chronic viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.

To access the listservs, go to:
http://www.pkids.org/listserv.htm and click on the appropriate
link.
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(5 of 13)
January 21, 2005
CDC, AAP, AND AAFP RELEASE THE RECOMMENDED CHILDHOOD AND
ADOLESCENT IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE FOR 2005

CDC, AAP, and AAFP have endorsed and jointly released the
Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule--
United States, 2005.

To access a two-page or a four-page ready-to-print (PDF) version
of the Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization
Schedule--United States, 2005, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/child-schedule.htm#Printable
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(6 of 13)
January 21, 2005
SUMMER CAMP FOR KIDS WITH HEPATITIS--SEND FOR AN APPLICATION
BEFORE JANUARY 31

[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action
Coalition's "IAC EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 1/10/05]

Children with hepatitis B or C will have a chance to attend camp
this summer at two of the top U.S. medical camps, thanks to the
national nonprofit organization PKIDs (Parents of Kids with
Infectious Diseases) and Paul Newman's Association of Hole In
The Wall Gang Camps.

PKIDs, which supports families touched by viral hepatitis and
HIV/AIDS, has acquired a number of slots for children with
chronic hepatitis B or C at camps in upstate New York (Double
"H" Hole in the Woods Ranch in Lake Luzerne) and Florida (Boggy
Creek Gang Camp in Eustis). The camps specialize in providing a
fun, traditional summer camp experience for children and teens
with medical needs.

Children must be between the ages of 6 and 16 and must be
receiving medical treatment of any kind. PKIDs and the camps
will pay travel and camp costs for qualified children--the
families pay nothing. Any parent, caretaker, physician, or
healthcare worker interested in sending a child to either camp
should contact PKIDs for an application BEFORE JANUARY 31.
Contact PKIDs by email at pkids@... or by phone at (877)
557-5437.

PKIDs is also seeking donations to help pay the costs of sending
children to the two camps. If you are interested in sponsoring a
child at camp, please email or call PKIDs at the email address
or phone number above.

For more information, call PKIDs at (360) 695-0293 or go to
http://www.pkids.org

To visit the website of the Double "H" Hole in the Woods Ranch,
go to:
http://www.doublehranch.org

To visit the website of the Boggy Creek Gang Camp, go to:
http://www.boggycreek.org
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(7 of 13)
January 21, 2005
AAP WEBSITE POSTS AN OVERVIEW OF CHANGES IN VACCINATION
ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURE CODES AND THEIR VALUATION FOR 2005

On January 5, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) posted on
its website the eight-page document Comprehensive Overview:
Immunization Administration 2005. The document describes the
eight immunization administration CPT codes [current procedural
terminology codes] now available; included in the eight codes
are four new codes. It also presents a series of questions and
answers that explain how to use the codes.

To obtain the Comprehensive Overview: Immunization
Administration 2005 from the AAP website, go to:
http://www.aap.org/visit/ImmunizationAdmin2005.doc
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(8 of 13)
January 21, 2005
IAC UPDATES VIRAL HEPATITIS EDUCATION PIECES

As part of IAC's ongoing quality assurance, several print pieces
related to viral hepatitis were recently reviewed for accuracy.

The following pieces were updated:

"States Report Hundreds of Medical Errors in Perinatal Hepatitis
B Prevention"
Text (HTML) format: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2062.htm
Ready-to-print (PDF) format:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2062.pdf

"Unprotected Babies: Two more infants chronically infected with
hepatitis B virus . . . the medical errors continue"
Text (HTML) format: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2127.htm
Ready-to-print (PDF) format:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2127.pdf

"Management of Chronic Hepatitis B in Adults" by Brian J.
McMahon, M.D.
Text (HTML) format: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2161.htm
Ready-to-print (PDF) format:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2161.pdf

"Every day, teens are infected with hepatitis B"
Text (HTML) format: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4100tee.htm
Ready-to-print (PDF) format:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4100tee.pdf

The following pieces were reviewed and left unchanged:

"Hepatitis B and the Health Care Worker"
Text (HTML) format: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/2109hcw.htm
Ready-to-print (PDF) format:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/2109hcw.pdf

"Hospitals & Doctors Sued for Failing to Protect Newborns from
Hepatitis B Virus Transmission"
Text (HTML) format: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2061.htm
Ready-to-print (PDF) format:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2061.pdf

"If you have chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection..."
Text (HTML) format: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4120.htm
Ready-to-print (PDF) format:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4120eng.pdf
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(9 of 13)
January 21, 2005
DHHS ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE
ABUSE, HIV, AND HEPATITIS IN MINORITY POPULATIONS

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for
Substance Abuse Prevention, has announced a Request for
Application (RFA) for a new cooperative agreement.

The funding is intended for programs preventing substance abuse,
HIV, and hepatitis in minority populations and minority reentry
populations in communities of color. Eligibility is limited to
community-level domestic public and private nonprofit entities
from geographic areas with high AIDS case rates.

Of note, the program announcement does allow for screening for
substance abuse, hepatitis and HIV; substance abuse, HIV, and
hepatitis education and prevention intervention; and referral
for medical services; however, funds are not to be used for
hepatitis A or hepatitis B immunization.

Interested candidates should review the entire program
announcement carefully. Applications are due by March 17, 2005.

To access PA 05-001 (Request for Applications (RFA) for
Substance Abuse (SA), HIV, & Hepatitis Prevention for Minority
Populations and Minority Reentry Populations in Communities of
Color ), go to:
http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/2005/nofa/sp05001_HIV.aspx
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(10 of 13)
January 21, 2005
ACT SOON: JANUARY 28 IS THE DEADLINE FOR NIC'S EARLY-BIRD
REGISTRATION

[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action
Coalition's "IAC EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 01/10/05.]

Scheduled for March 21-24 in Washington, DC, this year's
National Immunization Conference (NIC) is a must-attend event.
Register by January 28, and attend all four days for only $150.
The conference's primary goals are to help participants provide
comprehensive immunization coverage for all age groups and to
explore innovative strategies for developing programs, policy,
and research that promote such coverage. Plenary sessions and
workshops will include presentations on the following topics:
childhood, adolescent, and adult immunization; vaccine safety;
new vaccines and vaccine development; cultural diversity; policy
and legislation; immunization registries; and more.

Opportunities for networking and socializing include the
welcoming continental breakfast, Hilleman lecture and reception,
daily fitness events, and lunch rounds. In addition, the exhibit
hall and poster-viewing space will be open to attendees for two
days.

For comprehensive information about the conference, including
the draft conference agenda, online registration, and
accommodation information, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/nic

For additional information, contact the conference planning team
by phone at (404) 639-8225 or by email at NIPNIC@...
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(11 of 13)
January 21, 2005
REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 19 FOR CDC'S SATELLITE BROADCAST ON
EPIDEMIOLOGY & PREVENTION OF VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES

[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action
Coalition's "IAC EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 01/18/05.]

The CDC website now has updated information on the satellite
broadcast of Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable
Diseases, a live interactive program offered by NIP. Online
registration for continuing education credit will open on
January 19 (details are at the end of this article).

Presented in four sessions, the course will be held on
consecutive Thursdays: February 17 and 14, and March 3 and 10.
All sessions will be broadcast from 12 noon ET to 3:30PM ET.

In addition to online registration information, the updated
information includes the following (taken from the course
overview at http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/epv05/default.asp).
The four-session outline: Session One will cover principles of
vaccination, general recommendations on immunization, vaccine
safety, storage and handling, and vaccine administration.
Session Two will cover pertussis, pneumococcal disease
(childhood), polio, and Hib. Session Three will cover measles,
rubella, varicella, smallpox and meningococcal disease. Session
Four will cover hepatitis B, hepatitis A, influenza, and
pneumococcal disease (adult).

The faculty: William Atkinson, MD, MPH; Andrew Kroger, MD, MPH;
Judy Schmidt, RN, EdD; Donna Weaver, MN, RN. All are with NIP;
additional presenters will include other CDC experts.

An outline of resources for each session: Developed for the
program when it was broadcast in 2004, the resources are
relevant for the 2005 broadcasts. To access them, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ed/EpiVacLinks.htm
REGISTRATION
Before accessing the online registration form, go to the course
overview at http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/epv05/default.asp
Scroll down to the section headed Registration Information and
get the course number for the webcast(s) or broadcasts(s) of
interest. Proceed to online registration at
http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtnonline

If you have registration questions, email ce@... or phone
(800) 418-7246.

For other questions, email nipinfo@...

In the coming weeks, IAC EXPRESS will keep you updated on a
range of information about the course. To access course
information from the January 10 issue of IAC EXPRESS, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/genr.d/issue503.htm#n2
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(12 of 13)
January 21, 2005
AASLD SCHEDULES SINGLE TOPIC CONFERENCE FOR MARCH 4-5, IN
CHICAGO

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
is sponsoring a Single Topic Conference titled "Hepatitis C
Virus Infection: Pathobiology and Implications for New
Therapeutic Options." The conference will take place in Chicago
on March 4-5, 2005.

For more information, visit the AASLD website at
http://www.aasld.org or download a conference brochure at
https://www.aasld.org/eweb/docs/meetings/Hep_C.pdf
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(13 of 13)
January 21, 2005
VHPB POSTS PRESENTATIONS FROM NOVEMBER MEETING ON WEBSITE

The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB) website has been
updated to include information from the VHPB meeting of November
18-19, in Veyrier-Du-Lac, France. The following topics were
covered during the meeting: 1. Update of the epidemiological
situation on viral hepatitis in France; 2. Overview of
surveillance systems for infectious diseases and adverse events
following vaccination in France; 3. Overview of the research
activities on viral hepatitis in France; 4. Evaluation of
current prevention and control measures on viral hepatitis in
France; 5. Lessons learnt from the experience in France:
successes, problems, and barriers to overcome, and the way
forward.

The meeting program, the pre-meeting document, and all of the
presentations made at "Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis
in France: Lessons Learnt and the Way Forward" are available on
the VHPB website at http://www.vhpb.org

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We hope you will forward this e-newsletter to others.

Managing editor: Teresa A. Anderson, DDS, MPH
Copy editor: Dale Thompson
Editorial assistant: Janelle Tangonan Anderson
ISSN: 1547-6375

To subscribe or change your HEP EXPRESS email address, or to view
past issues, please visit http://www.hepprograms.org/hepexpress

This publication is supported by Grant No. U50/CCU523259 from
the Division of Viral Hepatitis at the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of IAC
and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.
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DISCLAIMER: http://www.immunize.org/admin/discl-ex.htm

PLEASE CONTACT US AT:
Immunization Action Coalition
1573 Selby Avenue, Suite 234
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Voice: (651) 647-9009
Fax: (651) 647-9131
Email: hepxadmin@...
(mailto:hepxadmin@...)
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