Media Advisory

WHO:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Immunization Program (NIP), 35th National Immunization Conference.

WHAT:

Speeches by Timothy Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation; Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady and co-founder of Every Child by Two; Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, director of CDC; and Dr. David Salisbury, principal medical officer for the Communicable Disease Branch of the London Department of Health, will highlight the opening day of the 35rd annual National Immunization Conference. The 3-day conference will explore the latest accomplishments and developments in vaccine science, policy, education, safety, and new immunization technology. Topics include: What happened with last year's influenza vaccine supply; new immunization recommendations for infants, children, and adults; updates on progress in controlling, eliminating, and eradicating vaccine preventable diseases; recent developments in childhood, adolescent, and adult immunization programs; advances in responding to, and increasing, vaccine safety; and updates on progress toward global polio eradication and measles elimination.

WHEN:

Wednesday, May 30, 2001 (8 AM) to Friday, June 1, 2001 (4:30 PM).

WHERE:

Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel, 265 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia

Conference Highlights

Wednesday, May 30, 2001

Timothy Wirth, President, United Nations Foundation, (Opening session 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.). Mr. Wirth, the conference keynote speaker, will address why the global immunization agenda is important to the United Nations Foundation. Mr. Worth, president of the United Nations Foundation since its inception, is a former United States Senator from Colorado and served as Undersecretary for Global Affairs in the U.S. Department of State.

Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady and co-founder of "Every Child by Two," a campaign for early childhood immunization (11:30 a.m.). Ms. Carter, a tireless champion for early childhood immunization, will discuss her efforts to increase childhood immunization coverage.

Jeffrey P. Koplan, M.D. Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (8:00 - 9:30 a.m.). Dr. Koplan will discuss the importance of maintaining our commitment to immunization programs.

Walter A. Orenstein, MD, Director, National Immunization Program, CDC, (8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.). Dr. Orenstein will give an overview of some of the most recent accomplishments of immunization programs, highlight new immunization developments and policies, and identify some of the important issues facing immunization programs in the coming year.

David Salisbury, MD, Director, Communicable Disease and Immunisation Team, London Department of Health, (6:00 p.m.) Dr. Salisbury will discuss Britain's battle against group C meningitis.

Thursday, May 31, 2001

Vaccine Safety Debates and Their Impact on Parents, Providers and Public Health (1:30 p.m.). Immunization has been widely recognized as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th Century, but sustaining this success requires maintaining public, parent, and health care provider confidence in vaccines and immunization recommendations. Disproportionate attention to vaccine safety allegations could harm the country's high childhood immunization coverage levels and foster outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases. Dr. Bruce Gellin, Dr. Paul Offit, Patsy Stinchfield, and Dr. Dan Feikin will discuss current controversies regarding vaccines.

What Happened With Last Year's Influenza Vaccine Supply. Dr. Martin Myers, Director, National Vaccine Program Office, (3:30 p.m.). Dr. Myers will discuss last year's influenza flu vaccine delays and plans for this year's flu season.

Adult Immunization: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going, (3:30 p.m.). One of nation's greatest challenges is extending the success of infant and childhood immunization programs to adult populations. The human burden due the occurrence of vaccine-preventable disease in adults in the U.S. is staggering. Over 40,000 adult deaths occur annually from pneumococcal infections and an average of 23,000 adults die each year from influenza. The cost to society exceeds $10 billion each year. A panel of experts will discuss what is being, and can be done, to prevent this human tragedy.

Other Topics of Interest

Wednesday, May 30, 2001

Lessons Learned from the Global Partnership for Polio Eradication (10:00 a.m.) - Bill Sergeant

New Initiatives in Global Immunization (10:20 a.m.) - Dr. Mark Kane

Immunization in the 21^st Century (10:40) - Dr. Ciro de Quadros

Thursday, May 31, 2001

HCFA's Promotion of Adult Vaccines (3:30 p.m.) Dr. James Farris

The American College of Physicians Adult Immunization Initiative (3:50 p.m.) - Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer

Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccines in Persons With Diabetes (4:10 p.m.) - Dr. Stephanie Benjamin

Hepatitis B Vaccine for High-Risk Adults in Nontraditional Settings (4:30 p.m.) - Dr. Hal Margolis

Friday, June 1, 2001

The Introduction of New Vaccines: Financing Issues (8:30 a.m.) - Dr. Martin Myers

Managed Care Performance Measures - What's New (9:00 a.m.) - Dr. Adele Franks

Immunization Registries Today (9:30 a.m.) - Dr. Diane Simpson

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES