Media Advisory

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Winter Meeting Being Held at CDC

WHO: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be meeting Feb. 21-22.

WHAT: Committee Members will be discussing vaccines targeting human papillomavirus (HPV); rotavirus; influenza; tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap); herpes zoster ("shingles"); varicella zoster immune globulin; an evidence-based format for use in developing vaccine policy recommendations; and general immunization recommendations. New recommendations related to rotavirus and influenza are possible at the meeting. For a complete meeting agenda, visit http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ACIP/.

WHEN: February 21-22, 2006
Convening Tuesday at 8 a.m. and adjourning Wednesday at 3:45 p.m.

WHERE: In Building 19, Global Communications Center, Rooms 245, 246, 254 and 255 at CDC's Roybal Campus, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia.

The ACIP provides recommendations to the Director of CDC and the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on the most effective means to avert vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). The Committee is comprised of 15 voting members from various organizations (e.g., universities, medical centers) with expertise in the use of vaccines and immunologic agents in clinical and preventive medicine.

Members are selected to serve overlapping 4-year terms by the Secretary of DHHS. In addition to the voting members, the ACIP includes ex officio members from federal agencies active in immunization, and non-voting liaison representatives from professional societies and organizations responsible for development and implementation of immunization programs for children and adults. The ACIP formulates recommendations regarding immunization in the United States, which are subject to the approval of the CDC director and Secretary of HHS, that address routine administration of vaccines to U.S. pediatric and adult populations, immunization schedules, and recommended dosage and contraindications.

Members of the media are asked to check-in at the registration table where they will receive a media packet.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES