Media Advisory

National Immunization Conference

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding will address Immunization Professionals

Who: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Immunization Program (NIP) is hosting the 40th National Immunization Conference.

What: Local, state, federal, and private-sector immunization partners will examine the latest developments in vaccine science, policy, education, technology, and planning issues related to immunization in general and vaccine-preventable disease. Topics will include: maintaining and achieving high adoption of childhood, adolescent and adult immunization recommendations; challenges and new recommendations for influenza immunization and supply; avian influenza and pandemic planning; vaccine safety and monitoring; new vaccines and scientific advances; financial issues associated with vaccines and immunization programs; and global vaccination efforts (e.g., measles, polio, rotavirus).

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt will address the Opening Plenary Session in the Grand Ballroom, Monday, March 6 at 9 a.m.; Secretary Leavitt will discuss the nation's influenza pandemic planning, the importance of new technologies and expanding vaccine manufacturing capacity to meet the threat of a world-wide pandemic. Other conference speakers include: CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding; NIP Director Dr. Anne Schuchat; Dr. Bob Davis, director of CDC's new Office of Vaccine Safety; Dr. Jon Abramson, chair, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (New Vaccines Across the Lifespan); Dr. Bruce Gellin, director of the National Vaccine Program Office; andand Dr. Walt Orenstein, associate director of the Emory Vaccine Center and Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Emory University (and former CDC NIP director).

When: March 6-9, 2006, convening Monday at 9 a.m. and adjourning Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

Where: Omni Hotel at CNN Center, 100 CNN Center, Atlanta, 404-659-0000

For more information about detailed program and registration go to: www.cdc.gov/nip/NIC/

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES