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March 7, 2007
NASTAD ISSUES ACTION ALERT TO ASK CONGRESS FOR MORE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HEPATITIS C PREVENTION

The National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) has issued an Action Alert regarding increased funding for hepatitis C prevention. President Bush's FY2008 proposed budget flat funds CDC's Division of Viral Hepatitis, which would result in further cuts to an already small hepatitis C allocation of $17.6 million.

NASTAD encourages individuals and organizations to communicate a consistent message to their members of Congress, indicating that additional funding is needed to mount a public health response to viral hepatitis infections. NASTAD's Action Alert and examples of sample letters can be read in Word format by going to http://www.nastad.org and clicking on Hepatitis C Action Alert.

Interested persons must contact their U.S. Representatives by March 16 and their U.S. Senators by April 13. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding communicating with congressional offices, please contact Terrance Moore at tmoore@nastad.org
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March 7, 2007
CDC'S HEPATITIS C COORDINATOR PORTAL OFFERS USEFUL RESOURCES

CDC's hepatitis C coordinator web page offers numerous resources for those in the field, including

• Contact information for all state hepatitis C coordinators
• Slides sets about viral hepatitis and the hepatitis C virus
• Link to the National Hepatitis C Prevention Strategy
• Glossary
• Links to state-sponsored viral hepatitis web pages
• Resources for identifying persons at risk of HCV infection
• Services for HCV-infected individuals
• Information on integration of services and state viral hepatitis prevention plans
• Educational materials

To access this information, click here.
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March 7, 2007
IAC'S "SHOP IAC" WEB PAGE OFFERS USERS CENTRALIZED, CONVENIENT, ONE-STOP SHOPPING

The staff at IAC is pleased to introduce our website users to a new online feature—our "Shop IAC" web page. Located at http://www.immunize.org/shop, the web page allows users to browse through IAC's immunization product selection at their convenience and to order multiple products at one time. The web page has complete information on each product, as well as full-screen images of each and details about various pricing and ordering options.

NEW PRODUCTS
(1) Vaccination Record Cards
IAC recently added two new vaccination record cards to its lineup of immunization resources. The new cards—one for recording child and teen vaccinations and another for recording lifetime vaccinations—join IAC's popular adult immunization record card. Each card lists all vaccines recommended for people in their specific age group. The three cards are printed on durable rip-, smudge-, and water-proof paper. Sized to fit in a wallet, each is brightly and distinctively colored.

(2) Laminated Child and Adult 2007 Immunization Schedules IAC's durable versions of the child/teen immunization schedule for people ages 0-18 years (approved by ACIP/AAP/AAFP) and adult schedule (approved by ACIP/AAFP/ACOG/ACP) are now available. Updated for 2007, both are laminated for heavy-duty use, complete with essential footnotes, and printed in color for easy reading. Each schedule has four pages (printed back-to-back) and measures 11" x 17" (8.5" x 11" when folded).

The "Shop IAC" section also includes information about ordering the administration training video "Immunization Techniques: Safe, Effective, Caring" and the CD-ROM "Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit."

Please take a minute to visit "Shop IAC," even if you're not looking for immunization resources right now. You can access it directly by going to http://www.immunize.org/shop or by clicking on the link titled "Shop IAC" at the top of our website's homepage, http://www.immunize.org

We'd love to get feedback on your experience using the web page for information and ordering. Send your comments to admin@immunize.org
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NEW: "SHOTS 2007" VERSION OF CHILDHOOD AND ADULT IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULES NOW AVAILABLE FOR HANDHELDS

[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action Coalition's "IAC EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 2/26/07.]

On February 22, the NIP website posted news that the "Shots 2007" quick-reference guides to the childhood and adult immunization schedules are now available for Palm-OS handhelds and Pocket-PCs handhelds. Both are available on the website of the Group on Immunization Education of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.

To access "Shots 2007" for Palm-OS handhelds and Pocket-PCs handhelds, as well as "Shots 2007 Online," click here.
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March 7, 2007
LATINO ORGANIZATION FOR LIVER AWARENESS SPONSORING NEW YORK CITY HEPATITIS C WALK

The Latino Organization for Liver Awareness (LOLA) is sponsoring its third annual New York City Hepatitis C Walk. This event will take place on May 15, 2007, with registration from 9:00–11:30 a.m. The walk will begin at 12:00 noon at Battery Park and end at City Hall. Admission is free. The goal of the walk is to encourage New York City residents to get a free HCV blood test, seek appropriate medical assistance if needed, and obtain support and treatment if necessary.

For more information, go to www.lola-national.org or call (718) 892-8697.
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March 7, 2007
REMINDER: NATIONAL VIRAL HEPATITIS TRAINING CENTER TRAINING DATES APPROACHING

The National Viral Hepatitis Training Center at the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is offering "It's Time: Integrate viral hepatitis into your work," a two-day training for staff working in settings that serve people at high risk for viral hepatitis, including substance use programs, HIV/AIDS programs, correctional settings, and public health/STD clinics. The center also offers a related Training of Trainers (TOT) program.

In 2007, the National Viral Hepatitis Training Center will offer the entire "It's Time" training and TOT in three locations:

Chicago, Illinois: April 2–5, 2007
Albany, New York: June 4-7, 2007
West coast training to be offered in September 2007, location TBA

For more information on registering for a training or becoming an authorized training agency, please contact mag20@health.state.ny.us or visit the NYSDOH website at http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/aids/training/viralhepatitis.htm
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March 7, 2007
CDC FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH; LETTER OF INTENT DUE MARCH 12

[The following is cross posted from the Immunization Action Coalition's "IAC EXPRESS" electronic newsletter, 3/5/07.]

CDC's Office of Public Health Research has announced the availability of $10 million for improving public health practice through translational research. Up to 28 awards will be funded; the average award is expected to be approximately $350,000-$450,000 per year including direct and indirect costs.

The specific objective of the funding opportunity is to conduct translational research using an evidence-based intervention or policy. Proposed research should identify: (1) impediments and/or facilitators to the successful translation of evidence-based public health intervention(s); (2) methodological tools for the successful translation of evidence-based programs, practices, or policies; that retain fidelity, and achieve positive outcomes for target populations; or (3) optimal strategies to enhance the widespread adoption and institutionalization of effective public health intervention programs.

One of the examples of specific topics of interest to CDC involves characterizing the factors necessary for the increased implementation of recommended prevention services of pregnant women infected with hepatitis B, their exposed newborns, and other family contacts.

Letters of intent are due by March 12 and applications by April 10.

To access a synopsis of this grant opportunity and other information, click here.
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March 7, 2007
JOURNAL ARTICLES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

The following recent journal articles present research related to viral hepatitis prevention or treatment.

"Effect of Exposure to Injection Drugs or Alcohol on Antigen-Specific Immune Responses in HIV and Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection"
Authors: Graham CS, Wells A, et al.
Source: J Infect Dis, March 15, 2007, Vol. 195(6):847-56
Click here for abstract.

"Potential Work-Related Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures by Industry and Occupation in the United States Part I: An Emergency Department-Based Surveillance Study"
Authors: Chen GX, Jenkins EL
Source: Am J Ind Med, February 8, 2007, Vol. 50(3):183-190
Click here for abstract.

"Higher Syringe Coverage is Associated with Lower Odds of HIV Risk and Does Not Increase Unsafe Syringe Disposal among Syringe Exchange Program Clients"
Authors: Bluthenthal RN, Anderson R, Flynn NM, Kral AH
Source: Drug Alcohol Depend, February 3, 2007
Click here for abstract.

"Design and Feasibility of a Randomized Behavioral Intervention to Reduce Distributive Injection Risk and Improve Health-Care Access among Hepatitis C Virus Positive Injection Drug Users: The Study to Reduce Intravenous Exposures (STRIVE)"
Authors: Kapadia F, Latka MH, et al.
Source: J Urban Health, January 2007, Vol. 84(1):99-115
Click here for abstract.

(The above abstract describes an intervention that included a video developed by Hepatitis Foundation International. The overall effect of the multiple interventions that included the video was to decrease injection risk behaviors and increase healthcare utilization among young, HCV-positive IDUs.)

"Cost-Effectiveness of Routine Childhood Vaccination for Hepatitis A in the United States"
Authors: Rein DB, Hicks KA, et al.
Source: Pediatrics, January 2007, Vol. 119:e12-e21
Click here for abstract.

"The Economics of Routine Childhood Hepatitis A Immunization in the United States: The Impact of Herd Immunity"
Authors: Armstrong GL, Billah K, et al.
Source: Pediatrics, January 2007, Vol. 119:e22-e29
Click here for abstract.

"Injection Drug Users in the United States, 1979–2002: An Aging Population"
Author: Armstrong GL
Source: Arch Intern Med, January 2, 2007, Vol. 167(2):166-173
Click here for abstract.

"The Contributions of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Infections to Cirrhosis and Primary Liver Cancer Worldwide"
Authors: Perz JF, Armstrong GL, et al.
Source: Journal of Hepatology, October 2006, Vol. 45(4):529-38
Click here for abstract.