CDC - Partnership Matters Newsletter: October 21, 2009

A Message from the Editor

October 21, 2009

Photo: A vaccine being administered Now that the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines are available, CDC would like to provide updates to its partners on vaccine safety and CDC's vaccine safety monitoring system. CDC expects the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to have a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccines, which have very good safety track records. Already, the 2009 H1N1 influenza and seasonal flu vaccines have not been associated with any unexpected adverse events. Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza infection and its complications.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC closely monitor the safety of all vaccines licensed for use in the United States, including seasonal influenza vaccines, in cooperation with state and local health departments, healthcare providers and other partners. Additional special monitoring is occurring to assure that any rare side effects of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine are detected as soon as possible.

The purpose of vaccine safety monitoring is timely identification of any clinically significant adverse events following immunization, as well as to provide timely information to the public, vaccine providers, public health officials and policy makers.

CDC and its partners will use several systems to monitor the safety of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. One primary system that will be used is the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is jointly operated with the FDA. To assist state and local health departments in getting the word out about reporting adverse events to VAERS, CDC has developed a template that can be e-mailed or sent standard mail to local healthcare providers. Visit CDC’s 2009 H1N1 Flu page for information on the safety of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.

Additionally, CDC will conduct surveillance of adverse events through partnerships with other federal agencies, professional organizations and academic institutions.

For more information on vaccine safety monitoring, contact CDC-INFO at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), TTY: (888) 232-6348 or cdcinfo@cdc.gov.

Warm Regards,

CDC Partnerships

CDC Headlines

CDC’s H1N1 Flu Information a Click Away
What should I do if my child is sick? When is an employee too sick to work? What does CDC recommend this season regarding testing for influenza? Where can I get ready-made brochures and flyers on H1N1? All these questions and more are answered on CDC’s 2009 H1N1 Flu site. >> read the full text

Women with Disabilities and Breast Cancer
Most women are likely to have regular mammogram screenings; however, women with disabilities are less likely to have been screened within the recommended guidelines. CDC is promoting the facts about breast cancer as well as tips and materials to make getting a quality mammogram and clinical examination easier through its campaign "Breast Cancer Screening: The Right to Know." The materials can assist healthcare professionals, organizations and their partners to effectively communicate the need for early and regular breast cancer screening for women living with physical disabilities. >> read the full text

Secondhand Smoke: Making Sense of the Evidence
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Nearly three of four U.S. adults have at least one major risk factor for heart disease. Yet, only 40 percent of Americans live in areas with comprehensive state or local laws that ban smoking in public places. A new report, Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Effects: Making Sense of the Evidence, released October 15, provides a comprehensive review of the science on the relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and acute coronary events. >> read the full text

Events and Seminars

All events and seminars listed are open to CDC's partners. For more information, contact the POC listed. >> read the full text

October 2009
2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference
Hosted by CDC's National Center for Environmental Health, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and National Environmental Health Association
October 26–28

December 2009
15th Annual Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Conference
Hosted by CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health
December 9–11

CDC Personnel

Retirements
Kimberly Geissman, MS, MSEd, retired September 30, after 40 years of civil service—37 of those years dedicated to public health (and 21 years at CDC).

Deaths
Former CDC employee Loraine Good, who worked as a scientific writer/editor in the Epidemiology Program Office, died October 4, after a long battle with cancer.

Former CDC employee Army Captain Ben Sklaver, along with one of his men, was killed in a suicide bombing attack on Friday, Oct 2, in Afghanistan.

Get Informed

CDC’s Organizational Improvements

H1N1 Flu Press Briefings

Join CDC’s Leadership Team

Subscribe to CDC Partnership Matters

CDC Partnership Matters: Reader's Feedback
The bi-weekly update is prepared by CDC's Division of Partnership and Strategic Alliances. Readers are welcome to comment by
e-mail to cdcpartnerships@cdc.gov.


IN THIS ISSUE A Message from the Editor Vaccine Safety Monitoring CDC Headlines CDC’s H1N1 Flu Resources a Click Away Women with Disabilities and Breast Cancer Secondhand Smoke: Making Sense of the Evidence Events and Seminars October 2009 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference December 2009 15th Annual Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Conference CDC Personnel Retirements Deaths Get Informed CDC’s Organizational Improvements H1N1 Flu Press Briefings Join CDC’s Leadership Team Subscribe Subscribe to CDC Partnership Matters	A Message from the Editor October 21, 2009 Now that the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines are available, CDC would like to provide updates to its partners on vaccine safety and CDC's vaccine safety monitoring system. CDC expects the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to have a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccines, which have very good safety track records. Already, the 2009 H1N1 influenza and seasonal flu vaccines have not been associated with any unexpected adverse events. Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza infection and its complications. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC closely monitor the safety of all vaccines licensed for use in the United States, including seasonal influenza vaccines, in cooperation with state and local health departments, healthcare providers and other partners. Additional special monitoring is occurring to assure that any rare side effects of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine are detected as soon as possible. The purpose of vaccine safety monitoring is timely identification of any clinically significant adverse events following immunization, as well as to provide timely information to the public, vaccine providers, public health officials and policy makers. CDC and its partners will use several systems to monitor the safety of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. One primary system that will be used is the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is jointly operated with the FDA. To assist state and local health departments in getting the word out about reporting adverse events to VAERS, CDC has developed a template that can be e-mailed or sent standard mail to local healthcare providers. Visit CDC’s 2009 H1N1 Flu page for information on the safety of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Additionally, CDC will conduct surveillance of adverse events through partnerships with other federal agencies, professional organizations and academic institutions. For more information on vaccine safety monitoring, contact CDC-INFO at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), TTY: (888) 232-6348 or cdcinfo@cdc.gov. Warm Regards, CDC Partnerships CDC Headlines CDC’s H1N1 Flu Information a Click Away What should I do if my child is sick? When is an employee too sick to work? What does CDC recommend this season regarding testing for influenza? Where can I get ready-made brochures and flyers on H1N1? All these questions and more are answered on CDC’s 2009 H1N1 Flu site. >> read the full text Women with Disabilities and Breast Cancer Most women are likely to have regular mammogram screenings; however, women with disabilities are less likely to have been screened within the recommended guidelines. CDC is promoting the facts about breast cancer as well as tips and materials to make getting a quality mammogram and clinical examination easier through its campaign "Breast Cancer Screening: The Right to Know." The materials can assist healthcare professionals, organizations and their partners to effectively communicate the need for early and regular breast cancer screening for women living with physical disabilities. >> read the full text Secondhand Smoke: Making Sense of the Evidence Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Nearly three of four U.S. adults have at least one major risk factor for heart disease. Yet, only 40 percent of Americans live in areas with comprehensive state or local laws that ban smoking in public places. A new report, Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Effects: Making Sense of the Evidence, released October 15, provides a comprehensive review of the science on the relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and acute coronary events. >> read the full text Events and Seminars All events and seminars listed are open to CDC's partners. For more information, contact the POC listed. >> read the full text October 2009 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference Hosted by CDC's National Center for Environmental Health, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and National Environmental Health Association October 26–28 December 2009 15th Annual Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Conference Hosted by CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health December 9–11 CDC Personnel Retirements Kimberly Geissman, MS, MSEd, retired September 30, after 40 years of civil service—37 of those years dedicated to public health (and 21 years at CDC). Deaths Former CDC employee Loraine Good, who worked as a scientific writer/editor in the Epidemiology Program Office, died October 4, after a long battle with cancer. Former CDC employee Army Captain Ben Sklaver, along with one of his men, was killed in a suicide bombing attack on Friday, Oct 2, in Afghanistan. Get Informed CDC’s Organizational Improvements H1N1 Flu Press Briefings Join CDC’s Leadership Team Subscribe Subscribe to CDC Partnership Matters CDC Partnership Matters: Reader's Feedback The bi-weekly update is prepared by CDC's Division of Partnership and Strategic Alliances. Readers are welcome to comment by e-mail to cdcpartnerships@cdc.gov.