ACIP LettersImportant Update: The ACIP has announced that the draft adult hepatitis B immunization recommendations will be considered at its next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, October 26 in Atlanta. See draft agenda. Why you should be concerned: Due to the universal vaccination of infants and children againat hepatitis B, hepatitis B rates have declined dramatically in the U.S. However, HBV rates continue to climb among persons aged 25 years or older--with gay men and African Americans disproportionately affected. The ACIP has not shared its draft hepatitis B immunization recommendations with any stakeholders since they were revised earlier this year. In addition, the committee is set to vote on the recommendations BEFORE the public comment period! Please join us in asking ACIP to delay their vote on the document until concerned stakeholders have an opportunity to review the recommendations and provide comments to ACIP members. These recommendations will set hepatitis B immunization policy for years to come— let's get them right!!! Take Action Asian Liver Center If you prefer you can add your Organization's name to our NVHR Organization's group ACIP letter. Click here to view the NVHR Organization's group ACIP letter. Click here to add your Organization's contact information to our NVHR Organization's group ACIP letter. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will consider the Adult recommendations on October 26-27 in Atlanta, GA. This document will define the nation's public and private sector hepatitis B vaccination and screening recommendations for years to come, and this is the first revision of the document in 14 years. As many of you know, NVHR advocates for a universal, age-based hepatitis B immunization recommendation. We believe that vaccinating adults is a necessary and important step to eliminating hepatitis B in the United States, and that a recommendation which endorses age-based, rather than risk-based immunization, is the most effective way to achieve this goal. The current draft recommendations stop short of recommending an age-based strategy and continue to endorse a "risk-based" strategy (e.g. incrarcerated persons, persons with multiple sex partners, men who have sex with men). The past 14 years have proven that risk-based immunization does not work. While we believe it is imperative to continue vaccination in risk-based settings, we need to expand our strategy to, make a REAL difference! NVHR joins the growing number of organizations and individuals who have voiced their concerns regarding a continued "risk-based only" approach to ACIP recommendations. We encourage all who have an interest in an age-based recommendation on this issue to also send a letter to the ACIP speaking for this. Sample letters from several organizations/individuals are posted below for your review.
To review a copy of the ACIP draft recommendations document, dated January 2005 (old but the only text available) please send your request electronically to (dconlon@taskforce.org) or by fax (404-371-1087) to Dick Conlon, NVHR Administrator. Agenda for the ACIP meeting can be found at the ACIP Website www.cdc.gov/nip/acip Instructions for how to send your
letter Larry Pickering, MD, You should cc: your letter to the following individuals: Jon Abramson, MD Louisa Chapman, MD Eric Mast, MD, MPH John W. Ward, MD Dee Gardner Mitchell L. Cohen, MD Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH Michael O. Leavitt For other ACIP contact information: |