Houston Area Immunization Partnership

Advisory Board Kick-off Meeting

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:54:52 GMT

Advisory Board Kick-off Meeting
Start Date: 17-Feb-09 4:00 PM
End Time: 17-Feb-09 5:30 PM
Location: United Way, Houston, TX 77007
Speaker:

United Way

50 Waugh Drive

Houston, TX 77007

Opinion: Innoculated Against the Facts

noemail@immunizehouston.org — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Opinion: Inoculated Against Facts
By Paul A. Offit
New York Times
March 31, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/opinion/31offit.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

ON March 6, Terry and Jon Poling stood outside a federal courthouse in Atlanta, Ga., with their 9-year-old daughter Hannah and announced that the federal government had admitted that vaccines had contributed to her autism. The news was shocking. Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and at the American Academy of Pediatrics have steadfastly assured the public that vaccines do not cause autism. Now, in a special vaccine claims court, the federal government appeared to have said exactly the opposite. What happened?

The answer is wrapped up in the nature of the unusual court where the Poling case was heard. In 1986, after a flood of lawsuits against vaccine makers threatened the manufacture of vaccines for children, Congress created the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, financed by a tax on every dose of vaccine.

As part of the program, a group of scientists, doctors and lawyers listed all the health problems that might be linked to vaccines. The oral polio vaccine could in rare cases cause paralysis, for example, and an early version of the rotavirus vaccine might cause intestinal blockage. (In the interest of full disclosure: I am a co-inventor and co-patent holder of a newer rotavirus vaccine.)

If, at a trial in a special court, a preponderance of scientific evidence suggested that a vaccine caused one of these problems, a family would be compensated quickly, generously and fairly. Because no one could sue vaccine makers without going through this special court, the number of lawsuits against vaccine makers fell drastically.

The system worked fine until a few years ago, when vaccine court judges turned their back on science by dropping preponderance of evidence as a standard. Now, petitioners need merely propose a biologically plausible mechanism by which a vaccine might cause harm - even if their explanation contradicts published studies. In 2006, for example, Dorothy Werderitsh claimed in the vaccine court that a hepatitis B vaccine had triggered an autoimmune response in her brain that led to multiple sclerosis. Two large studies had clearly shown that hepatitis B vaccine could neither cause nor exacerbate multiple sclerosis, but the court ruled in favor of Ms. Werderitsh, elevating a hypothesis above epidemiological evidence.

The Hannah Poling case is similar. In 2000, when Hannah was 19 months old, she received five shots against nine infectious diseases. Over the next several months, she developed symptoms of autism. Subsequent tests showed that Hannah has a mitochondrial disorder - her cells are unable to adequately process nutrients - and this contributed to her autism. An expert who testified in court on the Polings' behalf claimed that the five vaccines had stressed Hannah's already weakened cells, worsening her disorder. Without holding a hearing on the matter, the court conceded that the claim was biologically plausible.

On its face, the expert's opinion makes no sense. Even five vaccines at once would not place an unusually high burden on a child's immune system. The Institute of Medicine has found that multiple vaccines do not overwhelm or weaken the immune system. And although natural infections can worsen symptoms of chronic neurological illnesses in children, vaccines are not known to.

"There is no evidence that children with mitochondrial enzyme deficiencies are worsened by vaccines," Salvatore DiMauro, a professor of neurology at Columbia who is the nation's leading expert on the disorder, told me. Indeed, children like Hannah Poling who are especially susceptible to infections are most likely to benefit from vaccines.

Supporters of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program argue reasonably that the program should err on the side of overcompensation - a relief valve that is needed in a society that mandates vaccines. But there is a price for this largesse. In the past few years, parents of 4,800 autistic children have filed claims to the vaccine court which have yet to be heard. And average awards in other recent vaccine cases have been more than $800,000. Furthermore, because uncompensated claims in vaccine court can spill into state courts, the Poling decision will likely draw more personal-injury lawyers to the fray. "It's a beginning," said Kevin Conway, a Boston-based lawyer who represents more than 1,200 families with vaccine injury claims.

The vaccine court should return to the preponderance-of-evidence standard. But much damage has already been done by the Poling decision. Parents may now worry about vaccinating their children, more autism research money may be steered toward vaccines and away from more promising leads and, if similar awards are made in state courts, pharmaceutical companies may abandon vaccines for American children. In the name of trying to help children with autism, the Poling decision has only hurt them.

Paul A. Offit, chief of the infectious diseases division of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, is the author of "Vaccinated: One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases."

2-Apr-08 12:00 PM

Houston Area Immunization Partnership Gelb Share Award

noemail@immunizehouston.org — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Gelb Recognized as Top Corporate Citizen for Immunization Brand The Houston marketing community recognized the brand launch of the Houston Area Immunization Partnership at the 2008 American Marketing Association Crystal Awards. Gelb Consulting Group, one of our dedicated partners, received an award for Corporate Citizenship competing with a host of well-qualified entries. The AMA Crystal Award is heavily weighted toward results, which Gelb helped us achieve. By working with Gelb, the Houston Area Immunization Partnership has clarified its mission, created an exciting visual identity, launched a new website, www.immunizehouston.org, and renewed partner enthusiasm. In 2007, we sought to build consensus around a unifying idea, one that aligned our community partners and expanded our potential beyond the management of the Houston Harris County Immunization Registry. Gelb led our board through a process to create the Houston Area Immunization Partnership. It is certainly a well...

Immunization Partnership Gains Executive Director

noemail@immunizehouston.org — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:15:00 GMT

In keeping with the new mission of the Houston Area Immunization Partnership, a new Executive Director has been hired who has the skills and vision to take the organization in its new direction. Anna C. Dragsbaek, who has been serving as a part-time interim Director, will assume the Executive Director position on April 4.

Anna comes to us from Texas Children's Hospital, where she was the Manager of the Immunization Project since 2005. There she was involved in collaborative community projects promoting immunization, as well as legislative advocacy work, immunization registry support, outreach to physician offices, and policy issues to support immunization of Houston's children. Anna provided leadership and oversight for the Immunization Project, engaging in public health and policy research, health education, and implementation of the Houston-Harris County Immunization Registry. Prior to becoming Manager, Anna was the Immunization Registry Coordinator.

Anna obtained a Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center in May, 2006 and was admitted to the Texas Bar in November, 2006. She has studied International and Family Health at the University of Texas School of Public Health.

Frankie Milley Honored by Partnership

noemail@immunizehouston.org — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Frankie Milley will be honored by the Houston Area Immunization Partnership for her public service in promoting vaccinations. Frankie and Bob Milley's only son Ryan died from meningococcal meningitis. As a result of Ryan’s death, Milley founded Meningitis Angels, a nonprofit group which has become an international network of education, survivor communication and service. Meningitis Angels currently represents over 500 Angels and families across the U.S. and over 50 abroad. Milley has created a teen awareness group called the Vaccinators to educate other teens, and a big bear character called Beary Wise to educate children on the importance of disease prevention through healthy living and immunizations. She helped to write Texas Senate Bill 31 which helped Texas become the first state in the country which educates students of all ages on bacterial meningitis. Along with other parents across the country, Milley helped to establish meningitis vaccine recommendations for college...

Houston Organization to Address Immunization Issues

noemail@immunizehouston.org — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:00:00 GMT

The Houston Area Immunization Partnership will launch its new mission and scope of operations on April 24th. The organization is committed to addressing a wide range of immunization issues to ensure that our community is protected from deadly vaccine preventable diseases. Dr. Carole Baker, member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and noted author of the Red Book will speak on "Immuninzation: Truth or Consequences". Frankie Milly, Founder of Meningitis Angels, will be an honored for her advocacy work on vaccine policy. The event is co-hosted by the Rotary Club of Houston at their weekly luncheon at 11:30 on Thurdsday, April 24th at the Junior League, located at 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston TX 77027. Click here to view an invitation to the luncheon. All are welcome to attend. Please RSVP.

Monday - January 5, 2009

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:48:54 GMT

Star Gazette (New York) : HPV not just a threat to women, research shows Monday, January 5, 2009 — In men, HPV may cause genital warts and cancer. Although cervical cancer is more prevalent than the penile and anal cancers that arise in men due to HPV, men are nonetheless afflicted by these cancers. More common, however, are the cases of head and neck cancers in men that are linked to the virus. Although they were once solely attributed to drinking and smoking, head and neck cancers resulting from HPV are becoming increasingly prevalent among younger men. Moreover, the male role in spreading HPV to women cannot be overlooked. Not only will a vaccination for men prevent these diseases, but it will also inevitably decrease the prevalence of HPV in women and cervical cancer. Full Article NPR: Defending Vaccines: Actress Dispels Link To Autism Tuesday, December 11, 2008 — A movie star and a prominent scientist have teamed up to reassure the public that childhood vaccines are safe and...

Houston Area Immunization Partnership Staff

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:47:35 GMT

Executive Director Anna C. Dragsbaek, J.D. Anna C. Dragsbaek became aware of the critical role that vaccines play in the health of a community when she worked in a rural hospital as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Watching children suffer from vaccine-preventable diseases, such as tetanus, measles and polio, was an experience that left a deep impression on Anna. Later, Anna lived in China where she again witnessed people suffering from vaccine-preventable diseases, including severe influenza. Upon returning to the United States and settling in Houston, Anna pursued her law degree, specializing in Public Health law. While completing her law degree, Anna worked as Manager of the Immunization Project at Texas Children's Hospital where she focused on implementing projects to boost immunization rates and on analyzing immunization law and policies. As the Executive Director of the Houston Area Immunization Partnership, Anna...

Upcoming Events

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:55:57 GMT

CDC National Immunization Conference

March 30 – April 2, 2009
Dallas Texas

From the CDC NIC 2009 Website:

The goals of the Conference are to provide information that will help participants provide comprehensive immunization coverage for all age groups and explore innovative strategies for developing programs, policy, and research to promote immunization coverage for all age groups. The Conference Education Program Objective is: To bring together a wide variety of local, state, federal, and private-sector immunization partners to explore science, policy, education, and planning issues related to immunization in general and vaccine-preventable disease. During three and a half days of plenary sessions and workshops, many topics will be discussed, including:

Adolescent Immunization
Adult Immunization
Assessment
Barriers to Vaccination
Community and Partnerships
Childhood Immunization
Cultural Diversity
Global Immunization
Surveillance
Health Communications
Health Education
Policy and Legislation
New Vaccines and Vaccine Development
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Vaccine Safety
Immunization Registries

Official Conference Webpage

Our Board

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:27:56 GMT

Executives Melanie E Mouzoon, M.D. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic President (biography) Kimberly Cotner David Baylor College of Medicine President-elect (biography) Barry L Zietz, M.D. Houston Pedatric Society Past-President (biography) Julie A. Boom, M.D. Medical Director, Houston-Harris County Immunization Registry Chair of Registry Committee (biography) John M. McKeever Gelb Consulting Group, Inc. Secretary (biography) Barron P. Bogatto Jackson Walker L.L.P. Chair of the Legal Committee (biography) Melinda M. Grady Treasurer Directors Patricia Gray ...

Immunization Registries

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:22:00 GMT

Immunization registries allow children's shot records to be viewed by authorized medical personnel and indicate vaccines which are due, thereby keeping kids protected and avoiding duplicate immunizations. This saves healthcare dollars and prevents disease outbreaks.

The Houston Area Immunization Partnership encourages the use of the Texas immunization registry, ImmTrac.

Paul Offit - Current Events in Immunizations

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:57:56 GMT

Friday 1.15 Pm Paul Offit Current Events In Immunizations

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

Return to Summit Report

Dan Walters - Round Table Discussion

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:57:23 GMT

Saturday Round Table Dan Walters V1

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

Return to Summit Report

Kathleen Cain - AAP Vaccine Financing Strategies and Resources for Physicians

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:56:59 GMT

Saturday 8.30 Pm Kathleen Cain Aap Vaccine Financing Strategies And Resources For Physicians

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

Return to Summit Report

Therese Hoyle - Lifespan Registry

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:56:34 GMT

Friday 3.30 Pm Therese Hoyle Lifespan Registry

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

Return to Summit Report

Gary Urquhart - National Overview of Registries, Phase II

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:56:07 GMT

Friday 3.30 Pm Gary Urquhart National Overview, Registries Phase Ii

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own.

Return to Summit Report

Lorem ipsum survey

noemail@immunizehouston.org — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:51:21 GMT

Objectives:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diem nonummynibh euismod tincidunt ut lacreet dolore magna aliguam erat volutpat. Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tution ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis te feugifacilisi.

Duis autem dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit au gue duis dolore te feugat nulla facilisi.

Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci taion ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex en commodo consequat. Duis te feugifacilisi per suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex en commodo consequat.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diem nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut lacreet dolore magna aliguam erat volutpat.

Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci

Release Date: 30-Jan-08 9:51 AM
Expiration Date: 30-Apr-08 9:51 AM

Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci

Dr. Baker, Dr. Mouzoon, Frankie Milley, Anna C. Dragsbaek

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:01:01 GMT