Vax Conference in Philadelphia Tomorrow

[Guest guest]

The Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Hosts National Symposium on Vaccine Safety

09/20/2001

PR Newswire

(Copyright © 2001, PR Newswire)

Immunization Experts to Address Current Controversies and Present New

Findings

WHO: A. Offit, M.D., Chief of Infectious Diseases and Director

of the Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of

Philadelphia, and other nationally recognized experts in

vaccine education and research.

WHAT: " Answering Parents' Questions About Vaccines, " the first in a

series of national vaccine safety symposia being offered by the

Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of

Philadelphia.

WHEN: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday, September 22

WHERE: Stokes Auditorium

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

34th Street and Civic Center Blvd.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

DETAILS:

Over the past few years parents have become increasingly concerned about

the

safety -- and necessity -- of childhood immunizations. As a result of

these

concerns, some parents have chosen to delay or withhold vaccines for

their

children. The Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of

Philadelphia was created to respond to the rapidly growing need of both

parents and healthcare professionals for accurate, up-to-date,

science-based

information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent.

As part of its educational outreach program, the Vaccine Education

Center

will be hosting a series of national symposia on vaccine-related issues.

The

first conference in the series, " Answering Parents' Questions about

Vaccines, " will bring together leading experts in the fields of vaccine

research and education to examine current controversies in vaccine

safety,

address new research on public perceptions of vaccines, and provide

healthcare professionals with the tools they need to address specific

parental concerns about vaccines. The conference program will include

presentations by several nationally recognized physician-scientists and

immunization professionals, including: -- A. Offit, M.D., Chief of

Infectious Diseases and Director of the

Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital, will address the

consequences of vaccine fears, including shortages of vaccine supply for

diseases such as influenza and tetanus that have recently been in the

news. He will also discuss current controversies in vaccine safety,

including an examination of the scientific studies surrounding vaccines

and autism.

-- Glen Nowak, Communications Director for the National Immunization

Program of the CDC, will present results from a new national survey

examining public perception of vaccines and vaccine safety. He will also

discuss a new research study undertaken by the CDC to examine the most

effective way to communicate vaccine information to parents at the time

of

vaccination.

-- Iskander, M.D., VAERS Project Officer in vaccine safety and

development for the National Immunization Program of the CDC, will

discuss

the effectiveness of pre- and post-licensure monitoring of vaccine

safety,

including monitoring systems such as the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting

System and the Vaccine Safety Datalink.

For more information, or to arrange an interview with conference

presenters,

please contact Baumgold, Public Relations Specialist, at (215)

590-4172.

CONTACT: Baumgold of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,

+1-215-590-4172. 13:30 EDT

Copyright © 2000 Dow & Company, Inc. .