September 1, 2009

August 31, 2010

1.0 Hours

Internet

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices releases an annual schedule of recommended vaccinations broken down by age. This activity provides an overview of the 2009 schedule for children ages 0 to 6 years, including the catch-up schedule. It also highlights three recent safety issues related to the early childhood immunizations: the development of three rotavirus vaccines; the development and monitoring of the combination measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine; and controversy surrounding autism in relation to immunizations. Although there has been some public debate over the safety and necessity of immunizations, vaccination programs in the United States have been cited as one of the greatest public health interventions of the last century, having dramatically reduced childhood mortality and improved quality of life. It is important to understand the immunization schedule and ensure that patients comply with the schedule to the extent possible, and to provide education to parents who may have concerns about routine pediatric vaccinations.

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of pediatricians, immunologists, primary care physicians, and ancillary pediatric healthcare professionals.

After completing this activity, the participant should be able to:

1. Describe the vaccines an infant should receive at his or her 4 month check-up.
2. List two possible ways to reduce the “needle stick” burden in a 12 to 15 month-old patient while complying with the vaccine schedule.
3. Identify the system used to detect febrile seizures following the licensure of the MMRV vaccine and state how the resulting data differed from prelicensure data.
4. Name three predictors of autism in children less than 1 year of age.

Steven Black, MD
Professor of Pediatrics and Infectious Disease
Center for Global Health
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Cincinnati, OH

Marguerite Mayers, MD
Course Director
Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Director of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic
Children’s Hospital at Montefiore
Bronx, NY

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Med Learning Group is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and serves as co-sponsor for this educational activity.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

For questions about CME credit, please contact the Center for Continuing Medical Education, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 718-920-6674, ext. 231.

This CME activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Essentials.

Contact the CME provider at Albert Einstein College of Medicine for privacy and confidentiality policy statement information at http://www.mecme.org/site/privacy.php.

There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period September 1, 2009, through August 31, 2010, participants must:

1. Read the educational objectives and faculty disclosures.
2. Study all parts of the educational activity.
3. Complete the posttest by recording the best answer to each question in the answer key on the evaluation form.
4. Submit the evaluation form online via iQueue.

To participate in this activity, please view the presentation and take the posttest. Fill in the answer sheet and evaluation form and submit online via iQueue. CME credit will be awarded if a score of 70% or better is achieved. You will receive your certificate instantly.

The “Conflict of Interest Disclosure Policy” of Albert Einstein College of Medicine requires that faculty participating in any CME activity disclose to the audience any relationship(s) with a pharmaceutical, product, or device company. Any presenter whose disclosed relationship proves to create a conflict of interest with regard to their contribution to the activity will not be permitted to present.

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine also requires that faculty participating in any CME activity disclose to the audience when discussing any unlabeled or investigational use of any commercial product or device not yet approved for use in the United States. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, CCME staff has no conflicts of interest with commercial interests related directly or indirectly to this educational activity.

Steven Black, MD
Consultant: Novartis
Member: Data Safety Monitoring Board, GlaxoSmithKline
Speakers’ Bureau: GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co., Inc.

Marguerite Mayers, MD, has nothing to disclose.

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Tara Hun-Dorris, MMC, ELS
Consultant: Victory Pharma, Inc.

Mildred Shields Adighiuzor of Albert Einstein College of Medicine Center for Continuing Medical Education has nothing to disclose.

Patrice Costello of Med Learning Group has nothing to disclose.

The Center for Continuing Medical Education of Albert Einstein College of Medicine makes every effort to develop CME activities that are scientifically based. This activity is designed for healthcare professionals for educational purposes. Conclusions drawn by the participants should be derived from careful consideration of all available scientific information. The participant should use his/her clinical judgment, knowledge, experience, and diagnostic decision-making before applying any information, whether provided here or by others, for any professional use.

Copyright © 2009 Med Learning Group