Vaccine Preventable Diseases: Evidence and Strategies to Protect Our Communities

On Monday, July 13, 2009, the New Jersey Center for Public Health Preparedness at UMDNJ-School of Public Health tackled the controversies swirling around vaccines and recent state regulations requiring additional immunizations for pre-school and school-age children and youth, with an innovative day-long conference hosted simultaneously at Monmouth University, Montclair State University and Cumberland County College.

There were approximately 350 conference attendees across the three locations. Susan Walsh, MD, deputy commissioner, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS), delivered the welcoming remarks. Vaccine Safety Specialist Daniel N. Salmon, PhD, MPH, US Department of Health and Human Services, presented the opening keynote address entitled “Vaccine Acceptance, Refusal, and Public Health Implications.” His presentation described vaccine safety systems and how they work at the federal level. Other speakers included Janice Flood Nichols (photo), author and polio survivor; Peter Wenger, MD, associate professor, UMDNJ-NJ Medical School and UMDNJ-School of Public Health; Margaret C. Fisher, MD, medical director, The Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center; Erica J. Sison, MPH, public health advisor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Barbara Montana, MD, MPH, medical director, Vaccine Preventable Disease Program, NJDHSS.

All speakers were very well received with participants stating they were “top of their class”. Ms. Janice Flood Nichols received a standing ovation at the Monmouth University site for sharing her personal story of the loss of her twin brother to polio. Other topic areas included immunization requirements, current outbreaks of preventable diseases, and strategies to increase compliance and to address public concerns about immunizations.

For more information about the conference contact Juana Canela at canelaju@umdnj.edu or call (732) 235-4958

To view the conference agenda click on the attachment below.