CDC, Keystone Center seek public input on H1N1 vaccinations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to hold two Web dialogues on its voluntary fall vaccination program against the H1N1 pandemic influenza virus, otherwise known as swine flu. Also, the Keystone, Colo.-based Keystone Center will hold meetings in 10 communities to discuss the CDC vaccination program.
The CDC is looking for public input as it helps state and local health organizations develop vaccination programs. The dialogues are scheduled for Aug. 26-27 and Aug. 31-Sept. 1, and interested parties may register at http://www.webdialogues.net/pub/htdocs/h1n1home.htm. Participants are expected to review background material about H1N1 so they can thoughtfully discuss the values and priorities of vaccination programs, and to provide input through a survey, poll and evaluation. The new strain of flu has killed 436 people and led to more than 6,500 hospitalizations in the United States as of August, according to the CDC.
The Keystone Center, a non-profit agency that seeks to resolve the nation’s environmental, energy and public health problems, has scheduled meetings to discuss the vaccination program in several communities. The schedule for the meetings is:
- Aug. 8 — Denver and Lincoln, Neb.
- Aug. 15 — Birmingham, Ala.; Vincennes, Ind.; and Sacramento, Calif.
- Aug. 22 — El Paso, Texas; Bucks County, Pa.; and New York
- Aug. 29 — Spokane, Wash., and Somerville, Mass.
To register for any of the meetings, go to http://www.keystone.org/h1n1.
