News in brief - Aug. 28, 2000

Possible flu vaccine shortage triggers half-dose consideration - Strategies to cut smoking rates - Breast cancer semipostal extended

Possible flu vaccine shortage triggers half-dose consideration

The expected shortfall in the influenza vaccine for the 2000-2001 flu season has prompted federal health officials to test whether half doses will provide enough protection for healthy individuals and ensure adequate supplies for those at risk for life-threatening influenza complications. Press reports indicate that six hospitals will recruit 840 volunteers for the clinical trial.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last month that manufacturers had experienced difficulties in growing one of the strains necessary for this year's vaccine. For now, CDC officials have urged public health groups and physicians to delay widespread vaccine campaigns.

Strategies to cut smoking rates

Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, PhD, released the first comprehensive review of tobacco use reduction strategies, saying implementation of these approaches could reduce tobacco use by half by 2010. The report, released at the 11th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health, calls for taxation of cigarettes to increase price and thereby reduce smoking. It also recommends that schools implement anti-smoking educational programs -- only 5% have. In addition, it reiterates physician-targeted smoking cessation guidelines released by the Public Health Service in June.

Breast cancer semipostal extended

The Breast Cancer Research Stamp will be on the market for two more years because of legislation signed last month by President Clinton to extend its life. The 40-cent semipostal was scheduled to go "off-sale" in July based on the original 1997 legislation that authorized its use. In the past two years, the U.S. Postal Service has printed 330 million of these stamps and sold about 215 million, raising more than $15.1 million for research.

The stamp is valid for first class postage, with the additional costs beyond reasonable administrative expenses earmarked for breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and Dept. of Defense.