Adult Vaccination Coverage Estimates Online

New adult vaccination coverage estimates from the 2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) are now available online at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ stats-surv/nhis/2009-nhis.htm. Estimates of vaccination coverage for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, herpes zoster (shingles), human papillomavirus, influenza (2008-09 season), pneumococcal disease, and tetanus with and without pertussis are presented overall and by selected characteristics (i.e., age, vaccination target group status, and race/ethnicity).

These estimates update the 2008 estimates published in July 2009 (1). NHIS is a national household survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population in the United States.

Reference

1. CDC. Vaccination coverage estimates from the National Health Interview Survey: United States, 2008. Adanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2009. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/vaccine_ coverage/vaccine_coverage.htm. Accessed November 5, 2010.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims - November 21, 2010

Approximately 1.3 million persons die and 20-50 million are injured in road traffic crashes each year worldwide (1). World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, November 2 1 , 20 1 0, is a day to remember those who died or were injured as a result of road traffic crashes and to show support to the disabled victims and their families who suffer because of road traffic injuries. Remembrance activities include memorial services and flower-laying ceremonies.

Road crashes are the leading cause of death among persons aged 5-34 years in the United States, the leading cause of death globally for persons aged 10-24 years, and the third leading cause of death globally among persons aged 30-44 years. The economic impact of road crashes also is substantial. In low- and middle-income countries, as classified by the World Bank, the annual cost of road traffic injuries is estimated at $100 billion dollars. Road traffic injuries cost countries an estimated l%-2% of their gross national product (2).

Most road traffic injuries are preventable by increasing helmet, seat belt, and child restraint use; reducing drunk-driving and speeding; and developing appropriate infrastructure, such as improved road layout and design. In designating every third Sunday of November as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, the United Nations also invited member states to implement the recommendations of the World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention (2), and to establish national lead agencies on road safety, along with plans to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries. In addition, the United Nations has designated 2011-2020 as the Global Decade of Action for Road Safety to address road traffic injury prevention and victim services.

Additional information on the day of remembrance is available at (http://www.worlddayofremembrance.org. Additional information on road safety is available from the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration (http://www.who.int/roadsafety/en/index.html), the Association for Safe International Road Travel (http://www.asirt.org), Make Roads Safe http://www.makeroadssafe.org), and CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/index.html).

References

1. World Health Organization. Global status report on road safety: time for action. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2009.

2. Peden M, Scurfield R, Sleet D, et al., eds. World Health Organization. World report on road traffic injury prevention. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2004..

National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry Available Online

On October 19, 2010, the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) launched the National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry web portal. ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. The registry provides a means of structured data collection that will help address uncertainty about the incidence and prevalence of ALS in the United States. The registry gathers patient information from existing electronic records (i.e., records from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department ofVeterans Affairs) as well as from patients who enter information directly into the web portal. The data also might provide insight into the role of the environment in the etiology of ALS. The purpose of the ALS Registry is to 1) better describe the incidence and prevalence of ALS in the United States; 2) examine factors, such as environmental and occupational exposures, that might be associated with the disease; 3) better outline key demographic factors (e.g., age, race/ ethnicity, sex, and family history) associated with the disease; and 4) facilitate examination of the connection between ALS and other motor neuron disorders that can be confused with ALS, misdiagnosed as ALS, and in some cases, progress to ALS.

The National ALS Registry web portal allows ALS patients to register and take online surveys about potential risk factors. ATSDR is encouraging all patients living with ALS to join the registry to help scientists learn more about the disease. In addition, clinicians can create an account to access continuing education modules. The National ALS Registry web portal is available at http://www.cdc.gov/als.