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MMWR
Synopsis for July 14, 2000

MMWR articles are embargoed until 4 p.m. E.S.T. Thursdays.

  1. National and State-Specific Pregnancy Rates Among Adolescents — United States, 1995–1997
  2. Silicosis Screening in Surface Coal Miners — Pennsylvania, 1996–1997
  3. Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage Among Asian and Pacific Islander Children — United States, 1998
Notice to Readers
Delayed Supply of Influenza Vaccine and Adjunct ACIP Influenza Vaccine Recommendations for the 2000–01 Influenza Season
Lower than anticipated production yields for this year’s flu vaccine and manufacturing problems with some flu vaccine producers are expected to lead to a substantial delay in the distribution and supply of flu vaccine for the 2000–01 season. A more precise estimate of the vaccine supply will become clearer as production progresses during the summer.

Contact: Division of Media Relations
CDC, Office of Communication
(404) 639–3286


MMWR
Synopsis for July 14, 2000

National and State-Specific Pregnancy Rates Among Adolescents — United States, 1995–1997

The national pregnancy rate for teens 15–19 years of age continues to decline.

PRESS CONTACT: 
Mary Goodwin, M.A., M.P.A.

CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
(770) 488–5234
 
Pregnancy rates for adolescents aged 15–19 years declined nationally from 1995–1997, signaling a continued downward trend in adolescent pregnancy which began in the early 1990s. Decreases in state-specific pregnancy rates occurred in 40 of 43 areas for which data were available. Pregnancy rates declined in most reporting states for both black and white females aged 15–19, with no significant increases in any state for either group. The declining pregnancy rate is a product of decreases in both birth and abortion rates. This report is the first to provide state-specific adolescent pregnancy rates for 1995–1997. While the drop in adolescent pregnancy rates is good news, there are still over 800,000 pregnancies and almost 500,000 births to adolescents each year, and most of these teens are not ready for pregnancy, childbearing, or the demands of parenthood.

 

Silicosis Screening in Surface Coal Miners — Pennsylvania, 1996–1997

Pennsylvania’s surface coal miners, especially drillers, continue to be at high risk of developing silicosis.

PRESS CONTACT:
Gail McConnell, V.M.D., M.P.H.
CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health
(412) 386–4950
 
Silicosis, an irreversible and potentially fatal respiratory disease caused by inhaling dust that contains silica particles, continues to be an occupational health problem for surface coal miners in Pennsylvania, according to results of an X-ray survey program conducted by federal and state agencies. Evidence of silicosis was seen in chest X-rays for 6.7 percent of the 1250 Pennsylvania miners examined in the 1996-1997 program. This proportion increased to 46 percent among those miners who had more than 20 years of drilling experience, indicating that years of age and years of drilling experience are factors associated with increased risk. The findings underline the importance of preventing workers' exposure to silica dust through the use of "wet" drilling systems, dust collection systems, and/or use of enclosed, air-conditioned cabs with a filtered air supply on machinery.

 

Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage Among Asian and Pacific Islander Children — United States, 1998

Focused hepatitis B vaccination efforts need to continue for all Asian and Pacific Islander children aged 18 years and younger.

PRESS CONTACT:
Gary Euler, Dr. PH.

CDC, National Immunization Program
(404) 639–8742
 
Hepatitis B vaccination is especially important for Asian and Pacific Islander (API) children aged 18 years and younger because they have a much greater chance (20-30 times) than most other children in the United States of being infected by the hepatitis B virus from exposure in the home and suffering from the resulting liver disease and death later in life. Recent studies show that almost 90% of younger API children (those born after 1993) receive the 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine series before the age of 3 years, while only about 40% of older API children (those born before 1994) have received the vaccine. These findings suggest the need for continued and enhanced focus on hepatitis B vaccination programs for this population.
 
 

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