SAN FRANCISCO, May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Walter A. Orenstein, MD, director of Emory University’s Program for Vaccine Policy and Development, presented the Stanley A. Plotkin Lecture in Vaccinology at this year’s meeting of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS).
Dr. Orenstein’s lecture, “Measles and the Building of National Immunization Program,” recalled the CDC’s immunization efforts to eliminate indigenous measles transmission within the United States between the mid-1960s and the mid-1990s. Success was finally declared in 2000. The emphasis on measles led to the development and implementation of the major components of the modern immunization program, a program that has achieved record highs in immunization coverage and record lows for most vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Walter Orenstein’s work in infectious diseases and global immunization and his service to public health are inspiring,” said Joseph W. St. Geme, III, MD, president of PIDS. “We are grateful for his lifelong contributions and consider it a privilege to acknowledge him by awarding him this year’s Stanley A. Plotkin Lecture.”
The lecture was established in 2003 in recognition of the remarkable career of Dr. Plotkin, PIDS’ “founding father,” and his legacy in the field of immunization. It is sponsored by sanofi pasteur.
“It is especially fitting that we honor Dr. Orenstein, who is Dr. Plotkin’s co-editor on ‘Vaccines,’ undoubtedly the definitive textbook on immunization,” Dr. St. Geme remarked.
About Dr. Orenstein
Dr. Orenstein has devoted his career to worldwide immunization against infectious diseases. Currently, he is director of Emory University’s Program for Vaccine Policy and Development and associate director of the Emory Vaccine Center. Prior to joining Emory in March 2004, he had a 26-year career at the CDC. He was director of the agency’s National Immunization Program, where he led successful efforts combating the occurrence of childhood diseases and protecting adults from vaccine-preventable diseases. Major policies adopted during his tenure include recommendations for a second dose of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine for all children; universal vaccination of children against Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, varicella and invasive pneumococcal disease; and annual influenza vaccination of all 50-64 year-old adults and 6-23 month-old children.
Dr. Orenstein is a member of the International Editorial Board for the journal Vaccine. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases Society of America and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
About the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society is a not-for-profit organization. Its purpose is to enhance the health of infants, children and adolescents by promoting excellence in diagnosis, management and prevention of infectious diseases through clinical care, education, research and advocacy. Its members are physicians, doctoral-level scientists and others who have training in infectious diseases or its related disciplines and who are identified with the discipline of pediatric infectious diseases or its related disciplines through clinical practice, research, teaching or administration. For more information, please visit: http://www.pids.org.
Contact: Jennifer Corrigan
Cooney/Waters Group (732) 382-8898
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS)
CONTACT: Jennifer Corrigan of Cooney/Waters Group, +1-732-382-8898, forPediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS)
Web site: http://www.pids.org/
