phil@wubios.wustl.edu (J. Philip Miller) (12/14/90)
[the following was sent to me for posting = jpm] Date: Wed, 12 Dec 90 13:07 CDT From: <TS01@SWTEXAS.BITNET> There is a VERY interesting Hepatitis-B vaccination program at the University of Texas at Austin. The student health center is running display ads in the Daily Texan which are thinly veiled knockoffs of "Wheel of Fortune". A Vanna White cartoon character is pointing to an anagram spelling out Hepatitis-B. About half of Ms. White's God-given talents are emerging from the top of her cocktail dress. The text urges students who have had 2 or more sex partners in the last 6 months to get >>FREE<< HBV vaccinations while supplies last. The text goes on to observe that 10% of those infected with HBV go on to become chronic carriers and run the risk of really serious liver disease. Interestingly, there is no pitch to gay or bisexual men students. A call to the health center indicated that of 200 doses of the vaccine only 50 had been spoken for. I also learned that the guru of this program is Marjean Collins, M.D. Her number at the University of Penna health center is 215-662-2850. I think that it would be very good if pilot vaccination programs such as this one could be replicated at campuses across the country. Lives would certainly be saved!