Home > Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility > Hattie Alexander
Hattie Elizabeth Alexander
(1901-1968)
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Overview
Education and Training
Career Path
Selected Achievements
Immunization and Meningitis Today
CDC's Role
Tips to Reduce Your Risk for Infectious Diseases, Including
Meningitis
Related Links
Overview
Hattie
Elizabeth Alexander was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1901. She made
significant contributions through her research in meningitis and her
development of a Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) antiserum.
She died of cancer in 1968.
Education and Training
- Bachelor's
degree in bacteriology and physiology from Goucher College
- Medical
degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- Internship
in pediatrics at Baltimore's Harriet Lane Home
- Residency
in pediatrics at New York City's Babies Hospital
Career Path
- Public
health bacteriologist for the national Public Health Service and its state
counterpart in Maryland
- Instructor
in pediatrics at New York City's Babies Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian
Medical Center
- Teacher,
researcher, and practicing physician in association with Columbia
Selected Achievements
- Set a
profession-wide standard in the microbiology laboratory at Babies Hospital
- Developed
an antiserum against Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib), which
led to a significant reduction in the infant death rate
- Became the
first woman president of the American Pediatric Society
Immunization and Meningitis Today
Immunization
has been cited as one of the top public health achievements of the 20th
century. Smallpox no longer exists. The threat of polio is close to being
eradicated. The number of measles cases in the United States is at an
all-time low. Before the 1990s, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, but new vaccines being given
to children as part of their routine immunizations have reduced the
occurrence of Hib disease.
CDC's Role
CDC continues
to build on the work done by Hattie Alexander.
CDC conducts
surveillance, epidemic investigations, epidemiologic and laboratory
research, training, and public education programs to develop, evaluate, and
promote prevention and control strategies for infectious diseases.
Activities include:
- Detecting,
investigating, and monitoring emerging pathogens, the diseases they cause,
and the factors influencing their emergence through surveillance and
response
- Optimizing
public health practice through applied research
-
Strengthening our nation’s pubic health capacity for outbreak detection
and response through infrastructure and training
- Ensuring
prompt implementation of prevention strategies and enhancing communication
of public health information about emerging diseases through prevention
and control
- Providing
health departments with resources for building epidemiology and laboratory
capacity
CDC also
provides leadership for the planning, coordination, and conduct of
immunization activities. Activities include:
- Providing
consultation, training, statistical, promotional, educational,
epidemiological, and technical services to assist health departments in
planning, developing, and implementing immunization programs
- Supporting
the establishment of vaccine supply contracts for vaccine distribution to
state and local immunization programs
- Assisting
health departments in developing vaccine information management systems
to: facilitate identification of children who need vaccinations; help
parents and providers ensure that all children are immunized at the
appropriate age; assess vaccination levels in state and local areas; and
monitor the safety and efficacy of vaccines by linking vaccine
administration information with adverse event reporting and disease
outbreak patterns
-
Administering research and operational programs for the prevention and
control of vaccine-preventable diseases
- Supporting
a nationwide framework for effective surveillance of designated diseases
for which effective immunizing agents are available
-
Supervising state and local assignees working on immunization activities
Tips to Reduce Your Risk for Infectious Diseases, Including Meningitis
- Talk to
your health care provider about immunizations. Both children and
adults need immunizations for protection against many infectious diseases.
For example, it is recommended that children get the Hib vaccine before
their first birthday to protect them from getting this form of bacterial
meningitis. Discuss whether or not you should be vaccinated for certain
forms of meningitis and other diseases depending on your age, travel
plans, medical conditions, and other factors.
- Wash
your hands frequently, and remind others to do the same. You and your
family should use soap and water for 15-20 seconds (long enough to sing
the "Happy Birthday" song twice) before, during, and after you prepare
food, before you eat, after you use the bathroom, after handling animals
or animal waste, when your hands are dirty, and more frequently when you
are around someone who is sick. Alcohol-based hand rubs may be used as an
alternative.
- See
your healthcare provider if you are exposed to an infectious disease,
including meningitis. Infectious diseases remain a major cause of
death around the world. Old and new emerging infectious diseases can cause
mild to severe illness. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or
bacterial infection. Viral meningitis is generally less severe and
resolves without specific treatment. Bacterial meningitis can be quite
severe, but antibiotics can prevent some types from spreading and
infecting other people. Your health care provider can develop a plan of
action with you if you are exposed to an infectious disease.
Related Links
Alexander, Hattie Elizabeth*
http://search.eb.com/women/articles/Alexander_Hattie_Elizabeth.html
(Non-CDC site)
An Ounce of Prevention Keeps the
Germs Away*
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/op/
CDC's National Center for Infectious
Diseases
http://www.cdc.gov/ncid
CDC's National Immunization Program
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
Childhood and
Adolescent Immunization Schedule*
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm
Fast Stats:
Infectious Diseases
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/infectis.htm
Frequently
Asked Questions on Hib Vaccine*
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hib/vac-faqs-hcp.htm
Haemophilus influenzae Serotype b (Hib) Disease: Technical
Information*
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/haeminfluserob_t.htm
Importance of Childhood Immunization
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/importance.htm
Meningitis Topics
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/submenus/sub_meningitis.htm
Meningococcal Disease*
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_g.htm
Meningococcal
Vaccine Topics
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mening/default.htm
National Infant Immunization
Week
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/default.htm
Parents Guide
to Childhood Immunization
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/parents-guide/default.htm
Today in Science History: April 5
Births, Hattie Elizabeth Alexander*
http://www.todayinsci.com (Non-CDC site)
*Used as a
source for this Web page.
This site contains documents in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader
to access the file. If you do not have the Acrobat Reader, you may download a
free copy from the
Adobe Web site.
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This page
last reviewed March 26, 2004
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/women/owh/history/alexander.htm
US
Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office of Women's Health
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