Hattie Elizabeth Alexander
(1901-1968)

LINKS ON THIS PAGE
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/

• About CDC's National Immunization Program
  http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/default.htm

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.