PDA Users: Download 2008 Shots Schedules for Kids, Teens

Thanks to a program spearheaded by the Group on Immunization Education of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, or STFM, PDA users now can download compact versions of the latest immunization schedules for children and teens to their Palm OS or Pocket PC handheld devices at no cost.

"Shots 2008" is a quick reference guide to the 2008 Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedules, a collaboration of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the AAFP and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Also included in the Shots 2008 download is the 2007-08 Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule.

The free Shots 2008 package, which was developed in cooperation with the CDC, lets users access additional details on each vaccine listed in the schedules -- such as high-risk indications, contraindications, administration specifics, catch-up information and potential adverse reactions -- simply by tapping on the vaccine name.

And for physicians seeking a user-friendly online source for the latest immunization recommendations, Shots 2008 On-Line offers all the same up-to-date information -- also at no charge.

STFM's Group on Immunization Education seeks to enhance the knowledge of family medicine educators by providing them with relevant, timely and readily accessible information and resources about immunizations, along with strategies to transmit this knowledge to students and residents. The annual quick reference guides represent the fruits of a partnership between STFM and mobile medical information purveyor Skyscape Inc.