CDC published Pneumococcal Vaccine for Adults Aged ≥19 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2023 in the September 8 issue of MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.

ACIP recommendations specify the use of either PCV20 alone or PCV15 in series with PPSV23 for all adults aged ≥65 years and for adults aged 19–64 years with certain underlying medical conditions or other risk factors who have not received a PCV or whose vaccination history is unknown. In addition, ACIP recommends use of either a single dose of PCV20 or ≥1 dose of PPSV23 for adults who have started their pneumococcal vaccine series with PCV13 but have not received all recommended PPSV23 doses. Shared clinical decision-making is recommended regarding use of a supplemental PCV20 dose for adults aged ≥65 years who have completed their recommended vaccine series with both PCV13 and PPSV23.

Updated and new clinical guidance for implementation from CDC includes the recommendation for use of PCV15 or PCV20 for adults who have received PPSV23 but have not received any PCV dose. The report also includes clinical guidance for adults who have received 7-valent PCV (PCV7) only and adults who are hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.



Related Link

• MMWR's main page provides access to the MMWR family of publications

CDC published a new clinical job aid titled Shared Clinical Decision-Making (SCDM): RSV Vaccination for Adults 60 Years and Older. 



CDC notes that "adults 60 years of age and older now have the option to receive one dose of RSV vaccine based on a SCDM process between a patient and their healthcare provider. Consider multiple factors when discussing RSV vaccination with your patients. SCDM recommendations are optional and are informed by whether the patient has any risk factors for severe RSV disease; a patient’s risk of exposure to RSV; a patient’s preferences for RSV vaccination; and the clinical discretion of the healthcare provider."

Related Links

• CDC: Shared Clinical Decision-Making (SCDM): RSV Vaccination for Adults 60 Years and Older
• CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) main page
• MMWR: Use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines in Older Adults: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2023 (7/21/23)

CDC published Health Care Provider Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Adult Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Recommendations—United States, September 28–October 10, 2022 in the September 8 issue of MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.

A survey of vaccine providers before the October 2022 ACIP meeting identified knowledge gaps and implementation challenges in existing recommendations. Respondents agreed with expanding the recommendations for 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to adults at high risk who had received the 13-valent vaccine alone. . . .

Interventions to facilitate implementation of the updated pneumococcal vaccine recommendations are needed. Available resources include the PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor mobile app and other CDC-developed tools, such as overviews of vaccination schedules and CDC’s strategic framework, Vaccinate with Confidence.

Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.



Related Link

• MMWR's main page provides access to the MMWR family of publications

¡Viva México! September 16 is the 213th anniversary of Mexico’s independence. We celebrate the people of Mexico by sharing select Mexican resources for vaccination information and advocacy. Best wishes to all our friends delivering vaccinations to the people of Mexico!



Expert committees:

• Consejo Nacional de Vacunación (CONAVA), National Advisory Committee for Vaccination, counterpart to ACIP

Advocacy groups and resources:

• Asociación Mexicana de Vacunología
• Alianza por la Vacunación

Helpful resources:

• Boletín Epidemiológico: Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica Sistema Único de Información (Epidemiological Bulletin: National Epidemiological Surveillance System Unique Information System), counterpart to MMWR
• Lineamientos Generales del Programa de Vacunación Universal y Jornadas de Salud Pública 2020 (General Guidelines of the Universal Vaccination Program and Public Health Conference 2020)
• Esquema Nacional de Vacunación (routine vaccination schedule)

COVID-19 materials:

• Gobierno de México: Vacunación COVID information for the public as well as technical documents
• COFEPRIS (counterpart to FDA) Actions Regarding COVID-19: Acciones sobre COVID-19

Government institutions:

• Programa Nacional de Vacunación (National Vaccination Program)
• Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (COFEPRIS) (Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks), counterpart to FDA
• Vacunas Autorizadas en México Incluyendo Fichas Tecnicas (Vaccines Registered in Mexico, including technical sheets)

Immunize​.org's social media channels make it easy for you to learn a little more every day. This week, our featured episode from the Ask the Experts Video Series is Alternative Schedules. This is available on our YouTube channel, along with our full collection of quick video answers to popular Ask the Experts questions.

Like, follow, and share Immunize​.org’s social media accounts and encourage colleagues and others interested in vaccination to do likewise:

• Facebook at ImmunizeOrg
• Instagram at ImmunizeOrg
• LinkedIn at Immunize​.org
• X (Twitter) at ImmunizeOrg
• YouTube at ImmunizeOrg

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In this week's Spotlight, we summarize resources at Immunize​.org that focus on specific vaccine products. 

Immunize​.org's Clinic Tools main page compiles resources from Immunize.org, CDC, and other organizations containing practical, “how-to” information about providing vaccinations in a medical office or non-traditional setting. This page can be found by selecting the “Clinic Tools” tab in the middle of the blue banner atop every Immunize​.org web page.

In the left-hand column, you will find links to Immunize​.org’s web pages:

• Immunize​.org: Clinic Tools main page
• Immunize​.org: Clinic Tools: Administering Vaccines 
• Immunize​.org: Clinic Tools: Adolescent Vaccination 
• Immunize​.org: Clinic Tools: Adult Vaccination 
• Immunize​.org: Clinic Tools: Documenting Vaccinations 
• Immunize​.org: Clinic Tools: Scheduling Vaccines 
• Immunize​.org: Clinic Tools: Screening for Vaccine Contraindications and Precautions 
• Immunize​.org: Clinic Tools: Storage and Handling 
• Immunize​.org: Clinic Tools: Vaccination and COVID-19 
• Immunize​.org: Clinic Tools: Vaccine Recommendations 

The right-hand column features resources from partners, including CDC’s vaccine recommendations, “General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization,” and The Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (“The Pink Book”).

Visit the Clinic Tools main page on Immunize​.org.

These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.

• Time: The Anti-vax Movement Isn’t Going Away. We Must Adapt to It (9/7/23)
• CIDRAP: CDC Warns about RSV, Urges Clinicians to Make Use of New Tools (9/6/23)
• The Telegraph: Measles Cases Reach Three-Year High in England (9/6/23)
• New York Times: Three Shots for Fall: What You Need to Know (9/6/23)
• Medpage Today: How to Help Patients Navigate a Newly Complex Vaccine Season (9/5/23)

Immunize​.org reviews and updates the Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools at least monthly, prominently indicating when it was last revised at the top of the page. Changes on the September 4 version were minimal. Additional updates are anticipated soon.

All COVID-19 vaccination providers should review the checklist regularly and download the latest CDC schedule and standing order documents. The checklist is posted on Immunize​.org's Vaccines: COVID-19 main page to help practices stay up to date.



Related Links

• Immunize​.org: Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools (PDF)
• Immunize​.org: Vaccines: COVID-19 main page
• Immunize​.org: Ask the Experts: COVID-19 web page
• CDC: Interim Clinical Considerations main page summarizing use of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States

Immunize​.org posted two new Spanish translations of Vaccine Information Statements (VISs), published by CDC. The new Spanish translation of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine VIS reflects the 2023 ACIP recommendation for RSV vaccination for adults age 60 years or older using shared clinical decision-making. The new Spanish translation of “Your Child’s First Vaccines” VIS provides information on diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, hepatitis B, pneumococcal, and poliovirus vaccines, including 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) as an option for vaccination. 

• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine VIS: in Spanish (RTF)
• Your Child’s First Vaccines VIS: in Spanish (RTF)

Related Links

• Immunize​.org: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) VIS main page
• Immunize​.org: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine VIS (PDF, English)
• Immunize​.org: Multi-vaccine VIS main page
• Immunize​.org: Your Child’s First Vaccines VIS (PDF, English)
• Immunize​.org: Vaccine Information Statements main page with VISs in up to 47 languages
• CDC: What's New with VISs main page
• CDC: Current VISs main page

Boost Oregon's popular animated videos are now available in Spanish. These short, engaging videos, which won a Silver Award in the 30th annual National Health Information Awards, answer the most frequently asked questions about vaccines.



The videos can be embedded on your organization's website, played at your clinic, or posted on social media. Share them with your patients in English and Spanish today. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) posted a new entry in its Pediatrics On Call podcast series: Immunizations Special: RSV, COVID, Pneumococcal Disease, Influenza (30 minutes). A description from the podcast web page appears below. 

In this episode Sean O’Leary, MD, MPH, FAAP, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases, joins hosts David Hill, MD, FAAP, and Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, FAAP, for an “immunizations omnibus.” He describes newly approved products to protect against RSV, COVID and pneumococcal disease, and he predicts a difficult flu season. 



Related Link

• Pediatrics On Call podcast page

• Child & Teen Immunization Record Card
• Adult Immunization Record Card
• Lifetime Immunization Record Card

Make bulk purchases and receive quantity discounts. For quotes on larger quantities or customizing, or to request sample cards, call 651-647-9009 or email [email protected].

In the September 5 issue, Pediatrics published Ten-Year Follow-Up of 9-Valent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: Immunogenicity, Effectiveness, and Safety, with a video abstract. The primary conclusion appears below.

The 9vHPV vaccine demonstrated sustained immunogenicity and effectiveness through ∼10 years post 3 doses of 9vHPV vaccination of boys and girls aged 9 to 15 years.

In the August 31 issue, JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery published Deciphering Knowledge and Opinions of Human Papillomavirus and Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Facilitation of Point-of-Care Vaccination in Adults. The conclusions section appears below.

Most participants in this survey study were unaware that HPV causes OPSCC [oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma]. Understanding that HPV causes OPSCC was associated with increased likelihood of having been vaccinated. However, most patients surveyed were not informed of this relationship by their healthcare practitioners. Targeted education aimed at unvaccinated adults establishing the relationship between HPV infection and OPSCC, paired with point-of-care vaccination, may be an innovative strategy for increasing HPV vaccination rates in adults.

CDC published Reduced Odds of Mpox-Associated Hospitalization among Persons Who Received JYNNEOS Vaccine—California, May 2022–May 2023 in the September 8 issue of MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below. 

One JYNNEOS vaccine dose decreases mpox lesion severity and hospitalization prevalence. . . .

Among persons with and without HIV infection, mpox-associated hospitalization rates were lower among those who had received ≥1 dose of JYNNEOS vaccine compared with those who were unvaccinated. . . .

Receiving ≥1 dose of JYNNEOS vaccine reduced the odds of hospitalization among California residents. To maximize enduring immunity against Monkeypox virus infection, all eligible persons should complete the 2-dose JYNNEOS vaccine series.

Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.

Related Link

• MMWR's main page provides access to the MMWR family of publications

In the August 28 issue, JAMA Pediatrics published a commentary titled Religious Exemptions, Public Health, and School Vaccination Requirements. The first paragraph appears below.

Vaccinations, crucial for public health and community immunity, are required by all states for school entry, with allowances for medical exemptions. All but 6 states grant religious exemptions, which have become a hotbed of controversy and public health concerns. We examine 2 recent cases from New York and Mississippi that encapsulate this debate, and we further argue against religious exemptions for schoolchildren.

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Religious Concerns
• Immunize.org: State Requirements by Vaccine

CDC published Progress toward Measles Elimination—African Region, 2017–2021 in the September 8 issue of MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below. 

The World Health Organization African Region established a 2020 measles elimination goal. In 2016, regional coverage with 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) was 68%, and 40% of countries met surveillance performance indicators. . . .

The 2020 elimination goal was not met, and in 2021, coverage with a first MCV dose remained <95% in all but two countries. After a 2019 global measles resurgence, incidence in 2021 exceeded that in 2017. Surveillance quality declined during 2017–2021, with 62% of countries achieving surveillance performance indicators in 2017 compared with 22% in 2021. . . .

Reaching all children with 2 MCV doses and improving surveillance is critical to achieving the renewed 2030 regional measles elimination goal in at least 80% of African countries.



Related Link

• MMWR's main page provides access to the MMWR family of publications

The CDC Foundation will present a 1-hour partner webinar titled Pregnant and Protected beginning at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on September 14 as part of its "Pregnant & Protected" campaign to promote COVID-19 vaccination before and during pregnancy.

You can also follow the "Pregnant & Protected" campaign on CDC Foundation’s Facebook, Instagram, and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Register for the webinar.

Related Link

• Immunize.org: Pregnancy and Vaccines

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The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) will hold its next meeting September 21–22, starting at 9 a.m. (ET). NVAC will hear presentations regarding innovation and safety, strategies to address vaccination needs of people with disabilities, respiratory disease prevention plans for fall 2023, and updates on climate change and vaccines.

Attendance is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis by registration. Registration is now available online. 

Related Link

• NVAC: Meeting Information web page

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