CDC published Use of Updated COVID-19 Vaccines 2023–2024 Formula for Persons Aged ≥6 Months: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, September 2023 in the October 10 issue of MMWR Early Release. This publication summarizes decisions made by ACIP at its September 12 meeting and information updated online at CDC’s Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States. A portion of the article's summary appears below.

Since September 2022, bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been recommended in the United States, but the variants these vaccines were designed to protect against are no longer circulating widely. In September and October 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved and authorized updated 2023–2024 Formula monovalent XBB.1.5 component–containing COVID-19 vaccines, formulated to target current variants more closely, specifically Omicron variant XBB.1.5, for persons aged ≥6 months. . . .

On September 12, 2023, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended vaccination with updated COVID-19 vaccines for all persons aged ≥6 months. . . .

The updated COVID-19 vaccines are meant to broaden vaccine-induced immunity and provide protection against the currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 XBB-sublineage variants including against severe COVID-19–associated illness and death.

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

CDC published Use of the Pfizer Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine during Pregnancy for the Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Lower Respiratory Disease in Infants: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2023 on October 13 in MMWR. This article reflects decisions made by ACIP at its meeting on September 22. A portion of the article's summary appears below. 

Nirsevimab is recommended in infants to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). In August 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizer RSV vaccine for pregnant persons at 32–36 weeks’ gestation to prevent RSV-associated LRTI in infants aged <6 months. . . .

On September 22, 2023, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended RSV vaccine for pregnant persons at 32–36 weeks’ gestation using seasonal administration (meaning September–January in most of the United States) to prevent RSV-associated LRTI in infants aged <6 months. . . .

CDC recommends protecting all infants against RSV-associated LRTI through use of either the maternal RSV vaccine or infant receipt of nirsevimab.



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

On September 25, CDC released a new Immunization Information Statement (IIS) (similar in format to a Vaccine Information Statement [VIS]), for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Preventive Antibody (nirsevimab). This IIS document contains important information about the new preventive antibody product for families. Access the IIS in PDF or RTF file (for use in electronic systems).

Related Links

• CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Preventive Antibody: Immunization Information Statement (IIS) web page
• CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunizations web page
• Immunize​.org: Vaccine Information Statement main page for VISs in 47 languages

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Immunize​.org posts five new and updated translations of Vaccine Information Statements 

IZ Express regularly provides readers with information about new and updated Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) and their translations.

On July 24, CDC released an updated interim VIS for Pediatric Multi-vaccines (Your Child's First Vaccines) and on May 12, CDC released interim VISs for Hepatitis B Vaccine and Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV) Vaccine. Immunize​.org posted two translations for each, generously donated by St. Peter's Health Partners of Albany, NY.

Hepatitis B Vaccine (view in English):

• Burmese 
• Karen

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (view in English):

• Burmese 
• Karen

Your Child’s First Vaccines (view in English):

• New! Karen

Related Links

• Immunize​.org: Vaccine Information Statement main page for VISs in 47 languages
• CDC: What's New with VISs web page
• CDC: Current VISs web page

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After many years as valuable and popular references, Immunize​.org retired four of its more than 230 resources for healthcare professionals. The CDC child/adolescent and adult recommended immunization schedules now incorporate detailed clinical notes and list the contraindications and precautions for vaccines on the schedule. In addition, CDC schedules are now updated online more frequently, as new ACIP recommendations and changes to the schedules are made. As a result, the following Immunize​.org documents were retired as redundant and users are referred to the CDC schedules for the information:

• Summary of Recommendations for Child/Teen Immunization (Age birth through 18 years)
• Summary of Recommendations for Adult Immunization (Age 19 years and older) 
• Guide to Contraindications and Precautions to Commonly Used Vaccines in Adults
• Guide to Contraindications and Precautions to Commonly Used Vaccines for All Ages

Immunize​.org remains focused on connecting healthcare professionals with the resources you need to achieve excellence in your immunization practice.



Related Link

• CDC: Recommended Immunization Schedules main page

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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 Vaccination after COVID-19 Illness. 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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Immunize​.org offers a host of materials that focus on specific vaccine-preventable diseases. Here are some highlights.

Vaccines main page leads viewers to 24 pages, one for each vaccine-preventable disease. These pages provide curated materials from public health authorities and Immunize.org on each disease and vaccine.

Ask the Experts main page gives you access to more than 1,200 questions answered by Immunize​.org experts. Topics include specific diseases and their vaccines as well as vaccine delivery guidance (e.g., administration, billing, documenting). 

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) main page links to all current ACIP vaccine recommendations as well as most dating back to 1991. You can sort the ACIP recommendations by diseases or publication date.

Unprotected People Stories main page features more than 100 real-life accounts of people who suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases. There are compelling personal testimonies, remembrances, case reports, and newspaper articles.

Image Library main page offers hundreds of photos of people affected by vaccine-preventable diseases; micrographs of viruses, bacteria, and pathology specimens; and pictures of people being vaccinated. Please follow noted copyright requirements.

Influenza and RSV seasons have begun. CDC expects respiratory virus activity, including influenza, which is currently low, to increase. CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView, provides a valuable snapshot of influenza activity state-by-state.

Influenza Surveillance
For week 40, ending October 7, CDC's Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView reports that, nationwide, 2.2% of patient visits reported through the Outpatient Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) were due to respiratory illness that included fever plus a cough or sore throat (i.e., influenza-like illness [ILI]). This is below the national baseline of 2.5%. One influenza-associated pediatric death that occurred during the 2022–2023 season was reported this week.



On October 12, 2023, CDC posted a web spotlight reporting two fatal human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)A H5N1 (bird flu) virus in Cambodia.  

RESP-NET
Visit the CDC Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) for weekly reports of hospitalizations across the United States due to the three vaccine-preventable seasonal respiratory viruses: COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.

• CDC: Weekly National Flu Vaccination Dashboard main page 
• CDC: FluView main page
• CDC: RESP-NET main page
• CDC: Influenza (Flu) main page
• Immunize​.org: free educational materials and patient handouts related to influenza
• Immunize​.org: Vaccines: Influenza main page
• Immunize​.org: Ask the Experts: Influenza main page

Immunize​.org's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll recognizes facilities that take a stand for patient safety by implementing policies requiring healthcare personnel influenza vaccination. There are now 1,335 organizations enrolled. Immunize​.org recently welcomed an additional healthcare organization.

• STRIDE Community Health Center, Denver, CO

Eligibility:

• Eligible organizations: hospitals, long-term care facilities, medical practices, pharmacies, professional organizations, health departments, and other government entities
• Requirements:
  • Your policy must require influenza vaccination for all staff
  • The application must describe measures to prevent transmission of influenza from unvaccinated personnel to patients (e.g., masking for the entire work shift)

• Immunize​.org: list of Influenza Vaccination Honorees, all healthcare settings, by state
• Immunize​.org: Long-Term Care/Assisted Living Influenza Vaccination Honorees by state
• Immunize​.org: Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll program, including:
  • Position statements from professional societies and leading healthcare organizations in support of requiring influenza vaccination
  • Application form for Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll
• Immunize​.org: Honor Roll for Patient Safety web page

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

• HHS: Project NextGen Selects Initial Vaccine Candidates and Awards over $500 Million to Advance Development of Vaccines and Therapeutics (10/13/23)
• Scientific American: The Flu Vaccine Works—In a Way Most People Don’t Appreciate (10/9/23)
• CNN: Older Adults Still Make Up Most COVID-19 Hospitalizations, CDC Report Says, but Concern Grows over Lack of Vaccination (10/9/23)
• Contemporary Pediatrics: What’s New in Pediatric Vaccines (10/9/23)

Immunize​.org updated its Vaccines: COVID-19 main page. Outdated information about bivalent mRNA vaccines was removed and users will now find current content on the 2023–2024 formula products. The web page continues to direct visitors seeking quick links to all print-ready federal fact sheets and COVID-19 vaccination resources to Immunize​.org’s Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools, which is updated at least monthly. The web page also continues to link to other important government and partner websites.

Bookmark Immunize​.org's Vaccines: COVID-19 main page to connect with a comprehensive list of resources from CDC and FDA including fact sheets, clinical considerations, vaccine administration tools, and storage and handling guidance.



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

CDC published High Influenza Incidence and Disease Severity among Children and Adolescents Aged <18 Years―United States, 2022–23 Season on October 13 in MMWR. A portion of the article's summary appears below. 

The 2022–23 influenza season began early, coinciding with circulation of other respiratory viruses. High hospitalization rates among children and adolescents were observed. . . .

Among children and adolescents aged <18 years, 2022–23 was a high severity influenza season compared with thresholds based on previous seasons’ data; influenza-associated medical visits and hospitalizations met or exceeded incidence in previous seasons. . . .

CDC recommends that all persons aged ≥6 months without contraindications should receive the annual seasonal influenza vaccine, ideally by the end of October.



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