Issue 1,557: March 24, 2021
Top Stories
IAC Handouts
World News
Featured Resources
Journal Articles and Newsletters
Education and Training
Immunization PSAs from the Archive
Top Stories
“COVID-19 Vaccine Second-Dose Completion and Interval Between First and Second Doses Among Vaccinated Persons—United States, December 14, 2020–February 14, 2021” in March 19 MMWR
CDC published COVID-19 Vaccine Second-Dose Completion and Interval Between First and Second Doses Among Vaccinated Persons—United States, December 14, 2020–February 14, 2021 in MMWR on March 19. A portion of the summary appears below.
Among persons who received a first dose and for whom sufficient time had elapsed to receive the second dose, 88.0% had completed the series; 8.6% had not received the second dose but were still within the allowable interval to receive it. Among all 2-dose recipients, 95.6% received the second dose within the recommended interval. Differences in missed doses or second doses administered outside the recommended interval were identified among jurisdictions and demographic groups.
Access the MMWR article in HTML format or in PDF format.
Related Link
- MMWR's gateway page provides access to MMWR Weekly, MMWR Recommendations and Reports, MMWR Surveillance Summaries, and MMWR Supplements
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“Effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine among Residents of Two Skilled Nursing Facilities Experiencing COVID-19 Outbreaks—Connecticut, December 2020–February 2021” in March 19 MMWR
CDC published Effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine among Residents of Two Skilled Nursing Facilities Experiencing COVID-19 Outbreaks—Connecticut, December 2020–February 2021 in MMWR on March 19. A portion of the summary appears below.
A retrospective cohort analysis in two Connecticut SNFs [Skilled Nursing Facilities] found partial vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (from >14 days after dose 1 through 7 days after dose 2) to be 63% (95% confidence interval = 33%–79%) effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection....
...Even with partial vaccination, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine provides protection to SNF residents. To optimize vaccine impact among this population, high coverage with the complete 2-dose series is recommended.
Access the MMWR article in HTML format or in PDF format.
Related Link
- MMWR's gateway page provides access to MMWR Weekly, MMWR Recommendations and Reports, MMWR Surveillance Summaries, and MMWR Supplements
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“County-Level COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Social Vulnerability—United States, December 14, 2020–March 1, 2021” published in MMWR
CDC published County-Level COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Social Vulnerability—United States, December 14, 2020–March 1, 2021 in MMWR on March 17. A portion of the summary appears below.
In the first 2.5 months of the U.S. vaccination program, high social vulnerability counties had lower COVID-19 vaccination coverage than did low social vulnerability counties. Although vaccination coverage estimates by county-level social vulnerability varied widely among states, disparities in vaccination coverage were observed in the majority of states.
Access the MMWR article in HTML format or in PDF format.
Related Link
- MMWR's gateway page provides access to MMWR Weekly, MMWR Recommendations and Reports, MMWR Surveillance Summaries, and MMWR Supplements
CDC releases Rapid Community Assessment Guide with tools to help improve COVID-19 vaccination rollout in your community
CDC has developed a Rapid Community Assessment Guide to help state and local health departments diagnose and address access and confidence challenges related to COVID-19 vaccines. The guide follows a 5-step process to:
- Identify objectives and communities of focus
- Plan for the assessment
- Collect and analyze data
- Report findings and identify solutions; and
- Evaluate your efforts
The guide includes customizable research instruments that can be adapted to different communities, including key informant interview guides, listening sessions, and a vaccine confidence survey. While originally developed for state and local health departments, the guide also can be useful for coalitions, hospitals, health systems, or community-based organizations working to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence and uptake.
Related Links
IAC revises Ask the Experts: COVID-19 web page, adding information about Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) and updating mRNA vaccine content
IAC recently updated its Ask the Experts: COVID-19 web page regarding the latest CDC clinical considerations for each COVID-19 vaccine, including the addition of information about Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. The Ask the Experts: COVID-19 web page will grow as more information becomes available and new vaccines are authorized.
IAC’s Ask the Experts gateway page leads you to 29 distinct web pages on a variety of topics comprising a total of more than 1,000 common or challenging questions and answers (Q&As) about vaccines and their administration. IAC wishes to recognize its team of experts: Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH (lead); Carolyn Bridges, MD, FACP; William Atkinson, MD, MPH; and Deborah Wexler, MD.
Related Links
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IAC updates "Vaccines: COVID-19" web page with important new resources, including information on Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson)
Having trouble locating the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines? Check out the many resources recently added to IAC’s popular Vaccines: COVID-19 web page. This comprehensive site offers a single location to facilitate access to key resources from CDC, FDA, IAC, and other critical partners.
Newly added information on the web page includes links to:
- Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine materials covering vaccine administration guidance, Fact Sheets for providers and patients, and storage and handling tools
- Multiple new resources for the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
- Clinical considerations for vaccination of special populations (e.g., people with underlying medical conditions or who are homebound)
- Vaccine storage and handling toolkits and summary sheets from CDC and U.S. Pharmacopeia
- Updated CPT codes for COVID-19 vaccine administration reimbursement
- COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy information from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- Training modules for healthcare providers that offer CE, CME, CNE, and CPE credits
- Vaccine safety and patient education materials
New information is added to the site frequently, so check back often to take advantage of this consolidated listing of practical information for clinic personnel.
Related Links
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FDA offers dozens of translations of the COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheets for recipients and caregivers
The FDA has posted dozens of translations of Fact Sheets for recipients and caregivers for each of the three authorized COVID-19 vaccines. Use these resources to help you communicate with patients about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.
Related Links
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Order IAC’s laminated versions of CDC’s 2021 child/teen and adult immunization schedules for your exam rooms today—discounts for quantity purchases!
IAC's laminated versions of the 2021 U.S. child/adolescent immunization schedule and the 2021 U.S. adult immunization schedule are available for order.
These schedules are ideal for use in any busy healthcare setting where vaccinations are given. Their tough coating can be wiped down, and they’re durable enough to stand up to a year's worth of use.
The child/adolescent schedule is eight pages (i.e., four double-sided pages) and the adult schedule is six pages (i.e., three double-sided pages), but both schedules fold down to a convenient 8.5" x 11" size.
 
With color coding for easy reading, our laminated schedules replicate the original CDC formatting, including the essential tables and notes.
PRICING
1–4 copies: $7.50 each
5–19 copies: $5.50 each
20–99 copies: $4.50 each
100–499 copies: $4.00 each
500–999 copies: $3.50 each
For quotes on customizing or placing orders of 1,000 copies or more, call 651-647-9009 or email [email protected].
Visit the Shop IAC: Laminated Schedules web page for more information on the schedules, to view images of all the pages, and to download the order form today!
Related Links
IAC experts called on by news media
With vaccines in the news so much lately, journalists have sought out IAC experts to communicate the intricacies of running a quality vaccination program. Our insights have helped explain vaccines to the public and policy makers. We want to help them understand the complex work vaccinators do. We've reached mass markets and local stations, across the U.S. and overseas, via print, radio, television, blogs, and more. Here is a selection of our recent citations:
Not-to-miss immunization articles in the news
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
IAC Handouts
IAC updates its popular temperature logs for refrigerators and freezers; available in Celsius and Fahrenheit
IAC updates its Vaccine Storage Troubleshooting Record to document occurrence and resolution of questionable or unacceptable vaccine storage events
IAC recently revised its Vaccine Storage Troubleshooting Record to address ultra-cold storage for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
The fillable format allows users to document electronically or by hand. Below are links to the updated tools. IAC's non-fillable format offers examples of completed records, including any actions taken.
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IAC updates Vaccine Handling Tips, a clinic tool to help assure that vaccines are stored properly
IAC recently updated its Vaccine Handling Tips to refer users to the COVID-19 Vaccine Addendum of CDC’s Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit.
Related Links
World News
WHO publishes "Recommended Composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines for Use in the 2021–2022 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season" in Weekly Epidemiological Record
Featured Resources
In IAC’s “Video of the Week,” an Emory University infectious disease specialist answers questions about the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
In this JAMA Network video, Dr. Carlos del Rio, infectious disease specialist at Emory University, answers questions about the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. He responds to questions related to their safety and effectiveness and the need for and recommended timing of a second dose.
Visit the whole collection at the VOTW archive.
IAC adds valuable resources to Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org website to help set up high-throughput clinics
The Immunization Action Coalition’s website, www.Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org, assists you in finding ideas for developing your own high-volume clinics. Mass vaccination efforts will continue to be useful for expediting COVID-19 vaccination now, as well as other vaccinations in the future.
Many of the documents were written in the pre-pandemic era and will need modification to ensure that additional protections, such as social distancing and personal protective equipment, help safeguard against COVID-19 transmission.
More resources have been added, including:
In addition, IAC's archived, full-length webinar (1 h. 46 min.) highlighting best practices and offering practical information for conducting a successful mass vaccination clinic, Mass Vaccination Clinics: Challenges and Best Practices, can be viewed on www.Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org.
The www.Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org website includes a Related Resources web page linking to three articles by IAC authors that appeared in Becker’s Hospital Review.
If you have a resource to suggest for the website, please send a message to [email protected].
The webinar and the new website are supported by a medical education grant from Seqirus.
Related Links
IAC’s MenB Vaccination Honor Roll adds two new colleges that protect their students
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) is pleased to announce that two new post-secondary institutions have been enrolled into its MenB Vaccination Honor Roll for requiring or recommending meningococcal serogroup B vaccine for students.
The newly added institutions are listed below. Clicking on the institutions' names brings you to the place on the school's website that details their vaccine requirements and recommendations.
Currently, there are 267 honorees, with 40 colleges and universities requiring MenB vaccination for their students and 227 recommending it.
IAC launched the MenB Vaccination Honor Roll to recognize exemplary institutions that have taken the lead in establishing policies requiring or recommending meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccination to protect their students.
Please help us to grow the honor roll by notifying us of colleges or universities that require or recommend MenB vaccination for their students. Colleges and universities may apply for the honor roll or you can alert us at [email protected].
Please visit the MenB Vaccination Honor Roll web page to find resources such as news stories about meningitis B outbreaks, personal stories from families affected by meningitis B, journal articles, and links to organizations that work to prevent meningitis.
Journal Articles and Newsletters
"From Science to Action to Impact: Eliminating Cervical Cancer" theme issue published by Preventive Medicine
In its March issue, Preventive Medicine published a theme issue on cervical cancer elimination, titled From Science to Action to Impact: Eliminating Cervical Cancer.
The issue features an article by Alan R. Hinman and Walter A. Orenstein, titled Elimination of Cervical Cancer: Lessons Learned from Polio and Earlier Eradication Programs. The conclusion section appears below.
There are valuable lessons for cervical cancer elimination from other elimination/eradication efforts. These notably include the necessity for political will/champions; the need for a specific target with a time span; the need for program efforts to be guided by surveillance of disease and death (not just coverage and modeling); the need for accountability, monitoring, and evaluation at all levels; determination of the reasons goals are not being achieved and addressing those problems; and the need for ongoing research. Although achieving the goal of elimination will be difficult, success will mean the prevention of millions of deaths due to cervical cancer.
Education and Training
IAC’s Dr. L.J Tan to participate in a panel conversation with immunization experts on frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination on March 30
Moderna will present a panel conversation titled Vaccination Against COVID-19: Fast Answers to Frequently Asked Questions at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on March 30. Moderated by Kenneth Alexander, MD, PhD, the panel will cover some of the most frequently asked questions on vaccination against COVID-19. Panel speakers include Jaime Fergie, MD, Litjen Tan, MS, PhD, and Shanina Knighton, PhD, RN.
Register for the event.
Immunization PSAs from the Archive
In this adorable 2006 PSA, the Texas Department of State Health Services encourages parents to build their child’s health with vaccines
In this 2006 public service announcement (PSA) from the Texas Department of State Health Services, adorable babies and toddlers remind parents that vaccines are the building blocks to health. This PSA is part of a collection curated by vaccine expert William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH.
Previous PSAs featured in “From the Archives” are available when viewing this Vimeo video.
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Video of the Week
Your COVID-19 Vaccine Questions Answered: In this JAMA Network video, Dr. Carlos del Rio, infectious disease specialist at Emory University, answers questions about the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. He responds to questions related to their safety and effectiveness and the need for and recommended timing of a second dose. [7:52]
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Technically Speaking
Read Dr. Wexler's column for the Vaccine Education Center's monthly newsletter, Vaccine Update
Vaccinating Adults:
A Step-by-Step Guide
Calendar of Events
Conferences, meetings, and training opportunities
Patient Record Cards
Record cards for patients -- child & teen, adult, and lifetime -- are printed on durable paper and sized to fit in a wallet when folded
DVD: Immunization Techniques
Every practice should have this award winning, "how-to" training video
Protect Newborns Guidebook
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