Issue 1,566: May 12, 2021
Top Stories
World News
Featured Resources
Education and Training
Immunization PSAs from the Archive
Top Stories
FDA expands EUA for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for ages 12–15 years; ACIP convenes today, May 12, to discuss
On May 10, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the age groups covered by the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to adolescents ages 12–15 years. Until now, this EUA covered people age 16 years and older. The regulatory action was based on safety data, disease-reduction data, and immunogenicity data.
The following updated resources were included with the FDA news release:
ACIP will convene on Wednesday, May 12 from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (ET) to discuss expanding its recommendations to include ages 12–15 years. Other ACIP agenda items include an update on thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness studies, and an update on SARS-CoV-2 variants.
No registration is required to watch webcasts of live ACIP meetings or listen via telephone. Opportunities for public comment are described at the website.
Watch the virtual ACIP meeting.
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ACIP discussed rabies vaccine and dengue vaccine on May 5; IAC summarizes meeting
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met on May 5, 2021, to continue discussions on rabies vaccine and dengue vaccine. No votes were held at the meeting. Presentation slides are available online.
Rabies vaccine – During its February 24–25, 2021 meeting, ACIP approved recommendations on use of rabies vaccine for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in persons age 18 and older. At that time, the Committee requested additional data before making a similar recommendation for children and adolescents. During the May 5 meeting, CDC experts described multiple studies indicating no difference between primary or long-term immunogenicity in children compared to adults. The Committee also discussed the need for improved communication tools to assist healthcare providers trying to determine when rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is appropriate. ACIP tentatively plans to vote on the use of PrEP in children and continue discussions on PEP during its June meeting.
Dengue vaccine – In the U.S., dengue fever cases occur almost entirely in Puerto Rico, although a small percentage of cases occur in other U.S. territories. Dengvaxia (Sanofi Pasteur) is FDA-licensed for vaccination of persons age 9–45 years who have laboratory confirmation of a previous dengue infection. If given to persons who have not already been infected, the vaccine can act as an initial dengue infection, putting the recipient at risk for more serious disease if they are infected again. Because of the critical nature of this pre-vaccination screening, ACIP discussed test performance characteristics to include in its dengue vaccine recommendations. The Committee also discussed sample messages healthcare professionals can use in communicating with their patients. CDC staff used its Evidence to Recommendations (EtR) framework to examine the benefits and risks of the vaccine. Final votes on use of dengue vaccine are scheduled for the June meeting.
The next regularly scheduled ACIP meeting will be held June 23–24, 2021. Information about past and future ACIP meetings may be found on the ACIP website.
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Vaccines.gov helps individuals find nearby COVID-19 vaccination sites using web and text options; available in English and Spanish
Vaccines.gov, powered by VaccineFinder, helps connect Americans with locations offering COVID-19 vaccines near them. This federally supported website is available in English and Spanish.
In addition to the Vaccines.gov website, people in the U.S. can use a text messaging service, available in both English and Spanish. People can text their ZIP code to 438829 (GETVAX) and 822862 (VACUNA) to find three locations nearby that have COVID-19 vaccines available.
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MMWR Recap: CDC publishes COVID-19 vaccine updates on safety monitoring, anxiety-related adverse events, and effectiveness studies on May 7; previously issued as MMWR Early Releases
CDC recently published several articles about COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring, anxiety-related adverse events, and effectiveness studies. Here is a recap:
- Safety Monitoring of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine—United States, March–April 2021 (MMWR, May 7, HTML format or PDF format)
- Anxiety-Related Adverse Event Clusters after Janssen COVID-19 Vaccination—Five U.S. Mass Vaccination Sites, April 2021 (MMWR, May 7, HTML format or PDF format)
- Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines against COVID-19 among Hospitalized Adults Aged ≥65 Years—United States, January–March 2021 (MMWR, May 7, HTML format or PDF format)
Related Link
- MMWR gateway page provides access to MMWR Weekly, MMWR Recommendations and Reports, MMWR Surveillance Summaries, and MMWR Supplements
Sabin-Aspen Vaccine Science and Policy Group releases its newest meeting report, “Powering Vaccine R&D: Opportunities for Transformation”
The Sabin-Aspen Vaccine Science & Policy Group has published its third meeting report titled Powering Vaccine R&D: Opportunities for Transformation. The Sabin-Aspen Vaccine Science & Policy Group brings together senior leaders across many disciplines to examine some of the most challenging vaccine-related issues and drive impactful change. IAC's Dr. Kelly Moore is a charter member of this group.
The group developed a package of five big ideas to engender a more efficient and responsive approach to vaccine R&D.
- Define leadership roles, responsibilities, and mechanisms of accountability to prepare for the R&D demands that surface in a pandemic
- Propel a transdisciplinary research effort built around partnerships to expand and advance vaccine science
- Reimagine clinical trials
- Restructure regulatory science to reflect advances in vaccine R&D
- Position vaccines as a public good and align incentives so that benefits accrue to all sectors of society
Two prior reports, Accelerating the Development of a Universal Influenza Vaccine and Meeting the Challenges of Vaccination Hesitancy are available on the Sabin-Aspen Vaccine Science & Policy Group web page.
Access Powering Vaccine R&D: Opportunities for Transformation in HTML format or in PDF format (downloadable from the report web page).
CDC publishes “Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Botulism, 2021” in MMWR, describing use of botulinum antitoxin
CDC has published Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Botulism, 2021 in the May 7 issue of MMWR Recommendations and Reports, describing use of botulinum antitoxin. The summary appears below.
Botulism is a rare, neurotoxin-mediated, life-threatening disease characterized by flaccid descending paralysis that begins with cranial nerve palsies and might progress to extremity weakness and respiratory failure. Botulinum neurotoxin, which inhibits acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, is produced by the anaerobic, gram-positive bacterium Clostridium botulinum and, rarely, by related species (C. baratii and C. butyricum). Exposure to the neurotoxin occurs through ingestion of toxin (foodborne botulism), bacterial colonization of a wound (wound botulism) or the intestines (infant botulism and adult intestinal colonization botulism), and high-concentration cosmetic or therapeutic injections of toxin (iatrogenic botulism). In addition, concerns have been raised about the possibility of a bioterrorism event involving toxin exposure through intentional contamination of food or drink or through aerosolization. Neurologic symptoms are similar regardless of exposure route. Treatment involves supportive care, intubation and mechanical ventilation when necessary, and administration of botulinum antitoxin.…
...If botulism is suspected, immediately contact the local or state health department’s emergency on-call staff to arrange an emergency expert clinical consultation and, when indicated, request botulinum antitoxin from CDC....
...The only specific therapy for botulism is botulinum antitoxin.…
Access the MMWR article in HTML format or in PDF format.
Related Link
- MMWR gateway page provides access to MMWR Weekly, MMWR Recommendations and Reports, MMWR Surveillance Summaries, and MMWR Supplements
CDC’s Dr. Anne Schuchat named 2021 Service to America Medal Finalist; you can vote daily for your favorite finalist
It’s time to vote again! CDC's Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat, MD (RADM, USPHS, RET), has been named a finalist in the Partnership for Public Service’s 2021 Service to America Medals, known as the “Sammies.” Dr. Schuchat is a finalist in the Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Category that recognizes a federal employee for leading significant and sustained accomplishments throughout a federal career of 20 or more years. A description of the "Sammies" appears below.
The Sammies were named for Samuel J. Heyman, founder of the Partnership for Public Service. This year there are 29 finalists for the Sammies, and members of the public can vote online to select the federal employee they believe has made the most significant contributions in public service on the People’s Choice webpage. The winners will be announced in late September.
Other noteworthy immunization champion nominees include FDA's Peter Marks, MD, PhD, and NIH's Kizzmekia Corbett, PhD, and Barney Graham, MD, PhD.
The public gets a say, so vote for the federal employee whose service to America impresses you most. You can vote once per day from any email address.
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Celebrate vaccination progress with patients and staff! Order IAC’s “I Got My COVID-19 Vaccine” buttons—stickers available, too.
IAC now offers “I Got My COVID-19 Vaccine” buttons and stickers for purchase. Give them as gifts to family, friends, and colleagues. Place them on clothing, lab coats, uniforms, jackets, lanyards, ID badges, or backpacks to demonstrate confidence in COVID-19 vaccination.
Buttons: Wear them to reassure your patients and remind those around you to protect themselves from COVID-19. These are not just for people in healthcare! Give them to vaccinated people in your social network who are working to keep COVID-19 from spreading, such as your parents, hair stylist, grocer, teacher, and religious leader.
 
Stickers: Give away to COVID-19 vaccine recipients or vaccinated clinic staff!
- Description: Bright yellow stickers on a roll with an easy-peel-off back and perforations between stickers to make them easy to tear off and share
- Packaging: Roll of 200 stickers
- Dimension: 1.5" across
- To order: See Shop IAC: COVID-19 Vaccine Buttons and Stickers for quantity and pricing options
Please note: Through a separate program supported by CDC, public health departments and selected CDC nonprofit Vaccinate with Confidence campaign partners have been notified about how to receive limited supplies of these items at no cost.
For questions, call 651-647-9009 or email [email protected].
Related Links
Ready to ship! Order IAC’s laminated version of CDC’s 2021 immunization schedule today!
IAC's laminated version of the 2021 U.S. child/adolescent immunization schedule is available for order. The 2021 U.S. adult immunization schedule has sold out.
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), but folds 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 Spotlight! Our IAC Image Library leads you to hundreds of disease photos to educate staff and patients about the importance of vaccination
The IAC Image Library gateway page offers hundreds of photos to educate staff and patients about the importance of vaccination. The gallery of digital images includes photos of people affected by vaccine-preventable diseases; micrographs of viruses, bacteria, and pathology specimens; and pictures of healthcare professionals vaccinating children, teens, and adults. All of the images are free to download. Please follow any copyright requirements noted.
To easily locate this gateway page, use the “Guide to Immunize.org” at the bottom of every immunize.org web page.
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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:
Related Link
Not-to-miss immunization articles in the news
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
World News
CDC and WHO report on progress toward worldwide polio eradication in MMWR and Weekly Epidemiological Record, respectively
CDC published Surveillance to Track Progress toward Polio Eradication—Worldwide, 2019–2020 in the May 7 issue of MMWR. On the same day, WHO's Weekly Epidemiological Record published an article with a similar title. A media summary of the MMWR article appears below.
Key poliovirus surveillance indicators for 2020 fell substantially compared to 2019 in many of the 42 priority countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings emphasize the need for the rigorous search for cases of new-onset, floppy weakness or paralysis among children (high-quality surveillance) to be restored in 2021 while maintaining pandemic response and infection control protocols. The pathway to polio eradication requires promptly detecting spread of poliovirus, primarily through acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted polio eradication activities in many of the 42 priority countries deemed to be at high risk for poliovirus transmission. In most countries, field surveillance activities were curtailed and polio staff and assets were repurposed to support pandemic response efforts. While 90% of priority countries in the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region met AFP surveillance performance indicators nationally in 2020, only 48% of the priority countries in the African Region and 40% in other regions did so. Standard surveillance activities must be restored while maintaining necessary infection control precautions.
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Featured Resources
In IAC’s “Video of the Week,” CDC uses American Sign Language to share what to expect when someone gets vaccinated against COVID-19
CHOP’s VEC expands its My COVID-19 Vaccine Experience video series to include racially and ethnically diverse colleagues, and young adults
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's (CHOP) Vaccine Education Center has expanded its My COVID-19 Vaccine Experience video series to include African American, Latinx, and young adult colleagues from CHOP talking about why they decided to get vaccinated or their experiences once they were vaccinated. The collection now includes 18 videos, eight of them in Spanish.
Share these videos with your friends, colleagues, and across social media!
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Now available in Spanish! IAC’s “I Got My COVID-19 Vaccine” Facebook profile photo frame
Share your excitement about COVID-19 vaccination and inspire your friends! When you have received your COVID-19 vaccine, add IAC's new "I Got My COVID-19 Vaccine" Facebook photo frame to liven up your profile picture!
The photo frame (or marco de la foto) is now available in both English and Spanish.
You can obtain the frame in two ways:
Together we can end the COVID-19 pandemic!
Use IAC's expanded "Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic" for catch-up initiatives
IAC now offers nearly 300 items in its Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic gateway page to assist in maintaining routine immunization rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Located on the website of the National Network of Immunization Coalitions, a project of IAC, this repository includes links to both national and state-level policies and guidance; advocacy materials, including talking points, webinars, press releases, articles, and social media posts; and telehealth resources.
If you have a resource to suggest for the repository, please send a message to [email protected].
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Education and Training
National Academy of Medicine will offer "International Workshop on COVID-19 Lessons to Inform Pandemic Influenza Response" on May 18, 21, and 25
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will present a three-part workshop series titled International Workshop on COVID-19 Lessons to Inform Pandemic Influenza Response in May. Workshop dates, times, and topics appear below.
This global public workshop will convene international experts, thought leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss the emerging evidence on these unprecedented actions related to COVID-19 that could inform and advance pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine preparedness efforts and subsequent response.
Register for the workshop series.
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Immunization PSAs from the Archive
In this jaunty PSA from 2001 by the Phoenix Fire Department, Diamondback left fielder Luis Gonzalez hits a home run promoting childhood vaccinations, sharing why he and his wife vaccinated their triplets
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Video of the Week
American Sign Language (ASL) COVID-19 Vaccine—What to Expect: This CDC video in ASL shares what to expect when someone gets vaccinated against COVID-19. The video discusses vaccine safety, types of vaccines, getting the vaccine, and what to expect after receiving the vaccine. If you do not understand ASL, click the "CC" icon on the bottom right of the video screen for captions. [4:45]
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Record cards for patients -- child & teen, adult, and lifetime -- are printed on durable paper and sized to fit in a wallet when folded
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Editorial Information
Editor-in-Chief
Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH
Managing Editor
John Grabenstein, RPh, PhD
Associate Editor
Sharon Humiston, MD, MPH
Writer/Publication Coordinator
Taryn Chapman, MS
Courtnay Londo, MA
Style and Copy Editor
Marian Deegan, JD
Web Edition Manager
Sheila M. Franey, MA
Contributing Writer
Laurel H. Wood, MPA
Technical Reviewer
Robin VanOss
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