Issue 1,588: September 8, 2021
Top Stories
- Register now for IAC’s second September influenza webinar, coming September 20! Our expert panel will offer ideas on translating COVID-19 vaccination strategies to inform flu vaccination efforts.
- IAC posts Spanish translations of 14 updated Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) released by CDC in August
- NIS-Teen 2020 results published in MMWR: "National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years—United States, 2020"
- CDC launches toolkit with COVID-19 resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants posts “COVID-19 Resources for Afghan New Arrivals” in Dari, Pashto, and Farsi languages
- AAP launches COVID-19 vaccine confidence campaign with television PSAs in English and Spanish
- HHS Office on Women's Health releases provider toolkit titled HPV VAX NOW in Your Clinic: A Guide to Improving HPV Vaccination Rates among Patients Ages 18–26
- Meningitis B Action Project launches back-to-school resources to encourage vaccination; new social media series titled "Be a Team Player"
- CDC recognizes the contributions of Capt. Amanda Cohn, ACIP executive secretary, who will next direct CDC’s Division on Birth Defects and Infant Disorders
- IAC's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll for mandatory healthcare worker vaccination now features 1,154 organizations, including two new facilities
- IAC Spotlight: Check out the variety of staff training and in-service resources available at Immunize.org
- Journalists interview IAC experts
- Vaccines in the news
Immunize.org Pages and Handouts
Featured Resources
Upcoming Events
Immunization PSAs from the Archive
Top Stories
Register now for IAC’s second September influenza webinar, coming September 20! Our expert panel will offer ideas on translating COVID-19 vaccination strategies to inform flu vaccination efforts.
Even as COVID-19 vaccination efforts continue, seasonal influenza vaccination remains essential to protect health and ease the burden on healthcare systems. IAC has announced the second of its September webinars to bolster this year’s influenza vaccination efforts.
Monday, September 20, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. (ET): Translating COVID-19 Strategies to Improve Influenza Seasonal Flu Vaccination Efforts. Registration is now open! The topics will include:
- Information to improve influenza vaccination for underserved populations and for improving vaccine equity
- Strategies to reach small communities from a public health perspective
- Making a strong recommendation for influenza vaccination this season
- Pharmacist and pharmacy lessons learned for improving vaccine access and vaccine equity for vulnerable populations
Speakers will include:
- Laura Lee Hall, PhD, president, Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity, National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF)
- Amy Callis, BA, MPH, principal and owner, Devi Partners
- Sarah Price, director of public health integration, National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
- Jennie McLaurin, MD, specialist, child and migrant health, bioethics, Migrant Clinicians Network
- Mitchel Rothholz, RPh, MBA, executive director, American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation
Following these presentations, ample time has been reserved for you to ask questions. This live question and answer session will include additional experts from the Immunization Action Coalition.
Register now to be sure you don’t miss this important session designed to help you manage this uniquely challenging influenza vaccination season effectively on September 20.
If you are not already registered for the first of IAC’s September influenza webinars, you can still register here: Thursday, September 9, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. (ET), The Continued Threat of Influenza and How to Sustain Influenza Vaccination Efforts.
Back to top
IAC posts Spanish translations of 14 updated Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) released by CDC in August
IAC has posted Spanish translations for 14 new Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) that were released by CDC on August 6. The translations are available in PDF and Rich Text Format (RTF). RTF is used by electronic health record systems that cannot accept PDFs.
- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus) in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- Influenza, inactivated or recombinant in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- Influenza, live intranasal in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- Meningococcal ACWY in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- Meningococcal B in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella) in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV13) in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- Polio in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria) in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
- Varicella (Chickenpox) in PDF and RTF formats (view in English)
CDC encourages providers to begin using these VISs immediately; however, existing supplies of the previous editions may be used until they are depleted.
IAC will post translations into additional languages in the coming weeks at Immunize.org/vis. Translations of previous VIS versions may be used until new translations become available. CDC states that the corresponding up-to-date English-language VIS must also be supplied when providing an out-of-date translation.
Related Links
NIS-Teen 2020 results published in MMWR: "National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years—United States, 2020"
CDC published the results of the 2020 National Immunization Survey–Teen (NIS-Teen) in an article entitled National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years—United States, 2020 in the September 3 issue of MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.
In 2020, adolescent coverage with Tdap and the first dose of MenACWY remained high and continued to improve for HPV vaccines, with some disparities. Adolescents living outside a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had lower vaccination coverage compared with adolescents living in MSA principal cities....
Results from the 2020 National Immunization Survey–Teen reflect adolescent vaccination coverage before the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to reach adolescents whose routine medical care has been affected by the pandemic are necessary to protect adolescents and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks.
Access the MMWR article in HTML format or in PDF format.
Related Link
CDC launches toolkit with COVID-19 resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers
CDC released materials to help parents or other caregivers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) navigate important conversations about COVID-19. CDC’s COVID-19 Materials for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Care Providers includes:
- Posters to download, print, and hang in your health facility
- Fact sheets in multiple languages
- Web pages with answers to common questions
- Social stories, videos, and interactive activities
Back to top
National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants posts “COVID-19 Resources for Afghan New Arrivals” in Dari, Pashto, and Farsi languages
The University of Minnesota's National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NIC-RIM) released COVID-19 Resources for Afghan New Arrivals. Refugee resettlement agencies, local governments and community organizations are working hard to welcome Afghan new arrivals who have been displaced from their home country. Materials include:
- Posters to download, print, and hang in your health facility
- Fact sheets in Dari, Pashto, and Farsi languages
- Social media messages and frames
- Audio and video PSAs
Check out the variety of materials available in COVID-19 Resources for Afghan New Arrivals.
Back to top
AAP launches COVID-19 vaccine confidence campaign with television PSAs in English and Spanish
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has launched a media campaign encouraging parents to get their children age 12 and older vaccinated against COVID-19. This multi-faceted campaign includes a COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign Toolkit, television and radio PSAs in English and Spanish, social media campaigns, animated science explainers, and videos of pediatricians from around the United States giving testimonials and answering commonly asked questions. The campaign will roll out nationwide, with a particular focus on areas of the country with high rates of vaccine hesitancy.
Related Links
Meningitis B Action Project launches back-to-school resources to encourage vaccination; new social media series titled "Be a Team Player"
The Meningitis B Action Project has launched a variety of back-to-school resources to encourage vaccination against meningococcal disease. Resources include:
- Social media graphics to encourage adolescent vaccination, including the new "Be a Team Player" and "It Takes Two" series
- Back-to-school social media tour in collaboration with Tamera Coyne-Beasley, MD, MPH, chair of adolescent medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Podcast and learning module in partnership with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (offering 1 contact hour of CE; 0.5 of which may be applied towards pharmacology)
CDC recognizes the contributions of Capt. Amanda Cohn, ACIP executive secretary, who will next direct CDC’s Division on Birth Defects and Infant Disorders
On August 27, CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) sent an important announcement to CDC partners recognizing the contributions of Capt. Amanda Cohn, MD, MPH, USPHS, who will transition to a new role as director of CDC’s Division on Birth Defects and Infant Disorders in mid-September.
As ACIP’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Cohn played one of the most visible and critical roles at CDC in helping ACIP craft its vaccination recommendations for the nation. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the ACIP has met more than 20 times to publicly deliberate on the latest information about COVID-19 vaccines to make recommendations for their optimal use.
Everyone at IAC thanks Dr. Cohn for her years of service to the ACIP, particularly over the past 18 months. Her role with the ACIP will be filled by Dr. Melinda Wharton, NCIRD’s new associate director for vaccine policy and a widely respected CDC leader with almost three decades of immunization policy and program leadership experience.
IAC's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll for mandatory healthcare worker vaccination now features 1,154 organizations, including two new facilities
There are now 1,154 organizations enrolled in IAC's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll. The honor roll recognizes hospitals, long-term care facilities (LTCFs), medical practices, pharmacies, professional organizations, health departments, and other government entities that take a stand for patient safety by implementing mandatory influenza vaccination policies for healthcare personnel.
Since July 14, when IAC Express last reported on the Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll, two additional healthcare organizations have been enrolled.
- Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, Salida, CO
- Harbor Health Services, Inc., Mattapan, MA
To be included in the Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll, the institutional mandate you report must require influenza vaccination for all staff and, in addition, must include measures to prevent transmission of influenza from unvaccinated personnel to patients. Such measures may include a masking requirement for the entire work shift, reassignment to non-patient-care duties, or dismissal of the staff member.
IAC urges qualifying healthcare organizations to complete the application.
Related Links
Back to top
IAC Spotlight: Check out the variety of staff training and in-service resources available at Immunize.org
In this week's IAC Spotlight, we summarize resources at Immunize.org that focus on staff training and in-services.
Our Clinic Tools gateway page offers a one-stop source of practical information for immunization providers. You will find "how-to" information about providing vaccinations in a medical office or non-traditional setting.
Our Clinic Tools: Storage and Handling gateway page features checklists, “Do Not Unplug” signs, how to avoid errors, temperature logs, storage troubleshooting records, and more. You'll find links to CDC's storage and handling training tools, along with other partner resources.
Our Clinic Tools: Administering Vaccines gateway page offers handouts on appropriate injection techniques, information on how to properly deliver intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, medical management of adverse reactions, summaries of vaccine recommendations; and how to use vaccines needing reconstitution.
Our Skills Checklist for Vaccine Administration is a tool to help supervisors assess staff members' skills regarding vaccine administration.
Our Key Vaccination Resources for Healthcare Professionals includes an annotated list of key training, education, and reference materials for people who vaccinate or oversee vaccination clinics.
Related Link
Journalists interview IAC experts
Journalists seek out IAC experts to help explain vaccines to the public and policy makers. We help the media understand and communicate the complex work vaccinators do. Here is a selection of our recent citations.
Related Link
Back to top
Vaccines in the news
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
Back to top
Immunize.org Pages and Handouts
IAC updates its print-ready fact sheet "Influenza Vaccine Products for the 2021–2022 Influenza Season"
IAC recently updated its resource Influenza Vaccine Products for the 2021–2022 Influenza Season. Changes were made to the age range for Flucelvax (Seqirus) as young as age 2 years (formerly, 4 years) and to remove references to trivalent influenza vaccines because all vaccine formulations for the current season are quadrivalent.
Related Links
Back to top
Featured Resources
Flu vaccine season is underway. Order IAC's flu vaccine buttons and stickers for staff and patients today!
After you order your vaccine, don’t forget to order your buttons and stickers. IAC “FLU VACCINE” buttons and stickers are ready to ship! Their bright red color helps broadcast your important message about the need for influenza vaccination. And the cost is reasonable.
“FLU VACCINE” BUTTONS
The button measures 1.25" across and carries a bold message! Pin on lab coats, uniforms, other clothing, tote bags, or backpacks to show support for flu vaccine.
Buttons are delivered in bags of 10 buttons per bag.
Click here for pricing and ordering information for "FLU VACCINE" buttons.
“FLU VACCINE” STICKERS
Measuring 1.5" across, these stickers adhere well to clothing and have an easy-peel-off backing.
Stickers are delivered to you cut individually (not on rolls)—available in bundles of 100.
Click here for pricing and ordering information for “FLU VACCINE” stickers.
Visit Shop IAC for additional items, including "Vaccines Save Lives" enamel pins, patient record cards, and a vaccine administration training video.
Show your strong support! Order IAC's "Me Vacuné…" and "I Got My COVID-19 Vaccine" buttons and stickers, now FREE to all organizations promoting or offering COVID-19 vaccination!
All organizations promoting or offering COVID-19 vaccination may order IAC’s FREE “Me Vacuné…” and “I Got My COVID-19 Vaccine” buttons and stickers, provided with support from CDC. Access this order form to request the FREE buttons and stickers for your outreach efforts while supplies last.
 
Related Links
Order IAC’s child, adult, and lifetime immunization record cards—wallet-sized, designed to last!
IAC's personal immunization record cards, printed on rip-proof, smudge-proof, water-proof paper are designed to last a lifetime. They’re sized to fit in a wallet when folded. The record cards are for you to give to your patients as a permanent and personal vaccination record and are sold in boxes of 250.
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].
Visit Shop IAC for additional items, including "Vaccines Save Lives" enamel pins, flu vaccine buttons and stickers, and a vaccine administration training video.
IAC's website Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org can help you excel at community vaccination events
IAC's www.Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org offers many ideas for developing your own high-volume clinics. Mass vaccination efforts are useful for influenza and COVID-19 vaccination.
Many of the documents were written in the pre-pandemic era and need modification to ensure that additional protections (e.g., social distancing, personal protective equipment) help safeguard against COVID-19 transmission.
More resources have been added, including:
IAC's archived, full-length webinar (1 h. 46 min.) highlighting best practices and offering practical information, Mass Vaccination Clinics: Challenges and Best Practices, can be viewed from www.Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org/webinar.
If you have a resource to suggest for the website, please send a message to [email protected].
The webinar and the website are supported by a medical education grant from Seqirus.
Related Links
Upcoming Events
Virtual: Attend IAC’s first influenza webinar on September 9. Our expert panel answers your questions on preventing influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Don’t miss IAC’s 1-hour webinar titled The Continued Threat of Influenza and How to Sustain Influenza Vaccination Efforts which takes place on September 9 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). Topics will include:
- Influenza surveillance in the United States and worldwide
- Changes in circulation of other common respiratory pathogens, e.g., RSV
- Changes in influenza vaccine strains and changes in influenza ACIP recommendations
- Communication issues providers may face regarding perceptions of the need for influenza vaccination
- A public perspective on the importance of influenza vaccination and advocacy for vulnerable populations
These topics will be addressed by speakers:
- Alicia Budd, MPH, Influenza Division of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
- Robert H. Hopkins Jr., MD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
- Gary Stein, MBA, Families Fighting Flu
There’s still time to register so you don’t miss this valuable session on September 9.
Back to top
Virtual: Immunize Colorado hosts "Vaccine Town Hall: Answering Your Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines, Variants, Boosters and the Status of Routine Vaccination" on September 15
Immunize Colorado is hosting Vaccine Town Hall: Answering Your Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines, Variants, Boosters and the Status of Routine Vaccination on September 15 at 1:00 p.m. (ET).
FDA will convene its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) on September 17 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. (ET). The panel will discuss the evidence for a routine third (or “booster”) dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Comirnaty), in individuals age 16 years and older.
Briefing materials for this meeting are typically posted 1 to 2 days before the meeting at the VRBPAC web page specific for the September 17 meeting.
Related Link
Immunization PSAs from the Archive
In this PSA from Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center (Georgia), a narrator discusses the importance of hepatitis B vaccination at birth
In this 1995 public service announcement (PSA) from Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center in Georgia, a narrator discusses the importance of perinatal hepatitis B vaccination at birth. This PSA is part of a collection curated by vaccine expert William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH, that spans a period of more than 50 years.
|
Follow Us
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
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
|
