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It’s National Influenza Vaccination Week! Flu activity is high nationwide; urge your unvaccinated patients to protect themselves now. It's National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW)! Observed December 5–9 this year, NIVW was established by CDC in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination activities throughout the holiday season and beyond. NIVW is a great time to send reminder messages and vaccinate all those who are not yet protected. This season’s current high influenza activity makes it urgent for you, your patients, and your loved ones to be vaccinated against influenza. With three different strains of influenza circulating this season, unvaccinated people who have had influenza once this season still need to be vaccinated to protect them from the other two circulating strains.
CDC encourages everyone to get their annual influenza vaccine—especially those with chronic medical conditions and those who are pregnant. Get the word out using CDC's 2022 NIVW Digital Media Toolkit that includes social media messages, sample blurbs, a flyer/poster, and patient reminders. Use #FightFlu to join the conversation all week and tag @CDCFlu on Twitter.
Influenza Surveillance
For week 47, ending November 26, CDC's Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView reports that, nationwide, 7.5% of reported outpatient visits were due to respiratory illness that included fever plus a cough or sore throat (i.e., influenza-like illness [ILI]). This far exceeds the national baseline of 2.5%. Multiple respiratory viruses are co-circulating; the relative contribution of influenza virus infection to ILI varies by location. Sadly, 14 children died from influenza-associated causes so far during the 2022–23 season.
Influenza Vaccination Dashboard
CDC's Weekly Flu Vaccination Dashboard data show that 154 million doses of influenza vaccine were distributed in the United States through November 19, 2022. Vaccination coverage for all children as of the week ending November 19, 2022, is the same as the estimate one year ago (40.0%) and 5.5 percentage points lower than the same time two years ago (40.0% compared with 45.5%).
CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older get annual influenza vaccination. “Vaccines.gov” offers VaccineFinder, a service of Boston Children’s Hospital, to help people find influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for any age group. To be listed as a provider by VaccineFinder, see the information at this website.
Coadministration of influenza and COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccinations when both are due is safe, recommended, and efficient. COVID-19 vaccination alone provides no protection from influenza or any other respiratory virus. To gain confidence in your approach to administering multiple intramuscular vaccinations to an adult, download Immunize.org’s printable document How to Administer Multiple Intramuscular Vaccines to Adults during One Visit.
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Join us for a December 13 webinar on “Improving the Vaccination Experience: Accessible Vaccination for Neurodiverse People at Any Age” People with autism and other developmental disabilities have lower childhood immunization rates than their peers without autism, leaving them vulnerable to many vaccine-preventable diseases. The vaccination visit can be especially stressful for these families. Effective strategies exist to reduce pain and anxiety during the vaccination visit.
Please join Immunize.org and experts from the Autism Society on December 13 at 1:00 p.m. (ET) for a free, live, 1-hour webinar, Improving the Vaccination Experience: Accessible Vaccination for Neurodiverse People at Any Age. In this webinar, we will learn more about the Autism Society’s practical tips to improve vaccine confidence by employing strategies to reduce stress when vaccinating neurodiverse patients.
 
Click the form above to register now for this important educational session.
If you work in a facility where neurodiverse people receive vaccines, you will want to learn more from our speakers:
- Danielle Hall, MSW; Program Manager, Vaccine Education Initiative, Autism Society
- Allie Tasche, BEd, MSLOD; Director of National Programs, Autism Society
- Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH; President and CEO, Immunize.org
- Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH; Director for Research, Immunize.org; Quinn’s mother
After the presentation, time is reserved for your questions.
WHO: Disease name will transition from monkeypox to “mpox” On November 28, the World Health Organization issued a press release titled WHO Recommends New Name for Monkeypox Disease. A portion of the press release appears below.
Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO will begin using a new preferred term “mpox” as a synonym for monkeypox. Both names will be used simultaneously for one year while “monkeypox” is phased out. When the outbreak of monkeypox expanded earlier this year, racist and stigmatizing language online, in other settings and in some communities was observed and reported to WHO. In several meetings, public and private, a number of individuals and countries raised concerns and asked WHO to propose a way forward to change the name.
Assigning names to new and, very exceptionally, to existing diseases is the responsibility of WHO under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) through a consultative process which includes WHO Member States. . . .
WHO, in accordance with the ICD update process, held consultations to gather views from a range of experts, as well as countries and the general public, who were invited to submit suggestions for new names. WHO recommends the following:
- Adoption of the new synonym mpox in English for the disease.
- Mpox will become a preferred term, replacing monkeypox, after a transition period of one year. . . .
- The term “monkeypox” will remain a searchable term in ICD, to match historic information.
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CDC planning wastewater testing for polio in select communities
On November 30, CDC issued a press release titled CDC Planning Wastewater Testing for Polio in Select Communities. A portion of the press release appears below.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will strategically expand wastewater testing for poliovirus in select jurisdictions across the country. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) are among the first locations to explore plans to start collecting wastewater samples in specific communities for analysis at CDC’s polio laboratory. Preliminary discussions with select other state and local health departments are underway. . . .
It would not be surprising if poliovirus is detected by testing wastewater because strains of poliovirus can be shed in people’s stool without symptoms, putting unvaccinated people at risk. However, not all potential detections will be cause for concern.
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Immunize.org's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll for mandatory healthcare worker vaccination now features 1,297 organizations, including three new facilities Immunize.org's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll recognizes facilities that take a stand for patient safety by implementing policies for mandatory healthcare personnel influenza vaccination. There are now 1,297 organizations enrolled. Since November 16, 2022, Immunize.org welcomed three additional healthcare organizations.
- Spring Pediatrics, Silver Spring, MD
- Austin Public Health, Austin, TX
- UW Health, Madison, WI
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)
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Spotlight: Immunize.org’s “Clinic Tools” main page is a one-stop source of practical information about vaccines
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:
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.
Immunize.org Pages and Handouts
Immunize.org updates "Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools"
Immunize.org revised its 4-page job aid, Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools, on December 1, to help you keep up with changes to COVID-19 vaccine guidance and resources.
Immunize.org updates Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools at least monthly, prominently indicating when it was last updated at the top of the page.
All COVID-19 vaccination providers are encouraged to review this checklist each time it is revised to be sure practices stay up to date.
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Recap: These updated Immunize.org educational materials for clinicians were released during October and November
IZ Express regularly provides readers with information about Immunize.org’s new and updated educational materials for healthcare professionals and handouts for patients. All Immunize.org materials are free to distribute.
In case you missed them during recent weeks, updates were made to these helpful materials:
Immunize.org Updated Materials for Clinicians
Immunize.org Web Pages
Updated Printable Materials for Patients
- Immunizations for Babies – A Guide for Parents, also available in 7 updated languages: Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, French, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese
- Vaccinations for Infants and Children, Age 0–10 Years
- When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?, also available in 7 updated languages: Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, French, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese
- You’re 16…We Recommend These Vaccines for You, also updated in Spanish
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV): A Parent’s Guide to Preteen and Teen HPV Vaccination, also updated in Spanish
Related Links
- Immunize.org: Handouts main page to see educational materials sorted by category
- Immunize.org: Ask the Experts main page to access more than 1,200 questions answered by Immunize.org experts
- Immunize.org: Clinic Tools main page and its nine subtopics
- Immunize.org: Educational Materials for Patients and Staff—an alphabetical list of more than 230 ready-to-print staff educational materials and patient handouts
Immunize.org posts Turkish translation of its parent handout “Immunizations for Babies: A Guide for Parents” Eight translations of Immunize.org’s popular handout Immunizations for Babies, which incorporate recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination for infants beginning at age 6 month, are now available to print and distribute. Translations include:
The newest translation, to Turkish, was generously donated by Betül Polatdemir, MD, Ankara, Turkey, and Nur Polatdemir Çeviak, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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Immunize.org updates two handouts for healthcare providers on the administration of intramuscular and subcutaneous vaccines
Immunize.org recently updated its 2-page handout, How to Administer Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Vaccine Injections, in the following ways:
- Add dengue vaccine to the list of vaccines given IM
- Expand information regarding the use of the anterolateral thigh muscle as an alternate site for IM injection in adults
- Add information on the administration of monkeypox (mpox) vaccine
- Add a new footer and QR code linking users to the PDF of the current document
Immunize.org also updated its 1-page handout, How to Administer Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Vaccine Injections to Adults, in the following ways:
- Expand information regarding the use of the anterolateral thigh muscle as an alternate site for IM injection in adults
- Add dengue vaccine to the list of vaccines given IM
- Add information on the administration of monkeypox (mpox) vaccine
- Add a new footer and QR code linking users to the PDF of the current document
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Immunize.org updates “Administering Vaccines: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size” print-ready handouts
Immunize.org recently updated its Administering Vaccines: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size and Administering Vaccines to Adults: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size handouts. Changes include:
- Linking COVID-19 vaccine information to a CDC site that provides current information on products, age parameters, and other technical information
- Adding monkeypox (mpox) and PreHevbrio vaccine information
- Also added: a new footer and QR code linking users to the PDF of the current document
 
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Vaccine Information Statements
Recap: These new VISs and VIS translations were released during October and November IZ Express regularly provides readers with information about Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) and translations of VISs.
In November, CDC released an update to the Smallpox/Monkeypox vaccine VIS
Additionally, two handouts related to VISs were updated:
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Featured Resources
Explore the www.Give2MenACWY.org website to increase coverage for the MenACWY booster and other adolescent vaccinations Immunize.org's www.Give2MenACWY.org website promotes the importance of adolescent vaccination, including the recommended MenACWY vaccine booster dose at age 16. Many teens are behind on vaccines because of the pandemic, so vaccination is more important than ever.
Materials on this colorful website for healthcare professionals incorporate the 2020 ACIP meningococcal vaccine recommendations and coverage statistics from CDC’s National Immunization Survey–Teen (NIS–Teen). One particularly popular resource on the site is the updated Algorithm for MenACWY Immunization in Adolescents 11 through 18 Years of Age.
The website is divided into five easy-to-access sections:
The site also categorizes materials according to whether they are primarily of interest to providers, to adolescents, or to parents.
Visit Give2MenACWY.org and enjoy browsing (and deploying) its bountiful resources.
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Global News
“Developing COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations during the Pandemic: The Experience of Serbia’s Expert Committee on Immunization” published in Frontiers in Public HealthIn the November 17 issue, Frontiers in Public Health published Developing COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations during the Pandemic: The Experience of Serbia’s Expert Committee on Immunization. The senior author is Immunize.org's Lisa Jacques-Carroll. The abstract appears below.
A National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) is a multi-disciplinary body of national experts that provide evidence-based recommendations to policy-makers to assist them in making informed immunization policy and programme decisions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, NITAGs faced many challenges in making evidence-based recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines due to the rapidly evolving situation with new vaccine products available in a short time period and limited data on vaccine effectiveness. The authors reviewed the process used by Serbia's NITAG, which is called the Serbian Expert Committee on Immunization, to develop COVID-19 vaccine recommendations during the pandemic. The article examines the challenges and successes faced by the committee. Serbia's expert committee used the best available evidence to develop over forty recommendations on all aspects of COVID-19 vaccination. These expert committee recommendations facilitated the early procurement and successful roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, guidance for vaccination of individuals at the highest risk, and high COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the country. The availability of five COVID-19 vaccines in Serbia was an advantage for the successful roll-out but posed challenges for the expert committee. Serbia's expert committee plans to use the experience and best practices developed during the pandemic to improve and expand its work moving forward.
Upcoming Events
Virtual: Nevada Immunization Learning Exchange offers webinar, “Seasonal Flu Snapshot 2022–2023 and COVID-19 Booster Recommendations,” on December 14 Nevada Immunization Learning Exchange (NILE) will offer a webinar titled Seasonal Flu Snapshot 2022–2023 and COVID-19 Booster Recommendations on December 14 at 6:00 p.m. (PT). This webinar will provide a snapshot and recommendations on seasonal influenza, and the latest on the COVID-19 booster recommendations.
Registration is open for this webinar.
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