National Network of Immunization Coalitions

Save the date: IZCoalitions Network webinar on November 20 to feature Dr. Paul Offit discussing the challenge of communicating vaccine science to the public

Please save the date! Dr. Paul Offit, director, Vaccine Education Center, professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, will discuss “The Challenge of Communicating Vaccine Science to the Public” on the next IZCoalitions webinar. This 1-hour webinar for immunization coalition leaders, members, and those who collaborate with coalitions is scheduled for Tuesday, November 20, at 2:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. CT). There will be plenty of time for questions!

Dr. Offit is a pediatrician and vaccine researcher who is even better known for his straightforward responses to anti-vaccine claims. Learn more about his work by checking out the links below.

• Information about Dr. Offit
• Dr. Offit’s website
• Vaccine Education Center website

We will send an invitation from ReadyTalk shortly before the webinar. When you register, you will receive a link to access the event on November 20.

Hope you all can make it!

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Hotel reservations can now be made for the 2019 National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships in Hawaii

The Hawaii Immunization Coalition and the Hawaii Public Health Institute will be co-hosting the 2019 National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships to be held November 13–15, 2019. The organizers wish to let everyone know that reservations can now be made at the Ala Moana Hotel.

Check out the logo and/or reserve your hotel room!

The link to the conference can also be found on Hawaii Public Health Institute’s home page at www.hiphi.org.

Be sure to mark your calendars for this opportunity to connect with immunization partners throughout the country. Registration information will be available soon.

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IAC’s new 65+ Flu Defense website features tools and resources for healthcare professionals serving adults age 65 and older

Last month, IAC and Seqirus launched the new 65+ Flu Defense website at www.influenza-defense.org to help with vaccinating adults 65 years of age and older.

The website equips healthcare professionals with information, tools, and resources needed to proactively discuss flu vaccination with patients age 65 and older and to better communicate the impact of flu and its complications in older adults.

Annual influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza, but vaccination coverage among older adults in the U.S. has stagnated, and in some years has declined significantly over the previous season’s rate. In the 2016–2017 season, only 65.3% of adults age 65 and older were vaccinated against influenza.

Seniors are at greater risk of severe complications from influenza, due both to their increased likelihood of having chronic conditions and to the decline of their immune systems as they age.

As a healthcare professional, your strong, confident recommendation for flu vaccine is a very powerful and persuasive tool in determining if your patients are vaccinated.

65+ Flu Defense is divided into several easy-to-use topic areas, including:

• For Older Adults, Influenza Can Be Deadly (Home Page)
• Your Older Adult Patients Are at Risk
• Your Recommendation Matters
• Vaccination: The Best Protection
• About Influenza
• Tools and Resources

Two new patient handouts are also available on the website:

• Influenza Vaccination: Questions Patients Age 65 and Older Frequently Ask Their HCP
• Influenza in Adults 65+: The Facts

Be sure to check out the information and printable materials for your patients available on the 65+ Flu Defense website at www.influenza-defense.org to help your efforts in protecting this vulnerable population.

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