Network News — June 19, 2020

Immunization Coalitions Network News

Network News - June 19, 2020

 

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Register now! IAC’s IZ Coalitions Network webinar on June 25 will feature CDC’s Tara Jatlaoui, MD, MPH, discussing CDC’s updated guidance on how to increase vaccination rates during COVID-19 pandemic

IAC’s IZ Coalitions Network will host a webinar on June 25 at 1:00 p.m. (ET) featuring CDC’s Tara Jatlaoui, MD, MPH, discussing CDC's updated guidance on how to increase vaccination rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, an ACIP update by IAC’s Dr. Kelly Moore, and a brief presentation of IAC’s new Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Lisa Jacques-Carroll. For registration information contact info@immunizationcoalitions.org Back to top

CDC issued updated guidance for immunization services on June 9 in light of falling vaccine rates due to COVID-19 pandemic

Stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders during the pandemic have caused healthcare providers to change how they provide essential services to patients. On June 9, CDC issued Interim Guidance for Immunization Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a web page to help immunization providers in a variety of clinical settings plan for safe vaccine administration during the COVID-19 pandemic. IAC transformed this content (accessed June 14) into a PDF document for your ease of use—click here to view it. Routine vaccination is an essential preventive care service for children, adolescents, and adults (including pregnant women) that should not be delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of COVID-19-related reductions in people accessing vaccination services, it is important to assess the vaccination status of all children and adolescents at each patient visit to avoid missed opportunities for vaccination and ensure timely vaccine catch-up. All vaccines due or overdue should be administered according to the recommended CDC immunization schedules during that visit, unless a specific contraindication exists, to provide protection as soon as possible as well as to minimize the number of healthcare visits needed to complete vaccination. The vaccination status of all patients across the life span should be considered at each health visit. Encourage vaccination to help stop the spread of disease and communicate with patients and families about how vaccines can be administered safely during the pandemic. The guidance also states that adults are encouraged to take steps to receive vaccines according to the standards for adult immunization practice. CDC guidance recommends all people age 6 months or older be given the influenza vaccine to reduce the overall burden of respiratory illnesses during the upcoming 2020–2021 influenza season. Providers should use every opportunity to administer the influenza vaccine to essential workers, people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, those over the age of 65, and people at high risk for influenza complications such as infants, young children, pregnant women, and those with underlying medical conditions. Coronavirus infection prevention practices such as physical distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, wearing of personal protective equipment, disinfection of surfaces, and source control while in the healthcare facility are important in limiting the spread of disease. The subsection titled “General Practices for the Safe Delivery of Vaccination Services” provides a list of safeguards. People with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 should be temporarily deferred from routine vaccination, regardless of symptoms. CDC encourages all stakeholders to share this guidance with your colleagues.
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IAC updates its Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during COVID-19 Pandemic

In May, IAC launched the Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic 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. These resources are intended for healthcare settings, state and local health departments, professional societies, immunization coalitions, advocacy groups, and the community to use in their efforts to sustain routine immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The more than 110 resources that appear in the repository come from the federal government, nationally recognized healthcare organizations, state health departments, state immunization coalitions, and other organizations devoted to disseminating accurate immunization information. These resources can be sorted and searched by date, title, geographic area, source, type, age category, or setting. If you have a resource to submit to the repository, please send a message to info@immunizationcoalitions.org. Access the repository to view the range of valuable resources available to support the patients, families, and communities you serve. Related Link Back to top

NCSL offers webinar titled “COVID-19: Maintaining Child Vaccination Rates During a Pandemic” on June 22

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) will present a webinar titled COVID-19: Maintaining Child Vaccination Rates During a Pandemic on June 22 at 2 p.m. (ET). The webinar will be moderated by NSCL program director Tahra Johnson and will feature NSCL policy associate Erik Skinner; Melinda Wharton, MD, MPH, director of Immunization Services Division at the CDC; and Claire Hannan, MPH, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers. The speakers will discuss the implications of the decreased rates of childhood vaccinations during the COVID-19 era. Registration information Back to top

Sabin-Aspen Vaccine Science and Policy Group released its second annual report titled “Meeting the Challenge of Vaccination Hesitancy”

The Sabin-Aspen Vaccine Science & Policy Group released its second annual report, Meeting the Challenge of Vaccination Hesitancy, in June 2020. Based on its findings, the Group proposes three “big ideas” to help reverse the trend toward vaccine hesitancy and reestablish full uptake of vaccines as a social norm: Structure. The creation of a new media collaborative to serve as an interface between the vaccination community and social media platforms. Knowledge. A research agenda to create ample evidence-based knowledge about the sources of vaccine hesitancy and the best ways to counter it. Strategy. Building a new narrative to shift the conversation around immunization to one that focuses on its achievements and promise and helps build resiliency in the vaccination enterprise. Framing the key findings of the report are five original background papers detailing current challenges and opportunities to approach vaccination hesitancy across various disciplines, including social media and online misinformation, social and behavioral science insights, and research into the genesis of social movements. Share videos, quotes, and quick-share posts with your network to help raise awareness about the report by using the social media toolkit.
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IAC seeking additional names of colleges and universities that have enacted MenB vaccination requirements and recommendations—we’ll add them to the MenB Vaccination Honor Roll

On May 8, the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) launched the MenB Vaccination Honor Roll to recognize colleges and universities that have established policies requiring or recommending meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccination to protect their students and to prevent outbreaks. To date, IAC has identified 36 colleges and universities that require MenB vaccination for their students and 226 that recommend it. IAC is seeking additional names of colleges and universities that have enacted MenB vaccination policies for its MenB Vaccination Honor Roll. To qualify for the MenB Vaccination Honor Roll, an institution must have a policy requiring or recommending MenB vaccination for students. Please help us to grow the honor roll by notifying us if you know of a college or university that requires or recommends MenB vaccination for its students. Colleges and universities may apply for the honor roll or you can alert us at menB@immunize.org. Colleges and universities added to the MenB Vaccination Honor Roll will be announced in IAC’s weekly immunization e-newsletter, IAC Express, emailed to more than 50,000 subscribers every Wednesday. Please click here if you would like to subscribe to IAC Express. Back to top

Video recording of National Academies' May 28 virtual meeting on improving vaccine uptake and issues of access and hesitancy now online

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has posted a video recording of its 2-hour May 28 virtual meeting titled "The Critical Public Health Value of Vaccines—Tackling Issues of Access and Hesitancy." The agenda, briefing book, and other materials may be downloaded from the same page.
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Please make sure your coalition’s information is up to date on immunizationcoalitions.org, the website of the National Network for Immunization Coalitions

The National Network for Immunization Coalitions website at www.immunizationcoalitions.org is a place to learn about immunization coalitions, their locations, missions, activities, newsletters, and how to engage with them. The website promotes the activities of immunization coalitions and nonprofits, offers resources of importance to the network, and provides a searchable online database of local, state, regional, and national immunization coalitions. Interested supporters of immunization can find contacts, resources, ideas, and volunteer opportunities. There are now 138 immunization coalitions and nonprofits listed on this website; view their pages here. If your coalition is not listed, or your information needs to be updated, please email info@immunizationcoalitions.org. New coalitions and nonprofits are encouraged to include their information on the National Network for Immunization Coalitions website. New information can be added at any time by emailing info@immunizationcoalitions.org. Back to top

Urge your coalition’s members to subscribe to IAC’s IZ Coalitions Network News!

The Immunization Coalitions Network monthly newsletter, IZ Coalitions Network News, is an e-newsletter featuring news of interest to immunization coalitions, including advocacy opportunities, legislative efforts, immunization resources, educational offerings, and national conference information. IZ Coalitions Network News is available to coalition members, nonprofit leaders, and all others who work with immunization coalitions. Encourage your colleagues to sign up. All they have to do is send a request to info@immunizationcoalitions.org asking for more information. Back to top

Be sure you’re subscribed to IAC’s weekly e-newsletter, IAC Express, to stay current on ACIP recommendations, FDA licensures, immunization resources from many organizations, and more

IAC Express, the free weekly e-newsletter produced by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC), is emailed to more than 50,000 opt-in subscribers every Wednesday morning, providing articles that succinctly summarize the week’s important immunization developments. IAC Express keeps you informed about new and updated vaccine recommendations from CDC and new vaccine licensures by the FDA. You’ll read about newly posted Vaccine Information Statements and their translations and become acquainted with new immunization education materials from IAC, CDC, AAP, and other organizations. IAC Express also provides updates on online and in-person educational opportunities, many offering free continuing education credit. To view the most recent issue of IAC Express, visit www.immunize.org/express. To subscribe, simply provide your name and email address at www.immunize.org/subscribe. We will never share your contact information. Subscribe today to have the latest in vaccine news and resources at your fingertips. Back to top
Deborah L. Wexler, MD Executive Director deborah@immunize.org Litjen (L.J) Tan, MS, PhD Chief Strategy Officer lj.tan@immunize.org Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH Associate Director for Research sharon@immunize.org Lisa Jacques-Carroll, MA Coalitions Network Project Manager lisa.jacques@immunize.org Taryn Chapman, MS Contributing Editor Taryn.Chapman@immunize.org Julie R. Murphy, MA Senior Administrator for Grants and Leadership julie@immunize.org
 
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to increase immunization rates and prevent disease by creating and distributing educational materials for health professionals and the public that enhance the delivery of safe and effective immunization services. The Coalition also facilitates communication about the safety, efficacy, and use of vaccines within the broad immunization community of patients, parents, health care organizations, and government health agencies. Click here for more information on IAC.
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