National Network of Immunization Coalitions

IAC’s IZCoalitions Network webinar on September 17 will feature Vaccinate Your Family’s Amy Pisani presenting results of several state and national immunization surveys

IAC’s IZCoalitions Network will host a webinar titled “America Loves Vaccines: Analyzing and Implementing State Surveys” on September 17 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). The webinar will feature Vaccinate Your Family’s executive director Amy Pisani, presenting recent state and national immunization surveys that have been conducted across the country. Idaho Immunization Coalition, Vaccinate Your Family, and Families Fighting Flu, among other organizations and coalitions will be given time following Amy’s presentation to discuss the results of their surveys.

For registration information contact info@immunizationcoalitions.org.

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Watch Protecting Health: Saving Lives on immunize.org; this 30-minute PBS documentary portrays the rich history and contributions of IAC—please share on social media

IAC is proud to announce that the award-winning PBS television documentary series, Visionaries, hosted by Sam Waterston, features IAC in the episode titled Protecting Health: Saving Lives. This film showcases IAC’s founder and executive director Dr. Deborah Wexler’s commitment to supporting the nation’s healthcare professionals with immunization education information and materials. Protecting Health: Saving Lives makes a powerful case for vaccination, addressing and defusing the fears that fuel the antivaccine movement, presenting stories of vaccine-preventable disease, and recognizing the science that has saved millions of lives through vaccination.

Protecting Health: Saving Lives will be premiering on more than 100 PBS stations nationwide in the months ahead, but you can watch it right now on IAC’s website at www.immunize.org/aboutus/iac-film-history.asp. We’d appreciate your circulating the film by sharing this link with your colleagues and friends through member newsletters, e-mail listservs, social media channels, conferences and web-based events, and web pages.

Sharing Protecting Health: Saving Lives is easy! Just go to https://www.immunize.org/aboutus/iac-film-history.asp or click on the film’s image in the right column of IAC’s immunize.org main page. Click the “share” button, and choose the social media site where you’d like your friends, family, and colleagues to view the film.

To learn more about the PBS Visionaries series, visit www.visionaries.org.

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CDC releases ACIP recommendations on use of influenza vaccines for 2020–21 influenza season

CDC has released Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2020–21 Influenza Season in the August 21 MMWR Recommendations and Reports. The document contains the CDC/ACIP recommendations for use of influenza vaccines in various populations for the 2020–21 season, access CDC’s MMWR article in HTML format or in PDF format.

Related Links

• CDC’s Influenza (Flu) Information for Health Professionals gateway page
• IAC’s Influenza Vaccine Products for the 2020–2021 Influenza Season
• IAC’s Vaccines: Influenza gateway page
• IAC’s ACIP Recommendations gateway page
• MMWR gateway page provides access to MMWR Weekly, MMWR Recommendations and Reports, MMWR Surveillance Summaries, and MMWR Supplements

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New! Massachusetts mandates flu vaccine for all children, teens, and young adults attending childcare, K-12, colleges, and universities

On August 19, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced that the influenza vaccine is now required for all Massachusetts students age 6 months and older who are enrolled in childcare, pre-school, K-12, and higher education. A paragraph from the press release appears below.

Students will be expected to have received a flu vaccine by December 31, 2020 for the 2020–2021 influenza season, unless either a medical or religious exemption is provided. Also exempted are K-12 students who are homeschooled and higher education students who are completely off-campus and engaged in remote learning only. This new flu immunization requirement to enter school in January is in addition to existing vaccine requirements for all those attending child care, preschool, K-12, and colleges and universities in Massachusetts. Elementary and secondary students in districts and schools that are using a remote education model are not exempt.

Access the full press release.

Related Links

• Mass.gov press release: Flu Vaccine Now Required for All Massachusetts School Students Enrolled in Child Care, Pre-School, K-12, and Post-secondary Institutions (8/19/20)
• MDPH: Massachusetts School Immunization Requirements 2020–2021
• Boston Globe: Most Massachusetts Students Will Be Required to Get the Flu Vaccine This Year (8/19/20)
• IAC’s State Information: Influenza Vaccine Mandates for Child Care and Pre-K web page
• IAC’s State Laws and Mandates by Vaccine gateway page

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Many colleges and universities requiring flu vaccination—the list is growing!

Many colleges and universities across the nation are mandating flu vaccine for attendance. The following colleges and universities have mandated influenza vaccination for the 2020–21 academic year: All Massachusetts colleges and universities, University of California system—ten campuses, University of Tennessee system—four campuses, Butler University, Duke University, Purdue University, Syracuse University, University of Miami, University of Pennsylvania, and Wabash College.

If you know of additional colleges or universities that require influenza vaccination, please send the name of the institution, as well as a link to the relevant policy (if available) to admin@immunize.org.

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Use IAC’s expanded Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic to invigorate your activities

IAC now offers more than 188 items in its 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 resources can be sorted and searched by date, title, geographic area, source, type, age category, or setting.

These resources can be sorted and searched by date, title, geographic area, source, type, age category, or setting.

If you have a resource to suggest for the repository, please send a message to info@immunizationcoalitions.org.

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The Public Good Projects launches “Stronger,” a national campaign to fight vaccine misinformation

“Stronger,” a national campaign launched by The Public Good Projects in July, focuses on fighting misinformation about vaccines, science, and medicine. Using a three-pronged approach that includes mobilizing the majority, tracking misinformation, and using social network analysis, the campaign targets the vast majority of Americans who support vaccines, rather than those who are opposed or hesitant.

The campaign calls on all immunization advocates to:

• Block, ban, or hide posts that contain misinformation about vaccines
• Report false information to the platform
• Comment to warn others
• Support experts when they are attacked
• Arm yourselves with the facts

Related Links

• Stronger website
• The Public Goods Project website
• PR Newswire: National Public Health Campaign Designed to Mobilize Support of Vaccines (7/15/20)

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California Immunization Coalition launches #DontWaitVaccinate campaign

Immunization rates in California have dropped precipitously during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising alarm bells for the health and safety of our children, patients, and families.

The California campaign is designed to remind parents and adults: #DontWaitVaccinate.

Their toolkit is designed to help healthcare professionals, health plans, public health information officers, immunization program managers, coalitions, school administrators, advocates, and partner organizations work together to support providers and urge patients to schedule and keep routine checkups and immunization visits. Included in the toolkit you’ll find a variety of messaging to share with your networks to encourage patients to reconnect with their providers. You are encouraged to tailor these messages to meet the needs of your local community.

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Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia launches web page to answer questions about COVID-19 vaccines

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has created a new Q&A page, CovidVaccineAnswers.org, dedicated to answering questions about COVID-19 vaccines. So far, the Q&A page includes the following topics: types of COVID-19 vaccines in development, vaccine studies, availability, safety, and news.

The Q&A page also includes a form for contacting VEC with your questions or suggested topics for VEC to address during this challenging time.

Related Link

• CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center website

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Registration is open for upcoming conferences sponsored by state or regional immunization coalitions

Registration is open for three upcoming immunization coalition conferences. The details are below:

• California Immunization Coalition is holding Families Fighting Flu: More Important Than Ever webinar September 22 from 3:00–4:00 p.m. (ET). The webinar will feature Serese Marotta from Families Fighting Flu, discussing tools for communicating the importance of flu vaccination. The webinar will also feature a representative from the community, discussing California-specific flu activities for this year. Register for the webinar.
• Idaho Immunization Coalition along with Get Immunized Idaho will hold its three-part Virtual Immunization Speakers Consortium (Idaho Immunization Summit) this October covering the following topics:
  • COVID-19 Vaccines and the Rise in Anti-Science featuring Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, will be held on October 8 from 10:00–11:30 a.m. (MDT). Register for the webinar.
  • Immunization Updates featuring Christine Hahn, MD, and Carolyn Bridges, MD, FACP, will be held on October 14 from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (MDT). Register for the webinar.
  • Adolescent Vaccine Updates featuring Alicia Lachiondo, MD, and Lisa Barker, MD, FACP, will be held on October 21 from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (MDT). Register for the webinar.
• WithinReach in partnership with the Hepatitis B Coalition of Washington and International Community Health Services (ICHS) released a free e-course, Hepatitis B Health Disparities in Refugee and Immigrant Communities that provides tools regarding hepatitis B for working with immigrant and refugee patients. The course offers CME, CNE, and AAMA credit. Register for the course.

If you have an immunization-related event that you would like your colleagues to know about, email IAC at info@immunizationcoalitions.org.

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It’s time to start vaccinating against flu. IAC is shipping tens of thousands of our bright red “FLU VACCINE” buttons and stickers. Order yours now!

IAC “FLU VACCINE” buttons and stickers are flying out of our office by the thousands! A half-million stickers already distributed this year! Their bright red color helps broadcast your important message about the need for flu vaccination. And the cost is nominal.

“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.

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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 and nonprofit organizations, 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 137 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. Updated information can be added at any time by emailing info@immunizationcoalitions.org.

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Urge your coalition’s members to subscribe to this e-newsletter, IAC’s IZ Coalitions Network News!

IZ Coalitions Network News is a monthly e-newsletter for the National Network of Immunization Coalitions and features news of interest to immunization coalitions and nonprofit organizations, including advocacy opportunities, legislative efforts, immunization resources, educational offerings, and local, state, and national conference information.

IZ Coalitions Network News is available to coalition members and nonprofit staff, and all people who work with immunization coalitions.

Urge your coalition members and your co-workers to subscribe. All they have to do is send a request to info@immunizationcoalitions.org asking to be included.

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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 new immunization education materials from IAC, CDC, AAP, and others.

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.

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