Immunization Coalitions Network News

Network News – November 4, 2020

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Register now! IZCoalitions Network webinar on November 12 will feature Project VCTR and the “Stronger” campaign, both from the Public Good ProjectsRegister now! IZCoalitions Network webinar on November 12 will feature Project VCTR and the “Stronger” campaign, both from the Public Good Projects

Register now! IZCoalitions Network webinar on November 12 will feature Project VCTR and the “Stronger” campaign, both from the Public Good Projects

IAC’s IZCoalitions Network will host a webinar on November 12 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). The Public Good Projects’ Erika Bonnevie, Director of Research, will discuss Project VCTR (Vaccine Communication Tracking and Response) which tracks, identifies, and responds to vaccine-related media conversations across the nation. Joe Smyser, PhD, MSPH, Chief Executive Officer of Public Good Projects, will discuss Stronger, which is a campaign that fights against vaccine misinformation.

Registration information

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CDC’s Dr. Melinda Wharton issues “Call to Action: Childhood Vaccination Coverage” urging immunization partners to recall children and adolescents for missed vaccinations 

CDC’s Immunization Services Division director, Dr. Melinda Wharton, urged immunization partners to focus on increasing childhood vaccination coverage levels. Her emailed message appears below.

The COVID-19 pandemic that has so disrupted our lives this year also severely impacted delivery of ambulatory medical services, especially in the spring. We saw dramatic drops in provider ordering of public sector childhood vaccines beginning in mid-March. Since then, as well child visits have resumed, ordering has increased, but there still remains a substantial deficit compared to last year. That shortfall represents about 9M doses, including almost a million doses of measles-containing vaccine (either MMR or MMRV) and more than a million doses of HPV vaccine. Claims data suggest that recovery has been faster on the private sector side, highlighting the need for additional focus on the Vaccines for Children program-eligible population.

We know that if kids don’t get caught up on vaccine doses that they missed earlier this year, they will be left vulnerable to diseases that otherwise could have been prevented. There is an urgent need for all of us to work together to get children back into their health care providers’ office for well child visits and to receive any vaccine doses that were missed earlier this year. Today CDC published vaccination coverage data from our 2019 National Immunization Survey; if we don’t take action now, we can expect childhood vaccine coverage in 2021 to be much lower than we are reporting for last year.

Healthcare systems and healthcare providers can:

  • Identify families whose children have missed doses and contact them to schedule appointments
  • Prompt clinicians when these children are seen to deliver vaccines that are due or overdue
  • Let families know what precautions are in place for safe delivery of in-person services

Healthcare provider organizations can:

  • Encourage members to identify and follow up with families whose children have missed doses to get appointments scheduled

State government agencies can:

  • Send reminders to families about school immunization requirements
  • Implement follow-up for children who are not in compliance with requirements to encourage compliance
  • Use the state’s immunization information system’s reminder-recall capacity to notify families whose children have fallen behind on vaccines

We all can:

  • Communicate directly to families the importance of well-child visits and getting caught up on any recommended vaccines that were missed
  • Help us protect children by doing what you can to get kids caught up.

Thank you for all you do for public health.

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Webinar on mass vaccination strategies now archived and available for viewing on IAC’s newest website: Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org

Mass vaccination clinics allow rapid and efficient administration of vaccines to many people over a relatively short period of time. This approach can help during delivery of routinely recommended vaccines such as influenza. It can also be used once COVID-19 vaccines are released. How can you plan and manage such a daunting undertaking?

On October 15, IAC hosted Mass Vaccination Clinics: Challenges and Best Practices During this 1.75-hour session, a panel of experienced providers describe their successes and challenges in conducting mass vaccination clinics. The panelists highlighted best practices and offered practical information for conducting a successful mass vaccination clinic.

When visiting www.mass-vaccination-resources.org/webinar, you can watch the full-length webinar, or you can view the individual speakers’ presentations listed below. The presenters’ bios and slide-set handouts are also available on the web page.

  • “Mass Clinic: Vaccine Storage and Handling and Vaccine Administration” by Andrew Kroeger, MD, MPH, NCIRD, CDC
  • “Experiences, Recommendations and Lessons Learned for Conducting Mass Vaccination Clinics” by Ruth Carrico, PhD, DNP, University of Louisville
  • “Vaccine Drive-Thru Clinics” by Jeanne Marconi, MD, FAAP, PM Pediatrics, Lake Success, NY
  • “Mobile Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinics: Process, Partnerships and Lessons Learned” by Kevin Cleveland, PharmD, ANP, Idaho State University College of Pharmacy, and Karen Sharpnack, Idaho Immunization Coalition
  • “Mass Vaccination on a College Campus” by Amy Sauls, PharmD, BCACP; Michelle Camarena, MSN, RN; and Thevy Chai, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The archived webinar is found on IAC’s newest website www.Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org. The website features a searchable list of resources for a variety of venues, including curbside, drive-through, and walk-through clinics; mobile medical vans; pharmacies; and schools. The database contains guidance documents, toolkits, publications, and other helpful resources that can be adapted to your community or individual healthcare setting.

Many of the documents were written in the pre-pandemic era and will need modification to ensure that additional protections, such as social distancing and personal protective equipment, help safeguard against COVID-19 transmission.

If you have a resource to suggest for the website, please send a message to info@mass-vaccination-resources.org.

The webinar and the new website are supported by a medical education grant from Seqirus, Inc.

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Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America issues policy statement that only medical contraindications should be accepted as a reason for not receiving vaccinations—11 medical organizations now make this recommendation

In the October 16 issue, Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology published the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) policy statement: Only Medical Contraindications Should Be Accepted as a Reason for Not Receiving All Routine Immunizations as Recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The summary is reprinted below.

SHEA endorses adhering to the recommendations by the CDC and ACIP for immunizations of all children and adults. All persons providing clinical care should be familiar with these recommendations and should routinely assess immunization compliance of their patients and strongly recommend all routine immunizations to patients. All healthcare personnel (HCP) should be immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases as recommended by the CDC/ACIP (unless immunity is demonstrated by another recommended method). SHEA endorses the policy that immunization should be a condition of employment or functioning (students, contract workers, volunteers, etc.) at a healthcare facility. Only recognized medical contraindications should be accepted for not receiving recommended immunizations. 

This makes SHEA the eleventh medical organization to publish a statement endorsing strong school and childcare vaccination requirements and elimination of non-medical exemptions.

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AIM releases white paper: “Flu Vaccination in a Pandemic: Leadership Lessons from Public Health Immunization Programs”

The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) released white paper Flu Vaccination in a Pandemic: Leadership Lessons from Public Health Immunization Programs. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the importance of the 2020–21 flu vaccination campaign. Recent research suggests that having flu and COVID-19 doubles the risk of death, which is why promoting flu vaccination is so critical this season. The report synthesizes information gathered from state, local, and territorial immunization program managers to highlight the four elements of a successful flu vaccination campaign and outline associated strategies: engage providers, stimulate demand and ensure access, strengthen the immunization infrastructure, and advocate for vaccine-supportive policies.

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Explore a wealth of resources on innovative approaches for enhancing influenza and general vaccination services from Sanofi Pasteur

With the emergence of COVID-19, we must rethink how patients receive routine care, including CDC-recommended vaccinations. It also is important for patients to go to their medical home to receive preventive services that may have been deferred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sanofi Pasteur developed new resources to support innovative approaches to vaccination delivery:

   

Each resource includes checklists to help prepare for running a general immunization clinic in addition to goal-tracking resources and others.

Discover the many resources available in each of the three tabs accessible from Sanofi Pasteur’s Vaccination Solutions gateway page: influenza immunizations, general immunizations, and patient education. You’ll find a library of downloadable posters, brochures, social posts, and more.

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Check out AstraZeneca’s FLU+FORCE website, a centralized collection of trusted information to help plan a mobile flu vaccination clinic

COVID-19 has overwhelmed the healthcare system, making it difficult for many practices to maintain routine services, including vaccinations. Off-site flu vaccination clinics can expand services to more people this influenza season.

The FLU+FORCE website, created by AstraZeneca, is designed to help plan an alternate site flu vaccination clinic. It features a collection of trusted links and documents from such organizations as CDC, IAC, NAIIS, and NFID. Topics include:

  • Planning and Process Documents
  • Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines
  • Patient Communication Templates
  • Patient Education Materials
  • Vaccine Documentation

For these resources and many more, check out FluForce.com/resources.

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More than 100 colleges and universities across the nation require flu vaccine to protect staff and students—the list is growing!

Many colleges and universities across the nation are mandating flu vaccine for staff and students. IAC would like to recognize the schools that will require influenza vaccine this year:

Approximately 115 colleges and universities under a new statewide regulation in Massachusetts, Indiana University—nine campuses, University of California system—ten campuses, University of Tennessee system—four campuses, Albion College, Butler University, Colby College, Columbia University, Cornell University, Creighton University, Dordt University, Duke University, Elon University, Johns Hopkins University, Marist College, McDaniel College, Pepperdine University, Purdue University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rosalind Franklin University, Syracuse University, University of Dayton, University of Denver, University of Kentucky, University of Miami, University of North Carolina Charlotte, University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Washington University, Wabash College, Wake Forest University, and Wayne State University.

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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Sawbones “Our 2020 Flu Shot Extravaganza” podcast, an annual celebration of influenza vaccination with answers to listeners’ questions

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine is a one-of-a-kind podcast reaching adults of all ages as well as their families with entertaining dialogue about the history of medicine, medical quackery, and current issues. Family physician Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her joke-cracking husband Justin McElroy, formerly a journalist, have produced weekly episodes of Sawbones since 2013. Their shows frequently include information about the importance of getting vaccinated.

The couple describe their October 2 episode, Our 2020 Flu Shot Extravaganza, as an annual celebration of the flu shot. During the episode, the McElroys “gift” us with answers to flu shot quandaries. They even give a kind nod to the Immunization Action Coalition (thank you!).

A previous flu-related episode asked listeners to send in their “reasons” for not getting flu shots. The McElroys then busted the most common excuses by “blowing them to smithereens.”

Sawbones is a hugely popular medical podcast, averaging about 250,000 downloads per episode. During the 2020 National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit, Sawbones was recognized with the Laura Scott 2019–20 Outstanding Influenza Season Activities Award.

All recent and past podcasts of Sawbones are available online at www.maximumfun.org/podcast/sawbones, where you can also access “How to Listen.”

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CDC Foundation seeks applications for grants supporting community organizations to strengthen vaccine confidence 

The CDC Foundation announced a new Request for Proposal (RFP) to support community-based organizations (CBOs) to develop and implement effective health communication and community engagement strategies to increase vaccine confidence and acceptance among groups at risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) related to under-immunization.

Vaccinate with Confidence is CDC’s strategic framework to strengthen vaccine confidence and prevent outbreaks of VPDs in the United States. This funding opportunity will support CBOs’ strategies to provide health education and community engagement on vaccines, in multiple formats (e.g., oral, written) delivered by local trusted sources in ways that are culturally appropriate. CBOs must be nonprofit and tax-exempt and may include faith-based organizations, vaccine advocacy organizations, public health-focused associations, civic and social organizations, and other organizations that have the capacity to educate and engage at-risk communities.

Questions about this opportunity may be directed to Nikka Sorrells at nsorrells@cdcfoundation.org.

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AIM hosts “Engaging Communities to Build Vaccine Confidence” webinar on November 10

The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) will host Engaging Communities to Build Vaccine Confidence, the next installment in its Vaccine Confidence Webinar Series, on November 10 from 2:00–3:00 p.m. (ET). During this webinar, presenters from Merck and advocate groups, including Families Fighting Flu and Because of Calvary Church, will share the work they are doing to educate their stakeholders on vaccination and will offer tips/lessons learned for engaging communities to build vaccine confidence.

Register for webinar.

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New Mexico Immunization Coalition’s Annual Meeting is December 1–3

The New Mexico Immunization Coalition, along with the New Mexico Department of Health and Comagine Health will hold their annual meeting virtually on December 1–3 from 12:00–1:45 p.m. (MT). The speakers and topics are listed below.

  • December 1: Keynote speaker and CDC vaccine expert, Andrew Kroger, MD, MPH, medical officer, CDC/NCIRD, will provide a vaccine update and discuss catching kids up on vaccines during the pandemic. Aja Sanzone, MD, infectious disease medical director, Presbyterian Hospital, Albuquerque, NM, and Dan Burke, MPH, infectious disease bureau chief, New Mexico State Department of Health, will discuss New Mexico’s COVID vaccine plan. Joelle Jacobs, MPH, vaccine outreach manager, New Mexico State Department of Health, will provide an influenza update.
  • December 2: Katie Cruz, New Mexico State Immunization Information System (NMSIIS) manager, New Mexico Department of Health, will discuss using NMSIIS as a tool for pandemic response
  • December 3: David Forman, LMSW, CASAC, a motivational interviewing expert, University of New Mexico, will discuss using motivational interviewing to help with vaccine decision-making.

You can sign up for all three days of the meeting, or you may choose individual days to attend. Registration is free.

Registration Information

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Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition and the PA Chapter of the AAP offer a webinar titled “Let’s Talk: Addressing Disparities in Immunization” on December 3

The Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics will present a webinar titled Let’s Talk: Addressing Disparities in Immunization on December 3 from 12:15–1:15 p.m. (ET) with presentations and Q&A. This webinar will focus on identifying sources of data on immunization disparities, discussing ways in which informal and social media communication can magnify immunization myths, and identifying effective communication strategies for different communities. The webinar will feature course director Cynthia DeMuth, MD, PA Chapter, AAP; Kristen Feemster, MD, MPH, MSHP, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; and Johana Vidal-Phelan, MD, MBA, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Register for the free webinar.

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Watch the Voices for Vaccines event “Vaccinate the Heartland” from October 15

On October 15, vaccine supporters from nine Midwestern states across the heartland gathered virtually to celebrate immunizations. Speakers included Chelsea Clinton, Iowa State Senator Chuck Grassley, Ohio State Senator Dave Burke, Illinois State Representative Robyn Gabel, comedian Charlie Berens, Ethan Lindenberger, and many more.

Watch the archived event.

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IAC’s elegantly designed “Vaccines Save Lives” black enamel pins make great gifts for the holidays!

IAC’s elegantly designed “Vaccines Save Lives” pins make meaningful gifts for people who care about immunization. The pin makes a refined statement in hard black enamel with gold lettering and edges, measuring 1.125″ x 0.75″.


The pin is a stick-through-post variety with the back end covered by a round rubber cap that holds pin securely. A gold metal spring-lock clasp is also provided.

Wear these pins on clothing, uniforms, lab coats, tote bags, and backpacks to show that you value vaccines!

  

Click here for “Vaccines Save Lives” pins pricing and ordering information.

Visit Shop IAC for additional items, including “FLU VACCINE” buttons and stickers, 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 IAC’s IZ Coalitions Network News and IAC’s weekly e-newsletter, IAC Express!

Be sure you and your coalition members are subscribed to IZ Coalitions Network News and IAC Express e-newsletters from IAC!

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.

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions is a project of the Immunization Action Coalition.

To subscribe, send a request to info@immunizationcoalitions.org asking to be included.

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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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.