Network News — March 2, 2021

Immunization Coalitions Network News

Network News - March 2, 2021

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Register now! CDC's Dr. Shimabukuro and Janine Cory to present updates on CDC's safety monitoring and communications for the COVID-19 vaccines during IAC webinar on March 4

IAC will host a webinar, “Updates on CDC’s Safety Monitoring and Communications for COVID-19 Vaccines,” on March 4 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (ET). Topics will include the COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring systems (e.g., the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System [VAERS], v-safe), as well as CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine communication products, and their Vaccinate with Confidence framework. These important and timely topics will be addressed by speakers from the CDC Immunization Safety Office and CDC’s Vaccine Task Force.
  • Tom Shimabukuro, MD, MPH, MBA, deputy director, Immunization Safety Office
  • Janine Cory, MPH, associate director for communications, Vaccine Task Force
Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH, IAC deputy director, will moderate the webinar. Speakers will answer audience questions at the conclusion of the presentations. You are welcome to submit your questions beforehand to eocevent545@cdc.gov. Register now to be sure you don’t miss this informative session. To subscribe, go to www.immunize.org/subscribe. We will never share your contact information. Back to top

Pre-order IAC's laminated versions of CDC’s 2021 immunization schedules today!

IAC's laminated versions of the 2021 U.S. child and adolescent immunization schedule and the 2021 U.S. adult immunization schedule are available for pre-order and will ship in mid-March. These schedules are ideal for use in any busy healthcare setting where vaccinations are given. Their tough coating can be wiped down, and they’re durable enough to stand up to a year's worth of use. The child/adolescent schedule is eight pages (i.e., four double-sided pages) and the adult schedule is six pages (i.e., three double-sided pages), but both schedules fold down to a convenient 8.5" x 11" size.    With color coding for easy reading, our laminated schedules replicate the original CDC formatting, including the essential tables and notes. PRICING 1–4 copies: $7.50 each 5–19 copies: $5.50 each 20–99 copies: $4.50 each 100–499 copies: $4.00 each 500–999 copies: $3.50 each For quotes on customizing or placing orders of 1,000 copies or more, call 651-647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org. Visit the Shop IAC: Laminated Schedules web page for more information on the schedules, to view images of all the pages, to download the order form, and to pre-order today!Related Links Back to top

The Ad Council launches COVID-19 vaccine campaign to help people make the informed choice to get vaccinated

On February 25, The Ad Council launched their COVID-19 vaccination campaign It's Up to You to encourage audiences to get the latest vaccine information, knowing that personal education is the first step in building vaccine confidence. The campaign is designed to reach different audiences, including communities of color who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. By ensuring that Americans have accurate and timely information to answer their questions and concerns about vaccine side effects, efficacy, and clinical trials, The Ad Council aims to shift the public mindset from vaccine hesitancy to vaccine confidence. Related Links Back to top

Becker's Hospital Review publishes "Lessons Learned from Influenza Mass Immunization Clinics Will Serve Us Well as COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts Ramp Up" by IAC authors—read it on IAC’s mass-vaccination-resources.org website

In its February issue, Becker's Hospital Review published Lessons Learned from Influenza Mass Immunization Clinics Will Serve Us Well as COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts Ramp Up, written by IAC's Drs. Carolyn Bridges and L.J Tan. A summary from the article is reprinted below. Mass immunization clinics are a critical tool in the public health toolbox to rapidly and efficiently provide large numbers of influenza vaccinations. Experience gained from influenza mass immunization clinics will be beneficial as COVID-19 mass immunization efforts roll out across the country. Related Links Back to top

Summary and slide deck now available from February 4 Summit call featuring ACOG's Sarah Carroll discussing COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy

The 1-page summary and slides of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's (ACOG) position on COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy presented during the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit's (NAIIS) call on February 4 are now available. Sarah Carroll, MPH, ACOG’s director of immunization, presented the overview. Pregnant individuals with symptomatic COVID-19 disease are at increased risk of more severe illness than their non-pregnant peers. ACOG has augmented its guidance documents and resources on COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant or lactating individuals. ACOG recommends that COVID-19 vaccines not be withheld from pregnant individuals who meet criteria for vaccination, and these individuals should be free to make their own decision regarding vaccination. Pregnant individuals are encouraged to discuss this decision with their healthcare team, but documentation of this discussion is not required. ACOG also recommends that COVID-19 vaccines be offered to lactating individuals based on their prioritization group. There is no need to avoid starting nor to discontinue breastfeeding in people who receive a COVID-19 vaccine. ACOG has just added/updated a wealth of helpful resources on COVID-19 and pregnancy to its webpages. These are excerpted on a handy one-page document.  Related Links Back to top

NPHIC releases toolkit from Ad Council and COVID Collaborative to help healthcare personnel respond to questions about COVID-19 vaccination

The National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) has released a COVID-19 Vaccine Education Toolkit from the Ad Council and the COVID Collaborative to address healthcare professionals' questions about COVID-19 vaccination. The resource includes videos (featuring Dr. Anthony Fauci and other leading healthcare and medical experts), a press release, FAQs, talking points, social media posts, and many customizable materials. Topics addressed include safety, availability, cost, side effects, vaccine administration, answering patients' questions, and more. Access the COVID-19 Vaccine Education Toolkit. Back to top

Sawbones releases "How to Talk about Vaccine Hesitancy" podcast, a guide for using a kind, empathetic approach

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine is a one-of-a-kind podcast reaching adults of all ages with entertaining dialogue about the history of medicine, medical quackery, and current issues. Family physician Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her joke-cracking journalist husband Justin McElroy have produced weekly episodes of Sawbones since 2013. Their shows frequently include information about the importance of getting vaccinated. In their January 26 episode, How to Talk about Vaccine Hesitancy, Dr. Sydnee and Justin provide a guide for talking with those who are vaccine hesitant and explaining how using a kind, empathetic approach can help them see the light (and the antibodies). They even give a kind nod to the Immunization Action Coalition (thank you!). All recent and past podcasts of Sawbones are available online at www.maximumfun.org/podcast/sawbones, where you can also access "How to Listen." Back to top

Vaccinate Your Family and the National Council of Negro Women have teamed up to launch Good Health WINs (Women’s Immunization Networks)

On February 10, Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) launched a new collaboration to help African American and Latinx communities thrive through good health. This new program, called Good Health WINs (Women’s Immunization Networks), pairs NCNW’s unparalleled network of two million American women and men of African descent with VYF’s deep knowledge of vaccines and immunization policy. The collaboration will work to ensure all communities have access to accurate vaccination information, in addition to vaccines. The final paragraph of the press release is reprinted below. Vaccinate Your Family’s cofounders, former first lady Rosalynn Carter and former first lady of Arkansas Betty Bumpers, understood the power of women’s networks. . . . Much has changed over the past three decades, but one thing has remained steadfast: women continue to be the stewards of good health for their families. Good Health WINs will activate those very networks to create a new future for families to live in good health. Back to top

The Influenzer Initiative offers online puzzle and trivia game, VaxHunt, that sends players on a quest to prevent the next pandemic

The Influenzer Initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute is promoting VaxHunt: The Quest to Prevent the Next Pandemic. This online game features trivia and puzzle challenges where players can explore the threat and history of influenza pandemics, why we need a universal influenza vaccine, the challenges of developing next-generation influenza vaccines, and the innovative, transdisciplinary approaches that may unearth the universal influenza vaccine mystery and deliver on its potential. VaxHunt helps strengthen STEM learning skills. Each game module has been reviewed by STEM.org Educational Research (SER) and awarded its Authenticate Trustmark. This game can be integrated into classrooms or used at home. Players who complete all the challenges will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize of $500! Related Links Back to top

Immunize Nevada hosts 2021 Virtual Annual Nevada Health Conference on March 8–9; register today

The Annual Nevada Health Conference will be held virtually on March 8–9. This event will bring together practitioners and community partners from different health professions including chronic disease prevention and health promotion; immunizations; and maternal, child, and adolescent health. Continuing education credits are available for multiple healthcare-related fields. Registration for the conference is now open. Back to top

MAIC to hold 26th Annual Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference on April 13; CE available

Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition (MAIC) will hold its 26th Annual Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference on April 13 from 8:00–3:45 p.m. (ET). This conference will provide an opportunity to receive updated information on routine adult immunization, including the COVID-19 vaccine, and offer networking and discussion opportunities with leading immunization experts and colleagues. The objectives of the conference are:
  • Discuss COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in Massachusetts
  • Identify the latest Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines and strategies to implement COVID vaccination in your practice
  • Describe how to use effective communication techniques to identify and address vaccine hesitancy
  • Summarize recommended vaccines according to the ACIP guidelines in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Discuss the importance of maintaining adult vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic
There is a $75 fee to attend the conference. Six hours of continuing education credit is available upon completion of the conference. Register for the conference. Back to top

NEJM offers free, on-demand COVID-19 vaccine training for clinicians available through June 30; CME available

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) offers COVID-19 Vaccine Training: What Every Clinician Needs to Know, a free online course for medical professionals available now through June 30. This program explores the virology of SARS-CoV-2, the mechanism of action of COVID-19 vaccines, the efficacy and safety of current COVID-19 vaccines, the practicalities involved in vaccine administration, and reviews the principles of vaccine development and how the COVID-19 vaccines fit into this framework. CME is available upon completion of the course. Register for the course.  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. To sign up, simply fill in your name and email address: www.immunize.org/subscribe. 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. Back to top

Urge your coalition’s members to subscribe to 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. The National Network of Immunization Coalitions is a project of the Immunization Action Coalition. Back to top

Please make sure your coalition’s information is up to date on immunizationcoalitions.org, the website of the National Network of Immunization Coalitions

The National Network of 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 138 immunization coalitions and nonprofits listed on this website; view their pages here. If your coalition information needs to be updated, please email info@immunizationcoalitions.org. New coalitions and nonprofit organizations: please add your organization on the National Network of Immunization Coalitions website by emailing info@immunizationcoalitions.org for instructions. 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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