Network News – May 19, 2022

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

Resources

Job Announcements

Coalitions in the News

Announcements

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

Register today and submit an abstract for the 15th National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships to be held in person September 13–15, 2022, in Minneapolis, MN

Immunize​.org and Voices for Vaccines are co-sponsoring the 15th National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships (NCICP), which is planned as an in-person meeting in Minneapolis/St. Paul at the Radisson Blu Mall of America on September 13–15, 2022. The NCICP is the only conference solely dedicated to collaboration and partnership to improve immunization uptake, educate our communities, and prevent the spread of disease. The conference addresses immunizations and public health challenges by sharing successful strategies that strengthen the work our coalitions and partnerships do.

We encourage you to submit an abstract for a poster or oral presentation to share your work at the conference. Abstract submissions are due June 1.

For questions about submissions, contact Voices for Vaccines.

Register for the conference.

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Nominate your colleagues for an Immunization Recognition Award at the National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships; deadline is June 30!

The 15th National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships (NCICP) is excited to announce the first Immunization Recognition Awards. There are five award categories: Immunization Leadership, Equity in Immunization, Excellence in Immunization Advocacy, Excellence in Immunization Collaboration, and Emerging Leader. If you know an immunization champion who is passionate about vaccines and has worked to increase immunization rates in their community, you may nominate them for an award by filling out the brief nomination form. If you would like to nominate more than one person or nominate the same person for multiple awards, please re-submit the form for each nomination. Self-nominations are welcome.

Awards will be given out at the NCICP in Minneapolis on September 13–15. The awards luncheon is tentatively scheduled for September 13 at 12:30 (CT). Winners do not need to be present to accept their award.

Nominations will be accepted through June 30 in order to give the selection committee plenty of time to select and notify the award winners.

If you have any questions about the nomination form or the awards, please email heather@immunizear.org.

Submit an award nomination.

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Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions welcomes VaxWell NH, a project of New Hampshire Public Health Association!

The New Hampshire Public Health Association’s VaxWell NH project is a statewide coalition working to reduce vaccine-preventable disease by increasing immunization rates. Many coalition organizations are working to expand understanding of the value and safety of immunizations and provide equitable access to immunizations for New Hampshire’s diverse array of communities. VaxWell NH aligns and connects the various stakeholders in this critical work, developing and amplifying a consistent voice to more effectively reduce vaccine-preventable diseases.

Established in 2021, the coalition’s 80 members include healthcare providers, school nurses, policy experts, and public health educators and researchers. The members meet monthly to:

  • Convene: connecting individuals and organizations to share best practices and maximize resources
  • Educate: providing clear and accurate information to build awareness and acceptance of the value of immunization across the lifespan
  • Advocate: building an intentionally independent and unbiased voice to advocate for equitable access to immunization

For more information, please contact VaxWell NH at vaxwellnh@nhpha.org.

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Oklahoma Alliance for Healthy Families launches “Day One” campaign with social media resources, and releases a blog post on effecting positive changes in public health for voters

The Oklahoma Alliance for Healthy Families (OAHF), with the help of local doctors, launched a campaign during National Infant Immunization Week titled Day One Campaign that informs pregnant individuals about upcoming medical decisions they will be making for their infant. The campaign offers the latest about early health screenings, what will happen in the hospital at birth, and how to protect the infant before going home. You can find resources, social media posts and graphics, videos, and an easy-to-reach immunization schedule on the Day One Campaign web page.

OAHF also released a new blog post titled Effecting Positive Changes in Public Health: Voter Basics that offers information on voting basics, including how to find your representative and ways to stay up-to-date on current issues. Find this article and more on OAHF’s Our Blog web page.

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Montgomery County Immunization Coalition celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May by launching a toolkit with resources in five languages!

Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County Immunization Coalition (MCIC) developed a social media toolkit in support of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM) in May. MCIC’s toolkit brings attention to the importance of COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, as one of the strongest tools to end the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affects communities of color.

The toolkit includes social media messages and images in five languages: Chinese, English, Hindi, Korean, and Vietnamese. You can use the following direct links to social media images:

The messages and images can be used across social media platforms to encourage members of diverse communities to get all recommended COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Include the hashtags #VaxMontco and #AAPIHM with your posts.

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Immunize Kansas Coalition hosted a two-part webinar series titled Engaging Vaccine Hesitancy in May; recordings available

The Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC) hosted a two-part webinar series, Engaging Vaccine Hesitancy, during the first two weeks in May. These webinars were designed to help those working to encourage vaccinations to be better equipped to have vaccination conversations.

The first webinar held on May 4, “Q&A with Former Anti-Vax Moms,” featured Lydia Greene and Heather Simpson from Back to the Vax. Over 100 participants from across Kansas and the United States joined the webinar to hear Lydia and Heather share their stories, ask questions about their experiences, and get answers about what has been the most impactful in shifting their perspectives.

The second webinar held on May 11, “Successfully Talking About Vaccines: The Voices for Vaccines Method,” was with Karen Ernst, MA, Executive Director of Voices for Vaccines, who is a nationally known expert in building vaccine confidence through peer-to-peer networking and interactions. Karen trained webinar participants on how to have successful conversations about vaccines using the 4A Method: Ask, Acknowledge, Affirm, and Answer.

Recordings are available upon request. To request the recordings of one or both webinars, please contact IKC staff at immkscoalition@gmail.com.

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Indiana Immunization Coalition hosts “ACIP Vaccine Updates since the Start of the Pandemic” webinar on May 25

The Indiana Immunization Coalition will host a webinar titled ACIP Vaccine Updates since the Start of the Pandemic from 3:00–4:00 p.m. (ET) on May 25. This webinar will focus on changes to vaccine recommendations across the lifespan as approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) over the past eighteen months. The presenter will be Andrew Kroger, MD, MPH, medical officer for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC.

CME, CNE, and Pharmacy Continuing Education will be offered.

Register for the webinar.

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Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition and PA Chapter of the AAP host “Let’s Talk: Building Pro-vaccine Presence on Social Media” webinar on May 26

The Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition (PAIC) and the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PAAAP) will host a webinar titled Let’s Talk: Building Pro-vaccine Presence on Social Media from 1:00–2:00 p.m. (ET) on May 26, as part of their Let’s Talk webinar series. The webinar will offer medical professionals and local immunization coalition partners strategies to expand a pro-vaccine online and social media presence. Attendees will also learn how to engage with parents to build a network of immunization champions that will promote science-based pro-vaccine information online, how to develop a plan of action when vaccine misinformation is seen online, and how to manage online attacks by anti-science accounts.

Register for the webinar.

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Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

Date change! The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit 2022 meeting, “What’s Up with Flu in ’22! Surveillance, Vaccines, Policy, and Communications Last Year and Next,” will be held on May 20.

The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit Influenza Vaccine 2022 meeting, What’s Up with Flu in ’22! Surveillance, Vaccines, Policy, and Communications Last Year and Next, originally scheduled on May 19, 2022, will now be held virtually on May 20, 2022, from 2:00–4:45 p.m. (ET). The date change is due to the recently scheduled ACIP meeting.

To attend, pre-meeting registration is required by 5:00 p.m. (PT)/8:00 p.m. (ET) on May 19, 2022. If you have already registered, you do not need to register again. You should receive an updated Zoom link by email.

The agenda for this year’s meeting includes:

  • CDC presentations on influenza virus surveillance in 2021–22; influenza vaccine ACIP update; vaccine effectiveness, including data informing ACIP discussions regarding enhanced influenza vaccines; and vaccine coverage in 2021–22
  • Overview of influenza vaccines in development
  • Information on anticipated influenza vaccine supply for 2022–23 and manufacturers’ discussion on potential challenges for the upcoming year
  • CDC presentation on communications planning for 2022–23

Register for the meeting.

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NMQF’s Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity launched a webinar series focusing on historically excluded populations; May 20 webinar is on Vaccinations & Mental Health

National Minority Quality Forum’s (NMQF) Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) launched a webinar series that explores the intersections of total health and vaccinations in historically excluded populations. Typically held on the last Friday of every month, each webinar in the series will focus on a different health topic and vaccine(s) and will include perspectives from experts and patients.

The next webinar in the series is titled Champions for Total Health: The Pandemic’s Toll on Mental Health and will be held at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on May 20.

Future webinar registration links will be made available the Monday prior to each event. Please check the National Network of Immunization Calendar for event links for the following future webinar topics:

June 24: Cancer and Vaccines
July 29: Health, Wellness, and Vaccines
August 26: Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Vaccines
September 30: Healthy Aging and Vaccines
October 28: Lung Health and Vaccines
November 18: Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Vaccines
December 16 or 23: HIV/AIDS and Vaccines

After each session, a web page will be made available with additional information, resources, and infographics. Find resources from the March and April webinars on the Chronic Kidney Disease, Vaccinations and Your Health page and the Black Maternal Health and Vaccines page. Archived webinars in the series can be found on NMQF’s YouTube channel.

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HHS hosts “Federal Implementation of Updated Hepatitis B Vaccination Recommendations” webinar on May 23

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) will host a webinar titled Federal Implementation of Updated Hepatitis B Vaccination Recommendations from 2:00–3:30 p.m. (ET) on May 23. As part of the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan, federal partners are working together to increase U.S. hepatitis B vaccination uptake. A panel of federal leaders will discuss how HHS agencies plan to encourage vaccination uptake.

Register for the webinar.

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PA-AAP Pennsylvania Medical Home Program hosts part three of its three-part webinar series on provider communications with adolescents on June 22

The PA-AAP Pennsylvania Medical Home Program will host part three of its three-part webinar series titled Strategies to Improve Provider Communications with Adolescent Patients: Relationships and Rights. This webinar series includes teen speakers providing perspectives on their experiences and recommendations for healthcare professionals.

The final webinar Transitioning Adolescent Patients to Self-Management of Healthcare will be held on June 22 at 6:00 p.m. (ET). Learning objectives include:

  • Formulating mechanisms to introduce the six core elements (of transition) into your practice
  • Designing processes at your practice to assess the transition readiness of your teen patients
  • Equipping teen patients to assume heightened medical decision-making responsibilities (with particular focus on continuing immunization coverage)

Participants may be eligible for CME/CEU.

Register for the webinar.

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CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center releases “Communicating about Vaccines – COVID-19 & More,” a free, web-based interactive module; CE available

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Vaccine Education Center (VEC) released Communicating about Vaccines – COVID-19 & More, a free, web-based interactive session. It is divided into three parts:

  • Part 1: details the dangers of COVID-19 disease, explains the U.S. system to authorize and license vaccines, and highlights the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines
  • Part 2: explores best practices in vaccine communication
  • Part 3: reviews key points, offers additional resources, and explains how to receive continuing education credit (up to 2 hours) or a certificate of attendance

To access versions “for credit” (registration required) or “no credit,” visit Online Learning for Healthcare Providers web page.

This module was developed by the Vaccine Education Center and the Office of Community Engagement at CHOP, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition, and Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

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Encourage students in grades 6 through 12 to enter now! The 2022 Dr. Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest, sponsored by the Vaccine Education Center at CHOP, open for submissions.

The Vaccine Makers Project, the classroom-based program of the Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, invites submissions for the 2022 Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest. Students in grades 6 through 12 are encouraged to learn about Dr. Hilleman’s life and accomplishments and submit a 500- to 600-word essay by June 10, 2022. This year’s writing prompt is “Maurice Hilleman was a determined scientist. Describe what this means and provide an example of determination in science.”

This year VEC partnered with Immunize Canada, Kids Boost Immunity, and Students for Herd Immunity to open the Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest to Canadian students.

Details and the entry form are available at HillemanFilm.com/contest. This year there will be six winners—three from each country. The winners will each receive $1,000, a certificate, a VEC prize bag, and recognition at a virtual award event this fall. Please share this information with eligible students or with teachers who may be interested in sharing with their students.

Related Links

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Resources

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month; raise awareness of the new recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination of all adults through age 59 years with these resources

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month across the United States, and May 19 is designated as national Hepatitis Testing Day. Public health partners are working to shed light on the effect of viral hepatitis while encouraging testing and vaccination in accordance with the CDC recommendations for adult vaccination issued in April 2022.

Key facts:

  • Several viruses can cause hepatitis. The most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
  • Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the leading causes of liver cancer in the United States
  • Both hepatitis A and hepatitis B are preventable with safe and effective vaccines

CDC published Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination in Adults Aged 19–59 Years: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2022 on April 1 in MMWR. Hepatitis B vaccination is now recommended by CDC as shown:

  • All adults age 19 through 59 years and adults age 60 years and older with risk factors for hepatitis B infection should be vaccinated against hepatitis B
  • Adults age 60 years and older without known risk factors may also receive HepB vaccination

Immunize​.org updated its popular Ask the Experts: Hepatitis B web page to reflect the new adult recommendations in April.

CDC continues to recommend hepatitis B vaccination for all infants and catch-up vaccination of children and teens younger than age 19 years.

Get the word out with graphics and posts on social media to promote Hepatitis Awareness Month and National Hepatitis Testing Day. CDC’s social media toolkit can be found on its Hepatitis Awareness Month web page.

Related Links

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VYF’s Shot of Prevention releases new blog post on the safety of vaccines for babies with answers from trusted nurses

Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) hosts a blog, Shot of Prevention, where people come to discuss news and views on vaccines. Check out the most recent blog post on Shot of Prevention:

Subscribe to Shot of Prevention to get the latest blog posts delivered to your inbox.

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AIM, Emory University, and Immunize​.org collaborate on “Supporting Immunization Programs to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Recommendations for National and Community-Based Stakeholders” published in Vaccine

The Association of Immunization Managers, Emory University, and Immunize​.org recently collaborated on Supporting Immunization Programs to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Recommendations for National and Community-Based Stakeholders, published in Vaccine. The article focuses on challenges to addressing vaccine hesitancy, the value of community-based partnerships and stakeholder engagement, and the next steps. The conclusions section appears below.

The 64 state, local and territorial IPs [immunization programs] are the backbone of the US immunization system, so we advocate for engagement of all stakeholders to directly support IPs in addressing vaccine hesitancy within their jurisdictions. To maintain routine vaccination coverage rates and implement a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign, IPs need engagement of stakeholders at all levels to promote sound immunization policies, identify and address the needs of vulnerable subpopulations, implement evidence-based strategies to promote the value of vaccination, and combat misinformation online. IPs, with support of stakeholders, are the key to effectively addressing the complex challenges of vaccine hesitancy in order to bring the pandemic to a swift end.

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Job Announcements

NACCHO is recruiting for a Senior Director to lead their Immunization and Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health Programs.

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is recruiting for a Senior Director to lead its Immunization and Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health programs. Please see the job posting for more information.

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Coalitions in the News

These recent articles feature coalition activities and other stories of interest to coalitions

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Announcements

Visit the National Network of Immunization Coalitions calendar of events for immunization coalitions!

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions maintains a Calendar of Events on its website, immunizationcoalitions.org. This is an easy way to find out about upcoming national, regional, state, and local conferences, workshops, and virtual educational opportunities.

If you have a vaccination-related event that you would like your colleagues to know about via this Calendar of Events, email info@immunizationcoalitions.org.

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Stay up to date by subscribing to IZ Express, encourage your coalition’s members to subscribe to Immunize​.org’s IZ Coalitions Network News, and make sure your coalition’s information is up to date on immunizationcoalitions​.org, the website of the National Network of Immunization Coalitions

Be sure you’re subscribed to IZ Express!
IZ Express is the free weekly e-newsletter produced by Immunize.org. IZ 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 Immunize​.org, CDC, AAP, and others. It also provides updates on online and in-person educational opportunities, many offering free continuing education credit. To subscribe, simply provide your name and email address at www.immunize.org/subscribe. We will never share your contact information.

Urge your coalition members to sign up for IZ Coalitions Network News!
IZ Coalitions Network News is a monthly e-newsletter for the National Network of Immunization Coalitions that 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. To subscribe, send a request to info@immunizationcoalitions.org asking to be included. The National Network of Immunization Coalitions is a project of Immunize​.org.

Make sure your coalition is listed and your information is up to date on immunizationcoalitions​.org
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 142 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 of Immunization Coalitions website. Updated information can be added at any time by emailing info@immunizationcoalitions.org.

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