July 14 2022

Network News – July 14, 2022

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

Register today! National Network of Immunization Coalitions will hold a monkeypox update webinar with CDC on Friday, July 15.

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions will host a webinar titled Monkeypox Update at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday, July 15. Tara Anderson, DVM, MPH, PhD, DACVPM, CPH, epidemiologist, Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will provide a situational update and an overview of the national monkeypox vaccine strategy. There will be time for questions and answers following the presentation.

L.J Tan, MS, PhD, chief policy and partnerships officer, Immunize.org, will moderate the webinar.

National Network of Immunization Coalitions webinar on vaccine advocate safety at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on Monday, July 25

Immunize.org’s National Network of Immunization Coalitions will host a webinar titled Vaccine Advocate Safety Training at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on Monday, July 25, for vaccine advocates on de-escalation and safety/security techniques that can be used when confronted by hostile activists during public events and online. The skills to be covered will include de-escalation techniques and how to keep yourself safe. Speakers will include Crystal Rommen, LCSW, director, Louisiana Families for Vaccines, and an expert speaker from the Minnesota Fusion Center.

Register now for the 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.

Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions highlights ImmunizeVA, which was founded in 2020!

The Virginia Immunization Coalition (ImmunizeVA), founded in 2020, is a statewide coalition of immunization professionals and community leaders working together to improve immunization coverage across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Their vision is a future where Virginians’ quality of life and length of life are not impacted by a disease that could have been prevented by immunizations. ImmunizeVA plans to carry out this mission by achieving and maintaining full immunization protection through education, advocacy, statewide collaboration, and the promotion of equity.

ImmunizeVA hosts a webinar series titled Our Adult Immunization ECHO Series. The series was developed for adult primary care providers and other interested providers who administer vaccines to adults. It aims to address under-immunization in adults from three vaccine-preventable diseases by analyzing disparities and discussing equity-based strategies to address them. So far, the series has covered pneumococcal and HPV vaccines. These sessions can be viewed online through your dashboard when you create a free account. The next session, on influenza, will be led by L.J Tan, MS, PhD, of Immunize.org, from 12:00–1:00 p.m. (ET) on August 31.

The session is free and offers one continuing education credit.

ImmunizeVA will be holding its first in-person annual meeting this September in Richmond, VA. There will be a wide range of speakers addressing topics including health literacy, routine vaccination uptake, and improved data accessibility through the Virginia Immunization Information System.

Additionally, this past January, ImmunizeVA developed a survey to gather information on Virginian healthcare professionals’ thoughts and concerns related to the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters, which provided information that aided in the coalition’s advocacy efforts.

In April, the coalition debuted its first blog featuring Tracker, the canine companion who helps keep Virginians healthy and on track with their vaccines. Through Tracker, ImmunizeVA is able to write family-friendly blogs on a variety of vaccine-related topics. Tracker also helps to build coalition recognition through educational activities, vaccine reminder magnets, and an upcoming social media contest in August for National Immunization Awareness Month.

For more information on ImmunizeVA, visit www.immunizevirginia.org, check out their social media accounts, or email immunizeva@institutephi.org.

Montgomery County Immunization Coalition releases COVID-19 vaccine resources in five languages for children age 6 months up to 5 years

The Montgomery County Immunization Coalition (MCIC), in collaboration with trusted county, state, and private-sector partners, is distributing COVID-19 vaccine resources for children age 6 months up to age 5 years. Resources include social media images and sample posts in multiple languages to provide clear, accurate, and culturally appropriate messages to the community.

Images can be found in Chinese, English, Hindi, Korean, and Spanish.

The images can also be found along with the social media posts in MCIC’s AmVAXador Library. Feel free to share with your networks.

Related Link

- MCIC: COVID-19 Vaccine Virtual Town Hall: Children under 5 Years Old webinar at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on July 13

Immunize Kansas Coalition shares their experience launching “IKC Parents & Families Book Club” this summer

Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC) launched “IKC Parents & Families Group Book Club” this summer with support from Voices for Vaccines (VFV). All parents attending the meet-up and those connecting through the virtual book club received a free copy of Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism with additional copies for interested friends and family. IKC provided a reading schedule and will be sending out coinciding discussion questions throughout the summer. Questions are sent via email and posted in their IKC Parents & Families Facebook Group, where participants can share their thoughts on the book and engage with other members of the group.

A virtual book club is a great way to engage and allow more conversation about immunizations in any organization, coalition, or small group. If you would like to learn more about how to begin your own Parent Group or virtual book club, please reach out to IKC staff at immkscoalition@gmail.com.

Immunize South Dakota kicks off their “2 by 10” project, a statewide campaign for HPV vaccines targeting parents of 9–10-year-olds

Immunize South Dakota was awarded funding from South Dakota Cancer Programs Coalition and the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable to execute a state-wide campaign, “2 by 10,” for HPV vaccines targeting parents of children age 9–10. HPV vaccination completion rates in South Dakota have fallen behind the national average. HPV coverage rates are also lagging compared to other vaccines recommended at the same age. ISD is encouraging healthcare providers to start the 2-dose series at the age 9 well-child visit.

In June, ISD met with partners and like-minded organizations for project planning to identify and outline activities and collaboration opportunities to maximize the impact of “2 by 10.” The project will have two activities:

Provider education on the benefits and recommended best practices to begin the HPV vaccination series at an earlier age
Design and deploy a multi-media community awareness campaign aimed at parents explaining the benefits of the HPV vaccine and earlier completion of the vaccination series

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society, and National HPV Vaccination Roundtable all agree that HPV vaccination can begin at age 9. Evidence suggests that strong recommendations for the HPV vaccination starting at age 9 will increase vaccination completion and prevent cancers associated with vaccine HPV strains.

The “2 by 10” project will run from July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023. At the end of the project, ISD will compare HPV rates in South Dakota to those in early 2022.

Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics share resources including vaccine factsheets, a parent guide factsheet on COVID-19 for young children, and a back-to-school toolkit

The Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition (PAIC) and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PAAAP) have created various new resources on immunizations for healthcare professionals and the public, including:

PAIC-PAAAP vaccine information factsheets for 13 vaccines and corresponding vaccine-preventable diseases that include national and Pennsylvania data
PAIC-PAAAP parent guide fact sheet COVID-19 Vaccines and Children Ages 6 Months–4 Years, which addresses common parental concerns and misinformation, as well as dosage and timing information for the Moderna and Pfizer pediatric vaccines
PAIC Immunization Champions Toolkit is a back-to-school toolkit aimed to increase routine childhood and adolescent vaccination rates in Pennsylvania and protect against vaccine-preventable diseases

PAIC also has opportunities for local immunization champions to volunteer their time to assist with education and outreach, administrative tasks, and events. You can get involved and volunteer as an immunization champion by filling out the volunteer form.

Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit solicits nominations for 2022 NAIIS Immunization Excellence Awards; deadline has been extended to July 25

The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS, aka The Summit) is soliciting nominations for awardees for the 2022 NAIIS Immunization Excellence Awards. For the past two years, immunization stakeholders have gone above and beyond to serve the public health and healthcare needs of individuals and communities, and The Summit wants to recognize our heroes. The 2022 awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions towards improving vaccination access and delivery, health equity, and vaccine confidence within their communities during 2021–2022. The awards focus on individuals and organizations that exemplify the meaning of the “immunization neighborhood” (collaboration, coordination, and communication among immunization stakeholders dedicated to meeting the immunization needs of the patient and protecting the community from vaccine-preventable diseases). The NAIIS Immunization Excellence Awards recognize contributions to influenza vaccination and adult vaccination. Unless an award is specifically focused on influenza, it is the intent of The Summit to recognize broader adult immunization activities. Of course, vaccination activities related to COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic can and should be highlighted in your nomination packet.

A National Winner will be selected for each award category. Where appropriate, an Honorable Mention recipient will also be selected. The winners will receive their awards at the NAIIS in-person meeting (tentatively scheduled for November 2–3, 2022, in Atlanta, GA). The national winner in each category will be invited to give a brief talk about their programs at the NAIIS meeting.

The deadline for nominations has been extended to July 25, 2022.

Access the 2022 NAIIS Immunization Excellence Awards nomination form.

National Minority Quality Forum’s Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity and NOVA ScriptsCentral will launch a Community Pharmacist Ambassadors program this July

The National Minority Quality Forum’s (NMQF) Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SCH) and NOVA ScriptsCentral, with support from CDC, Sanofi Pasteur, Biogen, and other organizations, will be launching a pharmacist ambassadors program. Knowledge, professional training, and availability are what make pharmacists great ambassadors to deliver information and empower individuals and communities. The goal of this program is to train pharmacists to serve as community health educators, provide sound health information, and increase public recognition of the vital role pharmacists can play in health promotion. The program includes:

Free access to a brief and high-quality online curriculum that provides up-to-date information on the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, COVID treatments, and on health equity issues and optimal strategies for communicating in underserved communities of color
Communications tools for trained pharmacists to use in their communities
Placement opportunities across the country, including through YMCAs, church groups, and others

Pharmacists can enroll in the program by filling out the Community Pharmacist Ambassadors sign-up form.

A virtual meeting launch for the program will be scheduled for the end of July after which access to the online 15-minute training modules for the self-directed study will be made available. Upon completion of training, the Community Pharmacist Ambassadors will be provided information on health education opportunities in their community.

Save the Date! National Minority Quality Forum hosts webinar on hypertension and vaccinations on July 29.

The National Minority Quality Forum‘s (NMQF) Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) is exploring total health at the intersection of vaccinations within communities of color. SHC recognized the need to integrate total health education with efforts to increase vaccination uptake in communities of color during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interactive webinars based on various therapeutic areas that inform microsites, flyers, and infographics have been an innovative solution for disseminating timely public health education in a virtual/hybrid environment. SHC has partnered with the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) and their iREACH team to codesign each webinar and microsite.

So far, SHC and AIM/iREACH have hosted interactive webinars on:

Chronic Kidney Disease (Webinar, Microsite, English Flyer, Spanish Flyer)
Black Maternal Health (Webinar, Microsite, English Flyer, Spanish Flyer)
The Pandemic’s Toll on Mental Health (Webinar, Microsite, English Flyer, Spanish Flyer)
Cancer and Vaccines (Webinar, Microsite, English Flyer)

July’s webinar on hypertension and vaccines will be held at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on July 29.

Total Health topics left to explore include health and wellness, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lung health, healthy aging, and HIV/AIDS.

If you have any questions or if you would like your organization to collaborate with NMQF/SHC and AIM/iREACH on a future webinar, please contact Kristen Hobbs at khobbs@nmqf.org

National Public Health Information Coalition and CDC host 2022 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media on August 16–18

The National Public Health Information Coalition and CDC will hold the 2022 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media conference on August 16–18 in Atlanta, GA. Join colleagues from around the country at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta for a variety of thematic panel sessions on topical public health communication issues such as managing misinformation, reducing vaccine hesitancy, improving health equity, rebuilding trust in public health, and more. A limited virtual component to the conference is also offered.

Resources

HHS’s “We Can Do This” campaign launches toolkit for pediatricians and physicians who communicate with parents and patients about pediatric vaccinations

HHS’s public education campaign, We Can Do This, launched its Pediatricians and Family Physicians Toolkit, which includes a sample letter to parents, clinician talking points, posters and flyers that can be hung in exam and waiting rooms, and digital communications such as social media posts and sample text messages. The toolkit is also available in Spanish.

In addition to the new toolkit, HHS released a new PSA titled Promise (view in Spanish at Promesa), announcing the new COVID-19 vaccine authorization for children age 6 months and older.

Related Links

We Can Do This: Resources about COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children main page
We Can Do This: COVID-19 Vaccine Parent Messaging web page

Vaccinate Your Family launches “Their Best Shot” campaign aimed to raise awareness of missed childhood vaccinations during the COVID pandemic

Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) launched Their Best Shot, a community campaign to raise awareness of childhood vaccinations missed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign offers parents an overview on how they can get their children up to date on their vaccines during the summer.

VYF also offers a partner toolkit with graphics, talking points, and FAQs on the COVID-19 recommendation for children younger than age 5 years. Available in English and Spanish, these materials are free for you to co-brand, repurpose, and use to advocate for COVID-19 protection.

Related Links

- VYF: How Do We Know Vaccines Are Safe? new animated video
- Vaccinate Your Family’s YouTube Channel

Association of Immunization Managers shares a COVID-19 Vaccine Education Resources Guide, handout on implementing reminder/recall, and infographics to support COVID-19 vaccination in diverse communities

Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) is offering new resources on COVID-19 vaccination. The resources include:

COVID-19 Vaccine Education Resources guide, developed by AIM, National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and Johns Hopkins University, offers an up-to-date list of resources from trusted sources to assist public health workers, healthcare professionals, and community health workers in improving health equity and COVID-19 vaccination rates. View the guide (PDF).
COVID-19 Vaccine Education Resources portal, developed by AIM, NACCHO, and Johns Hopkins University, includes vaccine resources specific to faith-based organizations, African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and Native American communities
How Can Reminder/Recall Improve COVID-19 Vaccination Rates? developed by AIM, is a 2-page plain talk resource that provides helpful tips for immunization programs to implement reminder/recall efforts in their jurisdictions. View the handout (PDF).

AIM also created infographics summarizing the findings from Understanding Diverse Communities and Supporting Equitable and Informed COVID-19 Vaccination Decision-Making. This project is focused on how public health and other stakeholders can best understand and support decision-making as individuals consider if, and under what conditions, COVID-19 vaccination is right for them. Participants in these conversations were African Americans, Latinx, and Native Americans recruited from local communities or panel survey respondents from four U.S. regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, West) who had indicated that they were undecided about their intent to vaccinate now or in the future against COVID-19. This project is funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and is a collaboration of AIM, NACCHO, Johns Hopkins University, and other partners. Infographics include:

Meningitis B Action Project releases 8-page meningococcal vaccination guide with algorithms for healthcare providers

Meningitis B Action Project recently published Meningococcal Vaccination Algorithm, a comprehensive 8-page guide for use in clinical practice to support implementation of ACIP meningococcal vaccination recommendations.

This resource was created to help healthcare providers understand the complex ACIP recommendations for both MenACWY and MenB vaccinations, including appropriate dosing and intervals. It highlights strategies to support shared clinical decision-making for MenB vaccination.

Visit the Meningococcal Vaccination Algorithm website to view and print the document. To order copies or ask questions, please contact info@meningitisbactionproject.org.

NFID offers online CME activities with resources to help decrease disparities and increase vaccination rates among adolescents and adults

The National Foundation of Infectious Diseases, in collaboration with Medscape Education, offers CME activities and accompanying resources to help increase vaccination rates among adolescents and adults, and decrease vaccination disparities.

View the CME activities and accompanying resources.

**VYF’s Shot of Prevention releases a blog post answering questions about COVID vaccines for babies and kids under age five**

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:

Answering Your Questions about COVID Vaccines for Babies and Kids under 5

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

Job Announcements

Immunize Kansas Coalition is recruiting for an Executive Director

The Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC) is recruiting for a full-time Executive Director to focus on IKC’s growth, development, and sustainability, serve as IKC’s official media representative and spokesperson, and provide leadership to advocacy efforts and to the administration of the growing organization.

Please see the job posting for more information, and direct questions to IKC Chair, Carlie Houchen, at carlie.houchen@bcbsks.com.

Coalitions in the News

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

Medical Xpress: COVID-19 Misinformation Bolsters Anti-vaccine Movement (7/4/22)
Bloomberg: U.S. Orders 2.5 Million More Doses of Monkeypox Vaccine (7/1/22)
KTVB: Treasure Valley Organizations Making Health Information and Resources Accessible for All Idahoans (6/26/22)
Pharmacy Times: Examining the Partnership between Pharmacy and Public Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic (6/24/22)

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.

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.