Network News — January 18, 2024

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

Resources

Coalitions in the News

Announcements

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

16th National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships seeks nominations for 2024 recognition awards; deadline is February 9

The 16th National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships (NCICP) is the only conference solely dedicated to collaboration and partnership to improve immunization uptake, educate the community, and prevent the spread of disease. Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition is proud to host the event on April 9–11, 2024, in Philadelphia at the Loews Hotel.

NCICP is soliciting nominations for the 2024 recognition awards no later than February 9, 2024.

Nominate an immunization champion who is passionate about vaccines and who has worked to increase immunization rates in their community. The 2022 immunization award winners are not eligible for the same award. Awards will be given in five categories:

  • Immunization Leadership (2022 winner: Erica DeWald)
  • Equity in Immunization (2022 winner: Julissa Soto)
  • Excellence in Immunization Advocacy (2022 winner: Heather Braum)
  • Excellence in Immunization Collaboration (2022 winner: Leisha Anderson)
  • Emerging Leader (2022 winner: Ashlesha Kaushik)

Awards will be given during a luncheon at the 2024 NCICP Conference, April 9–11, in Philadelphia. Winners do not need to be present to accept their award.

Access the 2024 NCICP award nomination form.

Visit the NCICP website at www.ncicp.org for all the information you need, including registration, sponsorship opportunities, activities, awards, hotel reservations, and more.

Back to Top

Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

WithinReach launches new “Hepatitis B Health Disparities in Refugee and Immigrant Communities” e-course

National data reveal large disparities in hepatitis B incidence and prevalence in the United States, particularly among immigrants and refugees from hepatitis B endemic regions. WithinReach, a health advocacy group in Washington State, relaunched its free Hepatitis B Health Disparities in Refugee and Immigrant Communities e-course to provide tools to work with immigrant and refugee patients and ensure they are screened and effectively treated for hepatitis B. Viewers will learn the most up-to-date information on hepatitis B transmission and epidemiology, prevention through vaccination, screening procedures, and treatment guidelines. The course also covers barriers that refugees and immigrants face regarding hepatitis B and provides communication tools to work with these populations.

Continuing education credits (CNE, CME, AAMA) are available upon completion of the online evaluation and submitting an online request.

Access the free course.

Back to Top

Voices for Vaccines will host a one-hour webinar titled Top Healthcare Trends and Tactics to Guide Your Social Media Strategy through 2024 at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on February 1. The second in the Social Media Marketing for Immunization Organizations series created specifically for immunization coalitions by social media strategist Marian Deegan, JD, this webinar reviews successful social media trends used by healthcare organizations over the past year and teaches you how to use these winning trends in your coalition’s social media strategy.

At the conclusion of the webinar, attendees will receive the presentation slides from this year’s webinar, as well as the slides from last year’s webinar, “Tips and Tricks to Strengthen Your Brand Presence and Connect with Your Audience.”

Register for the webinar.

Back to Top

In-person: The Missouri Immunization Coalition hosts the 2024 Missouri Immunization Conference, “Building Immunity in Missouri Communities,” on April 25–26 in Columbia; fee to attend

The Missouri Immunization Coalition has opened registration for the 2024 Missouri Immunization Conference, Building Immunity in Missouri Communities, April 25–26 in Columbia, Missouri. The purpose of the conference is to provide immunization education to increase immunization rates and protect all Missourians.

There is a fee to attend.

Register for the conference.

Back to Top

In-person: Save the Date! Immunize Nevada announces the Nevada Health Conference on May 6–7 in Reno.

Save the date! Immunize Nevada will host its 18th annual Nevada Health Conference (#NHC23) on May 6–7 in Reno, Nevada. Last year’s conference brought together more than 200 healthcare professionals from throughout Nevada and the region, offering topics focused on immunizations; chronic disease prevention and health promotion; and maternal, child, and adolescent health. Each day featured nationally recognized keynote speakers and concurrent workshops, featuring local and national experts. The event alternates between Reno and Las Vegas each year.

If you are interested in being a vendor or sponsor, please reach out to info@immunizenevada.org.

Back to Top

Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

CMS offers additional Medicare payments for certain in-home vaccinations

Starting January 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide an additional payment amount for administering influenza, hepatitis B, and pneumococcal vaccinations in the patient’s home for certain Medicare patients.

For 2024, the additional payment amount for in-home Part B preventive vaccine administration is approximately $38. Medicare will pay this amount in addition to the standard administration amount (approximately $30 per influenza, hepatitis B, or pneumococcal dose) for a total payment of approximately $68 per vaccination administered in a patient’s home in 2024.

For additional details, including billing codes and conditions visit this CMS web page.

Back to Top

Health Affairs announces applications for its “Health Equity Fellowship for Trainees” program due February 15

Health Affairs announced applications for its Health Equity Fellowship for Trainees (HEFT) program. HEFT helps to increase the quantity and quality of manuscripts published on the topic of health equity while cultivating future health equity research leaders. HEFT currently concentrates on manuscripts focused on the topic of health equity along the dimensions of race and ethnicity.

The program provides multilayered mentorship to early career health equity researchers. As part of the program, HEFT fellows receive mentorship from experienced Health Affairs authors and editorial staff for 18 months as the fellows prepare manuscripts to be published in Health Affairs or another journal.

Applications for the 2024–2025 cohort will be open until February 15.

View details on this opportunity.

Back to Top

NFID invites abstract submissions for 2024 Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research to be held virtually May 8–10; abstract deadline is February 29

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) will host the 2024 Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research (ACVR) virtually on May 8–10. ACVR brings together the diverse disciplines involved in vaccine research, development, implementation, and real-world evaluation. By drawing upon an international audience of scientists and researchers, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, and public health officials, the conference is designed to facilitate the exchange of ideas across a broad range of disciplines, addressing challenges and breakthroughs in vaccinology.

NFID invites abstract submissions of original research in the field of vaccinology. Abstracts are peer-reviewed for quality of research, educational, and scientific content. Accepted abstracts will be scheduled as either poster or oral presentations at ACRV.

The deadline to submit an abstract is February 29. Abstract notifications will be sent in March.

Registration will be made available at the 2024 Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research web page soon.

Submit an abstract.

Back to Top

Today! Virtual: NFID hosts webinar titled “Strategies for Improving HPV Vaccination Rates” on January 18 at 1:00 p.m. (ET); CME credit offered.

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)  will host a webinar titled Strategies for Improving HPV Vaccination Rates, 1:00–2:00 p.m. (ET) on January 18. NFID Medical Director Robert (Bob) H. Hopkins, Jr., MD, will moderate the webinar with presentations by Cassandra (Sandy) Pingali, MS, MPH, CDC epidemiologist, and Sherri Zorn, MD, pediatric physician-quality improvement coach, Washington State HPV Free Task Force. Kimberly Williams, chief diversity equity and inclusion officer at Cervivor, will also share her personal story as a cervical cancer survivor. CME credit is available.

There is no fee to participate in this activity, but preregistration is required.

Register for the webinar.

NFID hosts monthly webinars to increase awareness of the importance of infectious disease prevention and treatment. CME, CNE, and CPE credit are available for select recordings. View all archived NFID webinars.

Back to Top

Virtual: Partnering for Vaccine Equity hosts webinar titled “Creating Culturally and Linguistically Relevant Health Education Materials” on January 22 at 1:00 p.m. (ET)

Partnering for Vaccine Equity (P4VE) will host a webinar titled Creating Culturally and Linguistically Relevant Health Education Materials at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on January 22 with a featured speaker from the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM). NRC-RIM is funded by the CDC to support health departments and community organizations working with refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities that have been disproportionately affected by health inequities. NRC-RIM offers high-quality resources that are rigorously translated, culturally relevant, and professionally designed.

During this webinar, you will learn to use NRC-RIM’s templates to create health education campaigns in more than 40 languages or create your own campaign in partnership with your local community. There will be a review of material creation, including free, low-tech tools, stock photo selection, and design principles; sharing of translation strategies that ensure materials are linguistically and culturally relevant; and a demonstration on how to customize professionally designed and pre-translated NRC-RIM health campaign materials.

Live Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Register for the webinar.

Back to Top

Virtual: The International Society for Influenza and other Respiratory Diseases hosts webinar titled "RSV Vaccination in the Elderly Population" on January 24 at 8:30 a.m. (ET)

The International Society for Influenza and other Respiratory Diseases will host a webinar titled RSV Vaccination in the Elderly Population, 8:30–10:00 a.m. (ET) on January 24. Barney Graham, MD, Morehouse School of Medicine, will speak on “Proof-of-Concept for Structure-Based Vaccine Design,” and Edward E. Walsh, MD, University of Rochester Medical Center, will speak on “Clinical Development of the RSV Vaccines for the Elderly and Their Likely Impact upon Rollout.”

Register for the webinar.

Back to Top

Virtual: Unity Consortium offers communications briefing for Adolescent Immunization Action Week 2024 (#AIAW24) on January 30 at 12:30 p.m. (ET)

Unity Consortium (Unity) will host a planning meeting for Adolescent Immunization Action Week (#AIAW24), 12:30–1:00 p.m. (ET) on January 30. During the meeting, Unity will review messages, resources, and events for the AIAW24 toolkit.

AIAW24 takes place April 1–5. Join this national movement to spur action among healthcare providers, parents, and adolescents to ensure adolescents are up to date on recommended immunizations.

Contact unity@unity4teenvax.org for a meeting invitation or to discuss your participation in AIAW24. Consider sponsoring webinars or events and including AIAW24 in your communications plans leading up to and during April 1–5.

Back to Top

Resources

Immunize​.org launches its “Clinical Resources: Improving the Vaccination Experience” web page

With support from CDC, Immunize​.org launched its Clinical Resources: Improving the Vaccination Experience web page, a home for all of its resources to help you create a positive vaccination experience and ease anxiety in children and adults. Immunize​.org print and video resources offer effective and practical steps that vaccination providers, recipients, caregivers, and companions can take to reduce vaccination-related pain and anxiety. Links to additional resources from trusted partner organizations are also provided.

The web page features all of our printable clinical resources on addressing vaccination anxiety, two in-depth webinars, and six brief videos that run 4 minutes or less. The short videos are ideal for sharing with patient families on your website or social media. As with all Immunize​.org resources, these videos and associated clinical resources are free to download, link, copy, and share.

The video topics include:

Related Links

Back to Top

Sign up for the 3Cs program from Unity Consortium to combat vaccine hesitancy

Unity Consortium (Unity) offers its 3Cs educational program to help healthcare providers deliver Confident, Concise, and Consistent recommendations (the 3Cs) for all ACIP-recommended vaccines for adolescents and young adults.

This free self-guided resource features video vignettes of healthcare providers responding to common questions and concerns.

  • Videos: the videos, available with Spanish captions, demonstrate how providers can use simple motivational interviewing and shared clinical decision-making strategies to address concerns and help adolescents and parents be confident in accepting vaccine recommendations
  • Resource guide: a Q&A-style resource guide, available in both English and Spanish, includes sample recommendations by age
  • CE: the 3Cs program is appropriate for individual and team training; continuing education credit is available through the Indiana University School of Medicine

The Pursuit of the 3Cs: Confident, Concise, and Consistent Provider Recommendations for Adolescent Vaccines video series was funded by Unity’s member organizations and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s HPV Cancer Prevention Program.

Visit Unity’s 3Cs web page for more information and to register for the free, online program.

Back to Top

The VacciNative Alliance shares accurate vaccine information for Native people by Native people

The VacciNative Alliance is a national alliance of Elders, clinicians, and public health professionals dedicated to sharing accurate vaccine information for Native people by Native people. VacciNative Alliance is offering free materials, including handouts, flipcharts, PowerPoints, social media content, videos, and more.

View resources.

Back to Top

The Center for Black Health and Equity offers Truth Check Media Literacy Series to provide skills to spot and address misinformation on social media

The Center for Black Health and Equity offers training for the public titled Truth Check Media Literacy Series, to teach skills to spot and address misinformation on social media.

Black communities are flooded with misinformation on social media in the form of hoaxes, false claims, and flat-out lies. With the click of a button, fake and harmful information in one’s newsfeed can spread widely. Truth Check Media Literacy Series helps arm people with tools to stop the spread of misinformation.

Truth Check Media Literacy Series is free and offers a toolkit in both English and Spanish, media literacy resources, fact sheets, and more.

Find out more at thetruthcheck.org.

Back to Top

NFID posts podcast featuring CDC director Mandy K. Cohen on building trust through transparency

Infectious IDeas, a podcast series from NFID, brings leading experts together for thought-provoking conversations. The latest entry in the series, Building Trust through Transparency, features Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH. A description from the web page appears below.

In this episode, hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, talk with Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH, director of the CDC about her perspectives on rebuilding trust in public health agencies. She shares what first influenced her to study medicine, what she is most proud of to date at CDC, and what most keeps her awake at night.

Back to Top

Coalitions in the News

Back to Top

Announcements

Announcements from the National Network of Immunization Coalitions

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions reminds you of the important ways every coalition can plug into the power of our network:

  • Bookmark National Network of Immunization Coalitions’ Calendar of Events on its website, immunizationcoalitions.org, to learn about upcoming national, regional, state, and local conferences; workshops; and virtual educational opportunities
  • Subscribe to IZ Express, the free weekly e-newsletter produced by Immunize.org, for immunization-related news, new and updated recommendations, educational materials, and educational opportunities
  • Urge your coalition members to sign up for IZ Coalitions Network News, the monthly e-newsletter for the National Network of Immunization Coalitions that features news of interest to immunization coalitions and nonprofit organizations. To subscribe, send a request to info@immunizationcoalitions.org asking to be included.
  • Be sure that your coalition is listed and information is up to date on the National Network of Immunization Coalitions website. To add your coalition or make updates, please email info@immunizationcoalitions.org.
Back to Top
Back To Top