Network News — March 14, 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 to be held April 9–11 in Philadelphia, PA

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.

Registration is now closed.

Hotel room reservations at the Loews Hotel are available and we strongly urge you to make your room reservations through the NCICP registration process/website as the conference needs to meet a minimum room quota in order to not be charged a penalty. The room block closes March 18.

We urge you to sign up for the NCICP special events:

  • April 8, 5:00–6:30 p.m. (ET): preconference networking social and opportunity to explore the Mutter Museum, one of Philadelphia’s most beloved museums; event sponsored by BIO
  • April 9, 6:00–8:00 p.m. (ET): exciting night at the Franklin Institute exploring science and technology; event sponsored by PAIC

NCICP Facebook and X accounts have been created for 2024 NCICP. Please follow and share the NCICP posts.

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

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Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

Meningitis B Action Project becomes American Society for Meningitis Prevention!

The Meningitis B Action Project is now the American Society for Meningitis Prevention (ASMP).

Patti Wukovits and Alicia Stillman, who each lost young, healthy daughters to meningitis B, cofounded the Meningitis B Action Project in 2017. Since then, the meningitis prevention landscape has evolved in the United States with several complex policy changes, new vaccination options, and growing educational needs across a wide range of stakeholders. These changes spurred the launch of ASMP to bring clarity to increasingly complex meningitis prevention issues.

ASMP aims to empower people to take action to prevent meningococcal meningitis with comprehensive vaccination against five types of meningococcal bacteria that cause meningococcal meningitis: A, B, C, W, and Y.

ASMP focuses on:

  • Educating adolescents, young adults, and their parents about how to prevent meningitis
  • Mobilizing providers to prioritize comprehensive meningitis prevention
  • Achieving comprehensive national, state, and school meningitis prevention policies
  • Improving equitable access to meningitis prevention
  • Catalyzing a national network of meningitis advocates

Visit the ASMP website at meningitisprevention.org for more information. The website includes new educational materials, including those for the new meningitis pentavalent vaccine, available for download and ordering.

If you are interested in partnering with ASMP, contact info@meningitisprevention.org.

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Please take this 5-minute survey to update your coalition’s contact information

Please be sure that your coalition’s information is up to date on the National Network of Immunization Coalitions by taking a simple 5-minute survey.

Take the survey.

The deadline to respond is March 22.

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Immunize Kansas Coalition shares outreach materials for respiratory season

The Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC) is offering new educational resources to highlight the importance of immunization to protect communities from respiratory viruses.

Resources include:

  • Respiratory Season Brochure: highlights COVID-19, flu, and RSV; viewers can learn about each disease, its symptoms, and how to prevent illness through vaccination
  • Bridge Access Program Insert Card: features CDC’s Bridge Access Program; the card shares who qualifies for the program, where to receive free vaccines, and when these vaccines are no longer accessible for free
  • Honest Conversations Campaign: offers new videos to amplify immunization stories from two Southwest Kansans as they share the importance of flu vaccination in protecting loved ones

These new resources are offered in Spanish and English.

Find more resources on IKC’s Key Resources main page.

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Virtual: Montgomery County Immunization Coalition hosts Ask the Experts webinar on childhood vaccines during National Infant Immunization Week on April 23 at 7:00 p.m. (ET); Spanish version held on April 25 at 7:00 p.m. (ET)

The Montgomery County Immunization Coalition (MCIC) will host a webinar during National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) on childhood vaccines as part of their Ask the Experts webinar series at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on April 23. A Spanish version of the webinar will follow at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on April 25. During the webinar, healthcare experts will answer participants’ questions on childhood vaccines.

Register for the webinar in English and in Spanish.

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In-person: Immunize Nevada hosts the 2024 Nevada Health Conference, “What Does Health and Vaccine Equity Mean to You?” on May 6–7 in Reno; fee to attend

Immunize Nevada will host its 18th annual Nevada Health Conference (#NCH24) on May 6–7 in Reno, Nevada. The conference aims to address health disparities and empower public health and healthcare professionals to positively influence their communities with this year’s theme, “What Does Health and Vaccine Equity Mean to You? Addressing Social Justice Through Public Health Practice and Partnerships.” The #NHC24 event brings 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 features nationally recognized keynote speakers and concurrent workshops featuring local and national experts.

Register for the conference.

For more information, visit the 18th Annual Nevada Health Conference web page.

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

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Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

The Unity Consortium (Unity) will host a webinar during Adolescent Immunization Action Week 2024 (AIAW) titled Staying on TASK: New Trends in Vaccination for Adolescents at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on April 2. The webinar will be moderated by Chelsea Clinton, PhD, Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation, and will feature Admiral Rachel Levine, MD, HHS Assistant Secretary of Health. Panelists include Todd Wolynn, MD, pediatrician and cofounder of Shots Heard Round the World, and Jennifer Sanderson, educator and member of Unity’s Mom Advisory Council.  During the webinar there will be a discussion from multiple perspectives on vaccination and adolescent health.

Register for the webinar.

Adolescent Immunization Action Week (#AIAW24) is April 1–5. It’s time to finalize your plans. Join Unity in urging healthcare professionals, parents, and adolescents to keep adolescents up to date on recommended immunizations.

Unity will host its final AIAW planning meeting at 12:30-1:00 p.m. (ET) on March 26. This is the last briefing before AIAW, so be sure to have your organization represented.

Register for the meeting.

You can view the AIAW24 Partner Toolkit (password: unity), which includes newsletter inserts, graphics, social media posts, videos, branded hashtag #AIAW24, and more to use with your constituents and members. You can also customize resources to meet your needs.

Consider sponsoring webinars or events and including AIAW24 in your communications plans leading up to and during April 1–5.

Visit Adolescent Immunization Action Week 2024 web page for more details.

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Virtual: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia hosts discussion, “Improving Campus Health—Building on Research to Increase Vaccination Rates,” on March 14 at 11:00 a.m. (ET), and Current Issues in Vaccines webinar titled “COVID-19 Vaccine Myths: And the Hits Just Keep On Comin’” on April 3 at 12:00 p.m. (ET); CE credit offered

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is partnering with PolicyLab to host a virtual discussion titled Improving Campus Health—Building on Research to Increase Vaccination Rates, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (ET) on March 14. The discussion will include a virtual conversation with adolescent and young adult health, vaccine, and policy experts to discuss the challenges college health administrators face when addressing vaccination rates on campuses; what on-the-ground implementation of these recommendations looks like for administrators; and how researchers, students, college health administrators, and others can partner to strengthen vaccine uptake among college students.

Register for the discussion.

CHOP’s VEC will also present a one-hour webinar titled COVID-19 Vaccine Myths: And the Hits Just Keep On Comin’ at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on April 3. Part of its Current Issues in Vaccines series, the webinar will feature Paul Offit, MD, director of the VEC.

Free continuing education credits (CME, CEU, and CPE) will be available for both the live and archived events.

Register for the webinar.

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Charitable golf tournament, "6th Annual Stews Shootout," held in support of adolescent vaccination advocacy, benefits Immunize​.org on April 6 in Indio, California

Immunize.org is honored once again to be the beneficiary of the 16th annual charitable golf event, at The Golf Course at Terra Lago – North Course in Indio, CA, on April 6. Hosts Michelle and Casey Stewart, formerly with the National Meningitis Association, launched this major charitable event to raise awareness and funds for adolescent vaccination advocacy.

Those who want to participate virtually may purchase a golf ball for a chance to win. Every $10 tax-deductible donation buys you a golf ball and a chance to win up to $2,500 if your ball lands closest to the hole after it drops from the helicopter.

Visit Stews Shootout and Golf Ball Drop web page for more information.

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Virtual: National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit hosts webinars to help partners plan for respiratory virus season on May 16 and May 23

The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS, “Summit”) will host two webinars in its Setting the Stage for 2024–2025 Respiratory Virus Season series in May to help partners plan for the respiratory virus season ahead of August.

The webinars include:

  • Setting the Stage, 2:00–4:30 p.m. (ET) on May 16: this webinar will provide level-setting information on end-of-season vaccination uptake for influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines for different ages, populations, and changes in place of vaccination; there will also be a discussion on attitudes about seasonal vaccines by demographic groups
  • Overcoming Challenges, 2:00–4:30 p.m. (ET) on May 23: this webinar will include a provider panel discussing challenges and pearls of wisdom for implementing respiratory virus vaccination efforts, a panel of influenza vaccine manufacturers discussing anticipated challenges for the 2024–2025 season and communications planning, and a CDC recap of influenza communications from the prior year and plans for the 2024–2025 season

Registration is required. Following registration, you will receive an email with login details upon registration approval.

Register for one or both webinars.

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Resources

Updated 65+ Flu Defense website offers resources for healthcare professionals serving older adults

Confident recommendations for influenza vaccine from healthcare providers are powerfully persuasive. To assist you in maximizing protection for your patients, Immunize​.org, in collaboration with CSL Seqirus, updated the 65+ Flu Defense website.

Older adults are at increased risk of severe influenza and COVID-19 illness, including hospitalization and death, especially if they are not up to date on these vaccinations. An updated fact sheet on the website, The Importance of Preventing Influenza and COVID-19, offers responses to help guide discussions with patients on the importance of preventing influenza and COVID-19.

This helpful site includes information, tools, and tips for communicating with adults age 65 and older about the scope and severity of influenza. Resources include:

Check out the updated 65+ Flu Defense website at www.influenza-defense.org to assist your ongoing efforts in protecting this vulnerable population.

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Children's Hospital of Philadelphia offers video featuring Paul Offit, MD, on current measles outbreaks and why measles keeps returning

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia released a video titled Why Are We Seeing Measles Outbreaks? featuring Paul Offit, MD, director of the VEC. In the video, Dr. Offit talks about a measles outbreak in Philadelphia and the surrounding region. He explains why measles is making a comeback after successful measures, such as school vaccine mandates, contributed to its elimination from the United States by the year 2000.

View “Why Are We Seeing Measles Outbreaks?” on YouTube.

Related Links

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Columbia University offers free, self-paced Public Health Advocacy Academy course

Columbia University is offering a free, self-paced, 12-week Public Health Advocacy Academy course that offers public health advocacy strategies and tactics from seventeen engaging, expert speakers and over twenty real-life examples. The course is structured with 5 modules and should take approximately 15 hours for learners to complete. The course is designed to quickly prepare learners to confidently speak to elected officials and design advocacy campaigns.

Enroll in the course.

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Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers free Digital Safety Kit for Public Health to prevent and reduce the harm of online harassment in public health

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers a free Digital Safety Kit for Public Health to prevent and reduce online harassment of public health professionals and students. Political division during the COVID-19 pandemic has created more risks for people doing health communication and community engagement online. The kit is designed to help you prevent and reduce the harm of online harassment in public health. Learn how to protect each other and call for more institutional support to address this pressing issue.

Download the Digital Safety Kit for Public Health.

View the Digital Safety Kit for Public Health web page for more information.

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Coalitions in the News

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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.
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