Network News — August 22, 2024

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

Editable Resources

Resources

Funding Opportunities

In the News

Announcements

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

Register now! Virtual: National Network of Immunization Coalitions hosts webinar “Find Your Restorative Edge—The 7 Types of Rest” on August 27 at 1:00 p.m. (ET).

Registration is now open for the National Network of Immunization Coalitions webinar titled Find Your Restorative Edge—The 7 Types of Rest at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on August 27. During the webinar, participants will learn how to keep energy, happiness, creativity, and relationships fresh and thriving amid never-ending family demands, career pressures, daily stress, and changes. Based on the research in her TED talk and book, Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity, Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, shares the real reason why so many people are tired all the time. Her seven types of rest are discussed, including ways to determine which type of restorative activities you need most and how to get more of each. This practical approach incorporates restorative activities in the middle of your busy day without waiting for the next sabbatical or vacation. When you are equipped with a restorative edge strategy, you will experience improved energy levels throughout the day which help sustain your creativity, mental clarity, and overall productivity. Discover the restorative power of setting healthy boundaries, adopting effective time management strategies, and embracing self-compassion to foster sustainable vitality.

Register for the webinar.

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Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions highlights Vaccine Ambassadors

Vaccine Ambassadors is a North Carolina-based nonprofit organization established in 2015 by healthcare providers and children’s health advocates. Vaccine Ambassadors believes that access to vaccines is a basic human right and that income level or where one lives should not determine whether children are protected from the diseases that we can prevent.


For Vaccine Ambassadors, “community” is a broad term that includes not only the local area but also extends to individuals and partners beyond state and national borders. Through a joint initiative with the Pan American Health Organization, titled Facilitating Equitable Access to Vaccines in the Americas, Vaccine Ambassadors supports the procurement and international logistics of priority vaccines for children and families in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Over the past three years, Vaccine Ambassadors has been aiding the recovery of national childhood immunization programs that suffered critical setbacks because of the pandemic. In addition to supporting routine immunizations, Vaccine Ambassadors provides vaccines following natural disasters and during humanitarian crises. Through this initiative, Vaccine Ambassadors has provided more than one million vaccines covering 13 different diseases in 11 countries.

At the state and local level in the United States, Vaccine Ambassadors joined the pandemic response in 2020, working with community-based organizations to increase access and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in historically marginalized populations. This work led to the launch of the Vaccine Ambassadors’ Adult Immunization Mobilization (AIM) Initiative. The goal of this ongoing initiative is to increase access to and uptake of, all adult vaccines. Given that 75% of adults in the United States are missing one or more recommended vaccines, the organization is working with providers and the public to close that gap. These efforts began with a proclamation submitted by Vaccine Ambassadors and signed by Governor Roy Cooper declaring October “Adult Immunization Promotion Month” in North Carolina.

One of the most recent AIM initiatives is a pilot project with several North Carolina Meals on Wheels chapters and independent pharmacies to provide in-home vaccination services for their clients. This effort builds on the strategic partnerships and lessons learned during the pandemic to make vaccination services more accessible. The pilot will launch with flu and COVID-19 vaccines in the fall, and subsequently include all recommended adult vaccines. By creating a successful model, the organization’s goal is to create a replicable framework for other Meals on Wheels chapters to adapt to their unique communities.

Other ongoing AIM activities include an annual partnership with the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Nursing and the UNC-Health mobile vaccination unit to provide flu vaccines at senior centers, low-income housing units, and faith-based organizations. Vaccine Ambassadors believes that education should be fun and engaging. Several student groups have used their 200-question Vaccine Trivia game, and seniors enjoy a lively game of Vaccine Bingo. Vaccine Ambassadors is in the process of creating their “Five Things to Know “series that will feature 5 bite-size facts about 6 diseases and the vaccines used to prevent them. This series will be narrated by Dr. Saintedym Wills, Immunologist and Executive Board Member of Vaccine Ambassadors.

Each September, pharmacies are invited to participate in the “Share Your Shot” donation program. This annual initiative highlights local immunization services, promotes the importance of the flu vaccine, and provides an opportunity for pharmacies and members of their community to ensure that children and families in low- and middle-income countries have access to life-saving vaccines. All public contributions received by Vaccine Ambassadors are used for the procurement and international logistics of priority vaccines.

Vaccine Ambassadors provides a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and companies passionate about equitable access to vaccines to make a tangible difference in the health of children.

Find out more by visiting the Vaccine Ambassadors web page and social media channels at:

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Boost Oregon shares animated video series in English and Spanish, answering common questions about vaccines to educate caregivers

Boost Oregon is now offering an animated video series for caregivers that answers frequently asked questions about vaccines. The series currently includes eight videos with closed captioning in both English and Spanish.

View the animated video series.

To inquire about licensing to display the videos on your organization’s website, please contact info@boostoregon.org.

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Immunize Kansas Coalition celebrates immunizations with National Immunization Awareness Month and back-to-school campaigns

For National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) this August, the Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC) offers outreach tools on its updated IKC’s National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) web page, including back-to-school materials. The website contains messaging guides, flyers, and social media graphics to use throughout August and into the new school year.

Additionally, IKC partnered with Voices for Vaccines for a third year to customize its NIAM toolkit. The campaign consists of social media graphics and corresponding captions that emphasize vaccination efforts in Kansas, as well as a campaign plan that guides users throughout the weeks of August.

Beyond NIAM, IKC created its NIAM/Back-to-School Toolkit for the upcoming school year. The campaign highlights topics like measles vaccination, community immunity, and the importance of vaccines across the lifespan. Printable flyers are also available in English and Spanish.

Visit IKC’s National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) web page for resources to celebrate immunizations throughout the month of August and into the new school year.

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Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

Today! Virtual real-time: ACOG and CDC host webinar titled “Prepare Your Clinics and Pregnant Patients for Fall and Winter Respiratory Season” on August 22 at 12:00 p.m. (ET); CE credit available.

ACOG and CDC will present a 1-hour webinar titled Prepare Your Clinics and Pregnant Patients for Fall and Winter Respiratory Season at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on August 22.

Join Geeta K. Swamy, MD, FACOG; CDC’s Dana Meaney-Delman, MD, MPH; and Elisha Hall, PhD, RD as they discuss how to protect patients, families, colleagues, and communities against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.

This will be a virtual, real-time event. Attendees can submit questions through the registration form or ask them during the event. CE credits will be available.

Register for the webinar.

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Today! Virtual: National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit and American College of Physicians host webinar titled "mRNA Vaccines: Scientific Update and Overcoming Clinician and Patient Hesitation" on August 22 at 3:00 p.m. (ET).

National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS, the “Summit”) and the American College of Physicians (ACP) will host a webinar titled mRNA Vaccines: Scientific Update and Overcoming Clinician and Patient Hesitation at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on August 22. The webinar will update physicians on current mRNA technology, including the latest on mRNA vaccines. This webinar will also discuss concerns expressed by both clinicians and patients regarding mRNA vaccinations and provide education and talking points to address these concerns.

Speakers include:

  • Jason Goldman, MD, FACP, president-elect, ACP, and affiliate assistant professor, Clinical Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt School of Medicine
  • LaTonya Washington, MD, MBA, vice president and chief medical officer, Methodist Hospital North, and clinical assistant professor of medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Register for the webinar.

All content is the sole responsibility of Immunize.org and ACP.

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Virtual: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia hosts webinar titled “Implementing ACIP Recommendations this Fall” on September 11 at 12:00 p.m. (ET); CE credit offered

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, together with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University, will present a 1-hour webinar titled Implementing ACIP Recommendations This Fall at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on September 11. Part of its Current Issues in Vaccines series, the webinar will feature Paul Offit, MD, director of the VEC.

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

Register for the webinar.

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Editable Resources

#WeThePeopleVax shares editable social media graphics and messages for use when outbreaks occur in neighboring states and a Labor Day campaign

#WeThePeopleVax has created editable social media graphics and messages available to use when outbreaks occur in neighboring states. The graphics can be used to remind people that sickness does not stop at state lines and an outbreak in one state is a threat to all states.

#WeThePeopleVax will also be running a Labor Day campaign that will be available to download the week before for any coalitions that would like to participate.

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Resources

August is National Immunization Awareness Month; promote vaccination with CDC’s graphics and messages on your social media and websites

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). During NIAM, encourage your patients to schedule appointments to ensure they are up to date on annual exams and recommended vaccines.

CDC’s Communication and Print Resources offer advocates graphics to share on social media platforms and websites to raise awareness around the importance of staying up to date on recommended vaccines. Include #Ivax2Protect with your social media posts to amplify your messages.

Related Links

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The Association of Immunization Managers shares new Promising Practices to Improve Pediatric COVID-19 Immunization Rates Toolkit and six immunization eLearning modules

The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) offers a new toolkit, Promising Practices to Improve Pediatric COVID-19 Immunization Rates Toolkit, that features practices that programs can implement to improve immunization rates. Through a comprehensive analysis, AIM identified five promising practices for improving the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination and advancing vaccine equity for children age 6 months–11 years. This toolkit contains reports, implementation guides, tip sheets, and more resources designed to equip immunization programs and partners to implement the five prioritized practices.

Please email Julia Donavant, AIM research and development coordinator, at jdonavant@immunizationmanagers.org with questions.

View the toolkit.

Additionally, the AIM iREACH team created a series of six eLearning modules to increase knowledge and support community conversations about flu, COVID-19, and basic information about vaccines and vaccine safety. In addition, the modules help to address the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in vaccine coverage and disease outcomes. These modules were created with the general public, community health workers and promotoras, trusted messengers, and community champions in mind. They can be used for individual or shared learning, and a certificate of completion is available for individuals who complete the modules. The free modules are available in English and Spanish and are accessible by desktop or phone.

View the modules.

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Vaccinate Your Family offers #FirstDayVax back-to-school campaign and celebrates 30 years of the VFC program

Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) launched its #FirstDayVax back-to-school campaign to promote the importance of back-to-school immunizations. For students from elementary school to college, vaccinations are a critical step in keeping students, schools, and communities healthy. Find the sharable assets in the #FirstDayVax Toolkit, also available in Spanish.

Use the #FirstDayVax hashtag on social media and tag @vaccinateyourfamily (@vaxyourfam on X) so VYF can amplify your posts.

Please contact damaris@vaccinateyourfamily.org to inquire about cobranding the campaign graphics.

Additionally, VYF is encouraging everyone to celebrate National Immunization Awareness Month by learning more about the VFC program, which has provided free vaccines to children for 30 years. View VYF’s VFC 30 web page to learn more.

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The Public Health Communications Collaborative launches a new training hub to improve communication skills

The Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) launched its PHCC Academy, a free training hub to support public health communicators. Through dynamic and engaging content, this Academy seeks to fill skill gaps and help the public health communications workforce learn from experts and one another while building knowledge and communication skills.

The PHCC Academy, in a partnership that includes the CDC Foundation, launched its first course, “Strengthening Public Health Communications through Community Engagement.” This 2-hour course reviews the principles of effective community engagement.

In addition to the self-paced video course, the PHCC Academy will offer live training at 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. (ET) on the following dates:

  • September 25
  • October 9
  • October 23

View the PHCC Academy main page and register for an account. CE is not available, but digital certificates for participants will be posted on their LinkedIn accounts.

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Voices for Vaccines shares “Vaccine Voices,” a 6-part audio educational series focused on increasing vaccine acceptance in the long-term care setting through motivational interviewing and adds new stories of people who have suffered the consequences of living without vaccines to their blog

Voices for Vaccines (VFV) offers a 6-part audio educational series, Vaccine Voices, which focuses on increasing vaccine acceptance in long-term care settings through the use of motivational interviewing (MI). Hosted by MI trainer Jeff Wetherhold, each 20-minute module features a sample conversation with observations about the techniques and strategies used to foster an open dialogue about vaccine acceptance.

View the audio series.

Additionally, VFV added new stories to its blog, which represents the voices of people who rely on vaccines for safety and health, people who have suffered the consequences of living without vaccines, and those who want to speak up to encourage others to get vaccinated.

View VFV’s Blog web page.

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Explore CDC’s interactive online training, “Fostering a Culture of Immunization in Your Practice”; CE credit available

CDC offers Fostering a Culture of Immunization in Your Practice, a free online training course that provides healthcare professionals with practical strategies and resources to help create a positive culture of immunization in their clinics, ensuring the best possible care for patients and promoting vaccination efforts.

The course offers CE credit.

View the course.

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Hepatitis B Foundation shares new #justB storyteller video encouraging adults to get vaccinated against hepatitis B

The Hepatitis B Foundation offers a new #justB storyteller video featuring DeWayne, a man who has been living with chronic hepatitis B for nearly 40 years. DeWayne shares his struggle with finding accessible care, as he travels 360 miles every six months to receive treatment. He stresses the importance of vaccination and screening as preventative measures to protect against hepatitis B. DeWayne encourages all adults to get vaccinated and to get their children vaccinated as well.

View the video.

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Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security launches website to support professionals in addressing misleading rumors

On July 17, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security launched the Tackling Rumors and Understanding & Strengthening Trust (TRUST) in Public Health website to support professionals. The website aims to support practitioners working to cultivate trust in public health by proactively addressing misleading rumors.

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Funding Opportunities

Available funding opportunities may be found on the Partnering for Vaccine Equity Resource Hub

Partnering for Vaccine Equity’s Funding Opportunities main page offers a list of open funding opportunities related to vaccination and health equity.

Please reach out to PHEbranch@cdc.gov if your organization has a funding opportunity to add to the list.

See the funding opportunities.

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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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