Network News — January 16, 2025

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

Resources

Funding Opportunities

In the News

Announcements

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

Save the date! The 2025 National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships will be held October 15–17, 2025, at the Sheraton Keystone in Indianapolis, IN.

Save the date! The 2025 National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships (NCICP) will be held October 15–17 at the Sheraton Keystone in Indianapolis, IN. The conference will focus on coalition building and sustainability.

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Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions highlights SAFE Communities Coalition

The SAFE Communities Coalition (SAFE) is the nation’s first pro-vaccine advocacy organization. The coalition empowers everyday people to advocate for strong public health laws, fight targeted disinformation, and support vaccine confidence and equity.

Since 2020, SAFE has helped to establish and sustain eleven Families for Vaccines chapters in states across the nation including Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. In 2025, SAFE’s 11 Families for Vaccines chapters will each host a Day of Advocacy for Vaccines at their state capitals. These events are an opportunity for advocates and partners to meet each other, learn about effective advocacy, and talk to lawmakers about immunization priorities while sharing information and resources specific to the lawmaker’s district.

The Days of Advocacy happen annually in every Families for Vaccines chapter’s state when their legislatures are active. SAFE will also invite advocates to contact their legislators, write letters to the editor, and share calls to action about local legislation. This is a great way for people in states with a Families for Vaccines chapter to get involved in advocating for vaccines.

SAFE also does media briefings, legislator breakfasts, and local events for legislators and the community. SAFE works to build relationships and identify legislative champions. SAFE hand delivers packets of information to every legislator in the Families for Vaccines states, encouraging them to join the coalitions for a conversation about vaccines. In most of the Families for Vaccines chapter states, candidates for office are invited to complete a survey, which helps them to identify and support legislative champions or lawmakers who might be open to a discussion about immunization priorities. The coalitions distribute Vaccine Voter Guides to the public so they can be informed when they go to the ballot box.

SAFE Communities Coalition is the only bipartisan political force countering the anti-vaccine agenda in statehouses. By bridging political divides, SAFE effectively collaborates with healthcare providers, scientists, nonprofits, and legislators to promote vaccine confidence, equity, and strong pro-vaccine legislation. This collaborative and inclusive approach sets SAFE apart in the advocacy landscape, enabling SAFE and its 11 Families for Vaccines chapters to establish impactful calls to action nationwide while advancing policies that protect public health at the local level.

Families for Vaccines chapters nationwide empower families to advocate for vaccines and share their stories to build trust and confidence in immunization. The coalitions collaborate with local partners, including healthcare providers, scientists, and nonprofits, to connect with diverse communities and address specific local needs, fostering trust and inclusivity. They also collaborate with national expert organizations, industry partners, thought leaders, legal experts, and local immunization coalitions and resource providers to host or promote webinars, events, and informational campaigns. Throughout the year, Families for Vaccines chapter directors host events for advocates, speak at conferences and on webinars, address local civic groups and partners in healthcare or advocacy, and share information alongside other organizations at fairs and festivals.

SAFE and its Families for Vaccines chapters amplify community voices in statehouses, encouraging grassroots involvement and providing tools for individuals to contact legislators and support pro-vaccine policies. The coalition recognizes that the individuals most affected by harmful policies are often the people least represented in the political process, and so it aims to identify, align, and include nontraditional partners, including community-based organizations, faith groups, social safety net providers, professional and civic organizations, and medical advocacy groups such as local chapters of the Autism Society, Hood Medicine, and the St. Jude Children’s Hospital HPV Prevention Program.

Learn more about the SAFE Communities Coalition and its 11 Families for Vaccines chapters at www.safecommunitiescoalition.org.

Find SAFE on social media at:

Each Families for Vaccines chapter also has channels on the same platforms.

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It’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month; increase HPV vaccination rates by using Immunize Kansas Coalition’s HPV education module

Immunize Kansas Coalition’s (IKC) updated and accredited Shutting the Door on HPV Cancers education module is available at no cost for physicians, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurses, and nurse practitioners. This month, IKC will be focusing on increasing HPV vaccination rates and emphasizing the vaccine’s proven protection against cervical and other HPV-related cancers.

After completing the module, providers will be able to:

  • Explain why an HPV vaccine is routinely recommended for young people
  • Give an HPV vaccination recommendation that is effective and succinct using the same way, same-day approach
  • Answer the most frequently asked questions about the HPV vaccine accurately and clearly

This is a 0.5-hour Continuing Education (CE) activity. CE is available at no cost to physicians, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurses, and nurse practitioners.

View the education module.

See all of IKC’s education modules.

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Register now! In-person: Indiana Immunization Coalition hosts “National HPV Conference” from April 15–17 in Indianapolis, IN.

The Indiana Immunization Coalition will host its National HPV Conference April 15–17 in Indianapolis, IN. The goal of this inaugural conference is to invite all U.S. professionals working in the HPV space to come together to learn and share. While many conferences strive to include HPV as one of many topics, this conference seeks to make HPV the main topic. Attendees will enjoy learning and connecting with peers while formulating new ideas and forging partnerships to make their own HPV-related efforts stronger.

View the conference website.

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Save the date! In-person: WithinReach hosts “CDC Pink Book Training: The Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Diseases” on June 2–4 in Tacoma, WA.

Save the date! WithinReach will host its CDC Pink Book Training: The Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Diseases on June 2–4 in Tacoma, WA. Registration and conference details are coming soon.

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Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

Virtual: Questions about the Immunize​.org website? Register for the next Immunize​.org Website Office Hours on February 12 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or February 13 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Previously recorded sessions available online.

To learn simple tips and tricks for using the Immunize​.org website efficiently, please register for the next set of Website Office Hours on Wednesday, February 12 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or Thursday, February 13 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). The February sessions will include a tutorial on navigating Immunize​.org’s state school and childcare vaccination requirements content, particularly relevant to coalitions. The same content will be covered in both sessions.

Each 45-minute session opens with a short, live demonstration on navigating the Official Guidance (part 2: state resources) website section and addresses questions submitted in advance. You can submit questions when you register or live on Zoom during the session.

Register today for Immunize​.org Website Office Hours (content is the same for both):

Mark your calendar for future Immunize​.org Website Office Hours.

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Virtual: The New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics shares webinar “Vaccines, Autism, and Neurodiversity” on January 22 at 12:00 p.m. (ET); CME available

The New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics will host a webinar titled Vaccines, Autism, and Neurodiversity from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. (ET) on January 22. During the webinar, Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, will discuss autism and its biological basis, address concerns and misinformation expressed by the anti-vaccine movement, and share his personal story of raising a daughter with autism. Additionally, Danielle Hall, MSW, of the Autism Society of America, will speak on topics that include understanding autism, practical strategies for providers, and the Vaccine Education Initiative. This national program addresses systemic barriers while promoting vaccine education, confidence, and access.

Free CME is available upon completion of the webinar.

Register for the webinar.

Related Links

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Virtual: Unity Consortium hosts communications briefing for Adolescent Immunization Action Week (AIAW25) on January 28 at 12:30 p.m. (ET)

Unity Consortium (Unity) will host a planning meeting for Adolescent Immunization Action Week (AIAW25), 12:30–1:00 p.m. (ET) on January 28. During the meeting, Unity will review messages, resources, and events for the AIAW25 toolkit.

AIAW25 takes place April 7–11. Join this national movement to spur action among healthcare providers, parents, and adolescents to ensure adolescents are up to date on recommended immunizations.

Register for the meeting.

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Resources

Families Fighting Flu shares article “Top 5 Reasons Why the Flu Vaccine Saves Lives”

Families Fighting Flu (FFF) offers an advocacy article Top 5 Reasons Why the Flu Vaccine Saves Lives detailing five reasons to get a flu shot each year. The first paragraph is reprinted below.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the flu vaccine is a life-saving tool that reduces illness, prevents complications, and protects vulnerable populations. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 50,000 Americans die from flu-related complications each year. Many of these deaths could have been prevented had the person or their family members received a flu vaccine. 

Learn more about FFF, a national nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to honoring loved ones who have suffered serious medical complications or died from influenza, at www.familiesfightingflu.org.

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Visit St. Jude’s HPV Prevention Program to find resources for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

The St. Jude HPV Prevention Program website aims to engage partners and strengthen partnerships with local, regional, and national groups; identify opportunities and priorities for increasing HPV vaccination; and implement and evaluate evidence-based healthcare, community, and policy and advocacy activities to increase HPV vaccination. On the website, you will find a wide range of HPV- and HPV-vaccine-related resources, including legislative resources that may be useful this Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

Visit St. Jude HPV Prevention Program to view the resources.

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The National Cervical Cancer Coalition shares its Toolkit for Advocates with resources on cervical cancer, HPV disease, and HPV vaccination

The National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) offers a Toolkit for Advocates with resources such as printable education materials including flyers and postcards, social media content, a sample proclamation, sample press releases, and more.

View the toolkit.

See NCCC’s January is Cervical Health Awareness Month main page for more on raising awareness about cervical cancer and HPV disease.

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The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases shares its “U.S. Vaccine Uptake Dashboard,” which maps attitudes, behaviors, and barriers to vaccination against COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and pneumococcal disease

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and partners created the U.S. Vaccine Update Dashboard, which aims to improve adult vaccine uptake across the United States by addressing motivation and access barriers to getting vaccinated against COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and pneumococcal disease. Users can view health data at the state, county, and zip code levels and compare geographies based on intent to get vaccinated.

Request access to the dashboard.

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Funding Opportunities

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.
  • Please visit the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS, the “Summit” at www.izsummitpartners.org to check out the latest resources on operationalizing, and payment for, adult and influenza vaccines. If you are not a Summit partner, please sign on at: www.izsummitpartners.org/join-the-summit.
  • 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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