Network News — August 28, 2025

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

Resources

In the News

Announcements

Webinar/Biennial Meeting

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

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.

Reserve a room.

Register for the conference.

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Coalition News, Top Stories, and Events

The National Network of Immunization Coalitions highlights CoMO Americas

Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) Americas, established in 20o4, is a collaboration of meningitis advocates from across the Americas. CoMO Americas brings together a diverse group of organizations, ranging from national meningitis foundations and public health advocates to survivor-led nonprofits across North, Central, and South America that are driven by a shared purpose to defeat meningitis. There are over 150 members in 58 countries.

Among its original steering committee, Bob Werner of the Becky Werner Meningitis Foundation has been an active member since CoMO’s early days, helping launch initiatives like World Meningitis Day and shaping the network’s regional advocacy efforts.

In a collaboration made possible by CoMO Americas, the Becky Werner Meningitis Foundation partnered with Vaccine Ambassadors to provide a donation that secured 5,000 meningococcal vaccines for teenagers and young adults in Trinidad and Tobago. This effort reflects the shared mission to increase access to lifesaving vaccines and protect young people through immunization. On May 27, 2025, the vaccines arrived in-country, offering new hope in preventing this deadly disease.

CoMO is working with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to defeat meningitis by 2030.

World Meningitis Day is coming up on October 5. Pioneered in 2009 by CoMO members, today World Meningitis Day is the world’s largest day of collective action on meningitis, touching millions with messages of prevention, understanding, and hope. Visit worldmeningitisday.org for information on how to get involved.

For more on CoMO Americas, visit www.comomeningitis.org and its social media channels at:

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Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project provides community health workers with tools and training to promote vaccine confidence

The Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project (MVCP) is a statewide initiative formed in 2018 by the Immunization Initiative of the Massachusetts Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP) and the Immunization Division of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). In 2021, the Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition (MAIC)/JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. joined the project.

In 2024, the MVCP launched the Vaccination Community Navigator Project to empower community health workers (CHW) across the state with tools and training to boost vaccine confidence in their communities. Using Vaccinate Your Family’s free, self-paced online training, the initiative provided participants with resource kits, incentives, and access to continuing education. Two participants received scholarships to further their education through attendance at the annual Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference.

The project sparked meaningful engagement and fostered ongoing collaboration between MVCP and trusted local health messengers.

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#WeThePeopleVax’s Labor Day campaign materials are now available—please share widely

#WeThePeopleVax is a group of statewide Immunization coalitions and health organizations across the nation that have joined together to promote the efficacy and safety of vaccines by raising awareness of the patriotism of vaccinating. Its Labor Day campaign is now available for download. The campaign’s message is that time off should be used for rest and refueling, not recovering from illness, and encourages people to get their annual flu and COVID-19 shots.

Campaign materials are available to download.

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WithinReach offers free, evidence-based e-courses for healthcare workers to strengthen confidence in talking about vaccines; CE credit offered

Washington State’s WithinReach is offering online e-courses for healthcare providers. These self-paced trainings are free, evidence-based, and designed to strengthen your confidence in talking about vaccines. Some courses offer continuing education (CE) credits. A few of the titles include:

  • Drop Your Assumptions and Pick Up the Evidence
  • There Never Was an Age of Reason
  • Vaccine Training for Medical Assistants

View the courses.

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Immunize Kansas Coalition shares National Immunization Awareness Month and back-to-school immunization resources

The Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC) has updated its National Immunization Awareness Month/Back-to-School web page with messaging guides, flyers, and social media graphics to support vaccination efforts throughout the school year. The web page offers a variety of graphics and captions available in both English and Spanish in collaboration with Voices for Vaccines (VFV) and Vaccinate Your Family (VYF)

IKC has updated its back-to-school campaign with new graphics and messaging this year. The campaign emphasizes the importance of measles vaccination, highlighting the need for vaccines from childhood through college, and how vaccination protects children’s future.

IKC looks forward to collaborating with local and national partners throughout the year to increase vaccine uptake across Kansas.

View the resources.

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Immunize​.org statement of support for CDC staff

Everyone at Immunize​.org expresses their unreserved support for their friends and colleagues at CDC in response to the horrible act of violence directed at them on August 8, 2025. On that day, a Georgia man who was reported to mistakenly attribute his ill-health to COVID-19 vaccination fired hundreds of bullets at the people of CDC. We are especially grateful to Officer David Rose of the DeKalb County Police Department who died protecting CDC staff and the children at the adjacent Clifton School daycare center.

Most of us at Immunize​.org have close connections with CDC. Our CEO began her career there as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer. CDC has helped fund Immunize​.org’s educational work since 1994. This vicious attack on our CDC colleagues whose work saves lives and supports our entire public health community is an outrage.

The attack also reminds us of the important role each coalition member can play in your community. As misunderstandings and misguided ideas about vaccines spread, you can make clear your support for vaccination as a trustworthy authority. You are equipped to ensure your patients, loved ones, and the public consistently receive accurate, understandable updates about the safety and importance of vaccination. Thank you for your partnership in preventing suffering and death from vaccine-preventable diseases and thank you to the public health professionals at CDC who support all of us.

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Other News, Educational Opportunities, and Events

Grandparents for Vaccines will ensure grandparents’ voices are heard; launching soon!

Grandparents for Vaccines is a new, volunteer-led effort to raise awareness of the importance of vaccinations. This organization is in the beginning stages of development, but you can now sign up for future communications and to share your story.

You can also subscribe to Grandparents for Vaccines on YouTube to learn more.

The tentative launch date for the website is on Grandparents Day, Sunday, September 7.

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Public Health Communications Collaborative shares online training series focused on strengthening health communications through community engagement; applications due September 2

Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) celebrated its one year anniversary of launching the PHCC Academy, a free training hub to support public health communicators around the country.

This fall, join a cohort of public health professionals in a series of live online sessions designed to build on the on-demand content and provide an opportunity to practice framing, crafting, and delivering messages. Throughout three interactive Zoom sessions, you will connect with others in the field, and gain practical skills and strategies to support your work.

Learn more about the live online sessions Strengthening Public Health Communications through Community Engagement.

The application is open through Tuesday, September 2.

Apply for the course.

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Virtual: Vaccinate Your Family shares event for community health workers titled “Misinformation About Vaccines: Strategies to Cope and Prevail” in English and Spanish on September 4 and December 4 at 1:00 p.m. (ET)

Vaccinate Your Family is hosting an event for promotores and community health workers (CHW) titled Misinformation About Vaccines: Strategies to Cope and Prevail at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on September 4 and December 4. This is a quarterly series for CHWs and promotores in the United States to learn and connect about vaccine-related issues. Meetings will be in English, with live interpretation for Spanish speakers.

Noncertified continuing education certificates will be provided.

Register for the webinar.

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Virtual: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia hosts Current Issues in Vaccines webinar titled “Aluminum Adjuvants: Separating Fact from Fear” on September 10 at 12:00 p.m. (ET); CE credit offered

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will present a 1-hour webinar titled Aluminum Adjuvants: Separating Fact from Fear beginning at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on September 10. 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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Virtual: Register for Immunize.org Website Office Hours. Ask questions and learn about the VIS web section on September 10 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or September 11 at 12:00 p.m. (ET). Recorded sessions archived.

To learn simple tips and tricks for using our website efficiently, please register for our next set of Website Office Hours on Wednesday, September 10, at 4:00 p.m. (ET) or Thursday, September 11, at 12:00 p.m. (ET). The same content will be covered in both sessions.

We will open each 30-minute session with a short, live demonstration on navigating the popular VIS website section on Immunize​.org. 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):

The archive of previous Website Office Hours content is posted at Immunize​.org’s “Webinars & Videos” page.

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

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Virtual: National Vaccine Law Conference: Unmatched Expertise in Unpredictable Times will be held September 11–12; fee to register

The 2025 National Vaccine Law Conference: Unmatched Expertise in Unpredictable Times will be held virtually this year, beginning at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on September 11 and concluding at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on September 12. This conference is a discussion forum on all aspects of vaccines and the law, from clinical development through administration. The goal is to advance vaccine law as a field and strengthen laws that facilitate vaccine innovation, access, safety, and confidence.

The keynote speakers will be Paul Offit, MD, and Chelsea Clinton, PhD.

Learn more about the conference.

View registration information.

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Resources

Vaccinate Your Family shares Soapboxx storytelling platform as part of its #FirstDayVax campaign and invites you to sign up for its weekly Vaccine Intelligence Report newsletter

Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) launched its #FirstDayVax campaign, a timely reminder that vaccines should be part of every back-to-school checklist. This campaign reflects on how far we’ve come, celebrates the protection vaccines provide, and empowers parents with the information they need to make timely, informed choices. Find the shareable assets in the #FirstDayVax toolkit, also available in Spanish.

This year, VYF has integrated Soapboxx, a storytelling platform that makes it easy for everyone in the community to share their messages through short videos. This user-friendly tool allows you to record and upload video testimonials directly from your phone or computer. It helps VYF collect authentic stories and perspectives that can be shared across social media, newsletters, and press outreach. There is a range of prompts to choose from to share your perspective.

To share your story, choose a prompt and upload your video.

VYF will caption the video and share it across its platform to ensure your message reaches more families and communities. VYF will also make the video available to you to share if you choose.

Additionally, you can register to receive the VYF’s new weekly Vaccine Intelligence Report, a newsletter that provides clear, fact-based updates on vaccine policy, research, and public health each week. The report is designed to cut through the noise, offering concise information to help navigate the evolving immunization landscape.

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American Society for Meningitis Prevention gears up for World Meningitis Day on October 5; subscribe to its newsletter to receive updates and campaign materials

The American Society for Meningitis Prevention (ASMP) is gearing up to drive awareness for World Meningitis Day on October 5.

Subscribe for updates to get involved and receive campaign materials.

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CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center shares two new posters in English and Spanish reminding viewers that “Vaccines Make Memories”

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) released two new posters reminding viewers that “Vaccines Make Memories.” The two posters are 18”x24” in size, available in both English and Spanish, and feature cherished family moments:

The posters are available for purchase in individual quantities for $1 each plus shipping or in sets of 10 for $8 plus shipping. (Sets of 10 must be the same design and language.)

View VEC’s Booklets, Posters, and Other Materials web page for more printable resources.

Order materials online.

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The University of Washington Medicine offers One Vax Two Lives web page to educate about the importance of vaccines during pregnancy.

The web page features a trifold brochure to educate patients and community members about the recommended vaccines during pregnancy. The brochures can be printed in both English and Spanish.

View the web page.

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Hepatitis B Foundation shares new #justB storytelling video and podcast on the importance of hepatitis B vaccination

The Hepatitis B Foundation’s storytelling campaign, #justB, is dedicated to amplifying the voices of those living with hepatitis B. The foundation shared a new video on the importance of universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns and access to evidence-based immunization information titled Janet and Kurt #justB Vaccinated.

Additionally, the Hepatitis B foundation released a podcast on the importance of vaccination titled Why the First Shot Matters: Confronting Hepatitis B Birth Dose Hesitancy with David Higgins, MD, MPH, pediatrician and leading expert in vaccine delivery and communication from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. In this episode, Dr. Higgins sheds light on common myths and misconceptions about the hepatitis B birth dose and offers practical strategies for healthcare providers and advocates to address concerns with parents using empathy and evidence-based science.

Listen to the episode.

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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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