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Issue 1,516: September 16, 2020
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IAC Handouts
Featured Resources
Education and Training
On the Lighter Side
Top Stories
¡Viva México! An introduction to immunization information and advocacy in México
¡Viva México! September 16 is the 210th anniversary of México’s independence. We celebrate the people of México by sharing select Mexican resources for immunization information and advocacy. Best wishes to all our vaccinating friends in México!
Expert committees:
Advocacy groups and resources:
Helpful resources:
Government institutions:
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Reminder: IAC launches Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org, its new website offering high quality resources to help jumpstart your mass vaccination efforts
The Immunization Action Coalition’s newest website, www.Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org, assists you in finding a wide range of ideas for developing your own mass vaccination clinics. Mass vaccination efforts will be useful for expediting flu vaccination this fall and may be needed after COVID-19 vaccines are licensed for use in large groups of people.
The website features a searchable list of resources for a variety of venues, including curbside, drive-through, and walk-through clinics; mobile medical vans; pharmacies; and schools. The database contains guidance documents, toolkits, publications, and other helpful resources that can be adapted to your community or individual healthcare setting.
Many of the documents were written in the pre-pandemic era and will need modification to ensure that additional protections, such as social distancing and personal protective equipment, help safeguard against COVID-19 transmission.
If you have a resource to suggest for the website, please send a message to info@mass-vaccination-resources.org. Everything received will be considered for placement on the new website.
This new website is supported by a medical education grant from Seqirus, Inc.
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Reminder: IAC’s gateway page “Vaccination and COVID-19” offers a collection of tools from many organizations to sustain routine vaccination services during the pandemic
IAC’s Vaccination and COVID-19 gateway page assists healthcare professionals who are faced with challenges in providing routine and catch-up vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. At this gateway, IAC has assembled key links to help both new and experienced vaccinators deliver safe, effective vaccination to people of all ages, applicable in typical and nontraditional vaccination settings.
The site facilitates access to key pandemic resource pages from major clinical and public health organizations involved in immunization. The page will be updated frequently with new links and resources specific to catch-up vaccination, so be sure to check back regularly.
To easily locate this gateway page from anywhere on immunize.org, go to the light blue band of tabs across the top, choose the "Clinic Tools" tab, and then select "Vaccination and COVID-19” from the drop-down menu. To link directly to the site, go to www.immunize.org/vax-and-covid-19. You also can use the Guide to immunize.org at the bottom of every web page.
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Paul Offit video interview about COVID-19 vaccination published by Medscape
Medscape published a 40-minute, one-to-one interview, Paul Offit's Biggest Concern About COVID Vaccines, with Eric Topol, editor-in-chief of Medscape, and Paul Offit, MD, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, on September 9. In the wide-ranging interview, broader than the Medscape headline suggests, Offit discussed manifestations of COVID-19 and how some patients have long-term effects. He went on to explain how SARS-CoV-2 vaccine trials are being conducted, including the role of Data Safety and Monitoring Boards (DSMBs), and gave his prediction of what may happen at the October 22 meeting of FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC). The conversation shifted to the features and unknowns of novel mRNA and adenovirus-vectored vaccines, including how they relate to vaccine safety. Offit stressed the need for data on vaccination of people over 65 and minorities. Finally, Offit explained that the combination of hygienic measures such as masks, hand washing, and social distancing, along with vaccination, should be sufficient to control the pandemic. Offit concluded by saying that we should not have unrealistic expectations of the efficacy of the vaccine. Even after a vaccine is available to the public, masks will still be important in preventing and controlling coronavirus.
Access the Medscape video and transcript.
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IAC’s Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during COVID-19 Pandemic has grown to nearly 200 resources to help patients catch up on missed vaccines
IAC now offers nearly 200 items in its Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic to assist in maintaining routine immunization rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Located on the website of the National Network of Immunization Coalitions, a project of IAC, this repository includes links to both national and state-level policies and guidance; advocacy materials, including talking points, webinars, press releases, articles, and social media posts; and telehealth resources.
These resources are intended for healthcare settings, state and local health departments, professional societies, immunization coalitions, advocacy groups, and the community to use in their efforts to sustain routine immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resources can be sorted and searched by date, title, geographic area, source, type, age category, or setting.
If you have a resource to suggest for the repository, please send a message to info@immunizationcoalitions.org.
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IAC Spotlight! Check out the many adolescent vaccination resources on www.immunize.org
Explore IAC's adolescent vaccination resources on immunize.org. IAC offers many educational materials to inform parents and aid healthcare professionals in discussions with parents and patients, including:
- IAC's Clinic Tools: Adolescent Vaccination gateway page offers educational pieces for healthcare professionals and their patients from IAC, CDC, AAFP, AAP, Vaccine Education Center, and others
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Order IAC’s child, adult, and lifetime immunization record cards—wallet-sized, designed to last!
IAC's personal immunization record cards, printed on rip-proof, smudge-proof, water-proof paper, are designed to last a lifetime. They’re sized to fit in a wallet when folded. The record cards are for you to give to your patients as a permanent vaccination record and are sold in boxes of 250.
Make bulk purchases and receive quantity discounts. For quotes on larger quantities or customizing, or to request sample cards, call 651-647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org.
Visit Shop IAC for additional items, including "Vaccines Save Lives" enamel pins, flu vaccine buttons and stickers, and a vaccine administration training video.
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More colleges and universities require flu vaccine to protect staff and students—the list grows!
Many colleges and universities across the nation are mandating flu vaccine for staff and students.
Under a new statewide regulation in Massachusetts, approximately 115 colleges and universities will be implementing requirements for influenza vaccination this year.
In addition, the following schools require influenza vaccine this year: University of California system—ten campuses, University of Tennessee system—four campuses, Butler University, Duke University, Purdue University, Rosalind Franklin University, Syracuse University, University of Miami, University of Pennsylvania, and Wabash College.
If you know of additional colleges or universities that require influenza vaccination, please send the name of the institution, as well as a link to the relevant policy (if available) to admin@immunize.org.
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Healthy People 2030 goals released by HHS, a set of 10-year national objectives
The HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion released Healthy People 2030, a set of science-based, 10-year national objectives with measurable goals to improve health and well-being of people nationwide, on August 18. Flu vaccination has been identified as the leading health indicator for the Immunization and Infectious Diseases (IID) Workgroup. The group seeks to increase flu vaccination from a baseline of 49% to 70% by 2030.
Core objectives selected by the IID Workgroup aim to reduce the rates of infectious diseases and associated illnesses and deaths. Specific goals to reduce incidence of pertussis, human papillomavirus, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B were described, as well as increasing adult vaccination coverage in general.
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Meningitis B Action Project released the results of their healthcare personnel survey on MenB patient discussions
To better understand how the MenB vaccine is discussed and used in clinical practice, the Meningitis B Action Project conducted an anonymous, web-based survey of healthcare personnel from around the country. Key findings from the 524 respondents include:
- A school or college not requiring the MenB vaccine was the most frequent reason given by respondents for not discussing the vaccine with their 16- to 23-year-old patients. Lack of a MenB vaccine requirement by a school or college was also the key reason patients or parents declined the vaccine.
- Nearly 50% of respondents were not aware of the current ACIP recommendation for the MenB vaccine.
Both the MenACWY and MenB vaccines are necessary to be fully vaccinated against the most common forms of bacterial meningitis in young adults.
To raise awareness of the importance of the meningitis vaccines, the Meningitis B Action Project provides an "It Takes Two" social media graphic that you can post across your social media channels.
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Not-to-miss immunization articles in the news
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
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Stay up to date on the latest coronavirus information
CDC, NIH, WHO, and Johns Hopkins are closely monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Check the resources below for the latest information. Stay in touch with your local and state health departments.
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IAC Handouts
New! IAC creates 1-page “Protective Measures for Vaccinating during the Pandemic”
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IAC updates its contraindication screening checklists for both inactivated and live influenza vaccines
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IAC updates two of its popular standing order templates for administering influenza vaccines, for children/teens and for adults
IAC revised its Standing Orders for Administering Influenza Vaccine to Adults and Standing Orders for Administering Influenza Vaccine to Children and Teens. They were changed to show:
- That having a cochlear implant, spinal fluid leak, or anatomic or functional asplenia is a contraindication, not just a precaution, to receipt of LAIV
- The specific time intervals between administration of LAIV and several newer influenza antiviral agents
- The updated recommendations for vaccination of people who may have egg allergy
An additional revision was made to add a 0.7 mL dosage for the new high-dose quadrivalent vaccine in "Standing Orders for Administering Influenza Vaccine to Adults."
 
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IAC updates “Influenza Vaccination of People with a History of Egg Allergy”
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IAC updates its parent handout “Vaccines Work! CDC Statistics Demonstrate Dramatic Declines in Vaccine-Preventable Diseases When Compared with the Pre-vaccine Era"
IAC updated morbidity data in its handout for parents titled Vaccines Work! CDC Statistics Demonstrate Dramatic Declines in Vaccine-Preventable Diseases When Compared with the Pre-vaccine Era.
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Featured Resources
Share Protecting Health: Saving Lives, PBS documentary about IAC, with colleagues and friends on social media to help widen the understanding of the importance of vaccines
The award-winning PBS television documentary series, Visionaries, hosted by Sam Waterston features IAC in the episode, Protecting Health: Saving Lives. This 30-minute film showcases IAC’s founder and executive director Dr. Deborah Wexler’s commitment to supporting the nation’s healthcare professionals with immunization education information and materials. Protecting Health: Saving Lives makes a powerful case for vaccination, addressing and defusing the fears that fuel the antivaccine movement, presenting stories of vaccine-preventable disease, and recognizing the science that has saved millions of lives through vaccination.
Protecting Health: Saving Lives is premiering on more than 100 PBS stations nationwide in the months ahead, but you can watch it right now on IAC’s website at www.immunize.org/aboutus/iac-film-history.asp. We’d very much appreciate your circulating the film by sharing this link with your colleagues and friends through member newsletters, e-mail listservs, social media channels, conferences and web-based events, and web pages.
Sharing Protecting Health: Saving Lives is easy! Just go to https://www.immunize.org/aboutus/iac-film-history.asp or click on the film's image in the right column of IAC's immunize.org main page. Click the “share” button, and choose the social media site where you’d like your friends, family, and colleagues to view the film.
To learn more about the PBS Visionaries series , visit www.visionaries.org.
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In IAC’s “Video of the Week,” Dr. John Lynch explains why flu vaccine is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic
In this August 2020 video from UW Medicine, Dr. John Lynch, medical director of infection control and prevention at Harborview Medical Center, explains why the flu vaccine is especially important during a pandemic. Having fewer flu cases will help preserve hospitals' capacity to treat COVID-19 patients. Increasing flu vaccination will also lessen the likelihood of co-infection with COVID-19 and influenza that can lead to even more serious health outcomes.
Visit the VOTW archive.
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Education and Training
CDC’s recorded webinar on hepatitis B, as well as 11 other segments in “The Pink Book" weekly series, available now
CDC continues its 15-part pre-recorded webinar series to provide a chapter-by-chapter overview of the 13th edition of Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (also known as "The Pink Book"). The series discusses vaccination principles, general best practices, immunization strategies, and specific information about vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines that prevent them. Each broadcast includes updated information from Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meetings.
There is no registration needed to view the sessions. The link to each course can be accessed at midday on the indicated date or thereafter. Information and program details are available on CDC's Pink Book Webinar Series web page.
The first 12 webinars are available online now. The next two webinars are scheduled as follows:
- September 23: HPV
- September 30: Pneumococcal vaccines
Continuing education credits are available for each event. Questions about the material can be submitted to nipinfo@cdc.gov.
All the sections of "The Pink Book" (i.e., chapters, appendices, 2017 supplement) are available to download at no charge at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/index.html. You also can order this resource from the Public Health Foundation for $45 plus shipping and handling.
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Immunize Colorado hosts provider webinar “Maternal Immunizations and Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention” on September 22
On September 22 at 11:00 a.m. (MT), Immunize Colorado will host a webinar titled Maternal Immunizations and Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention. The webinar will feature Michelle Barron, MD, medical director of infection control and prevention at the University of Colorado Denver; Briana Sprague, hepatitis B coordinator at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; and Tye Harlow, MPH, epidemiologist at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. They will discuss the importance of immunizations in protecting new mothers and their children.
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On the Lighter Side
Timeless 2003 PSA from HHS and the Ad Council reminds you to ask your doctor at every visit if your child is being vaccinated on schedule
This 30-second 2003 PSA, titled Even if You’re Sure, Ask Again, reminds parents that it’s important to ask the doctor at every visit if their child is being vaccinated on the current recommended vaccine schedule. Produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2003, it is part of a PSA collection curated by vaccine expert William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH.
Previous PSAs mentioned in “On the Lighter Side” are available when viewing this Vimeo video.
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