“Ask the Experts: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis Vaccines” web page updated with recent pertussis trends and evidence on effectiveness of Tdap during pregnancy
Immunize.org updated its popular Ask the Experts: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis Vaccines web page on March 31. Updates include the following:
- Recent epidemiological trends of pertussis
- Evidence that Tdap vaccination during pregnancy is highly effective at protecting newborns from pertussis illness or hospitalization
- When considering post-exposure chemoprophylaxis or symptom monitoring, healthcare personnel vaccinated with Tdap who are at high risk themselves or likely to expose patients at high risk of pertussis complications should be managed like those who have not had Tdap
Immunize.org's Ask the Experts main page leads you to 30 distinct web pages on a variety of topics with more than 1,100 common or challenging questions and answers about vaccines and their administration. Immunize.org's team of experts includes Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH (team lead), Carolyn B. Bridges, MD, FACP, and Iyabode Beysolow, MD, MPH.
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Haitian Creole and Portuguese translations of 18 Vaccine Information Statements posted by Immunize.org
Immunize.org posted 18 new translations of Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) in Haitian Creole and Portuguese. These translations were generously donated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Immunization Program.
All translations are available in print-ready PDF format.
VIS translations in Haitian Creole:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Hepatitis A VIS PDF (view in English)
- Hepatitis B VIS PDF (view in English)
- HPV (human papillomavirus) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Influenza, inactivated or recombinant VIS PDF (view in English)
- Influenza, live intranasal VIS PDF (view in English)
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Meningococcal ACWY VIS PDF (view in English)
- Meningococcal B VIS PDF (view in English)
- Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Polio VIS PDF (view in English)
- Rotavirus VIS PDF (view in English)
- Tetanus, diphtheria (Td) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Varicella (chickenpox) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Recombinant zoster (shingles) VIS PDF (view in English)
VIS translations in Portuguese:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Hepatitis A VIS PDF (view in English)
- Hepatitis B VIS PDF (view in English)
- HPV (human papillomavirus) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Influenza, inactivated or recombinant VIS PDF (view in English)
- Influenza, live intranasal VIS PDF (view in English)
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Meningococcal ACWY VIS PDF (view in English)
- Meningococcal B VIS PDF (view in English)
- Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Polio VIS PDF (view in English)
- Rotavirus VIS PDF (view in English)
- Tetanus, diphtheria (Td) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Varicella (chickenpox) VIS PDF (view in English)
- Recombinant zoster (shingles) VIS PDF (view in English)
Translations of previous VIS versions may be used until new translations become available. CDC states that the corresponding up-to-date English-language VIS must also be supplied when providing an out-of-date translation.
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Meningococcal disease outbreak: Florida Department of Health recommends vaccination for men who have sex with men and people with HIV living in Florida
On April 7, CDC reported on an ongoing outbreak of meningococcal disease in Florida, primarily among men who have sex with men, including those living with HIV. Key points from the Meningococcal Disease Outbreak, Florida, 2022 web page are summarized below.
In response to an ongoing outbreak of meningococcal disease in Florida, state health officials are recommending all gay and bisexual men living in the state get vaccinated with one dose of a MenACWY vaccine to help protect against meningococcal disease.
Florida health officials are also emphasizing the importance of routine vaccination against meningococcal disease for people with HIV. For the best protection, people with HIV should make sure they have gotten their 2-dose primary series of a MenACWY vaccine and are up to date with booster doses.
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National Infant Immunization Week is April 24–30; prepare using CDC’s 2022 digital media toolkit
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), April 24–30, highlights the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrates the achievements of immunization partners. This year, it’s particularly critical to ensure that families stay on track for routine checkups and recommended vaccinations following disruptions from COVID-19.
A CDC report released in May 2020 found a troubling drop in routine childhood vaccination as a result of families missing many in-person clinical visits during the pandemic.
Save time by using CDC's 2022 NIIW Digital Media Toolkit for your organization's NIIW activities. The toolkit includes updated logos, sample social media content, social graphics, and key messages. Please share them, using the hashtags #NIIW and #ivax2protect.
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Spotlight: Immunize.org's resources focused on vaccine-preventable diseases, one disease at a time
Immunize.org offers a host of materials that focus on specific vaccine-preventable diseases. Here are some highlights.
Our Ask the Experts main page gives you access more to than 1,100 questions answered by Immunize.org experts. Topics include specific diseases and their vaccines as well as vaccine delivery guidance (e.g., administration, billing, documenting).
Our Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) main page links to all current ACIP vaccine recommendations as well as most dating back to 1991. You can sort the ACIP recommendations by diseases or publication date.
Our Handouts for Patients and Staff main page leads to hundreds of free patient handouts and fact sheets for healthcare professionals. All items are ready to print, copy, and distribute widely.
Our Unprotected People Stories main page features more than a hundred real-life accounts of people who suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases. There are compelling personal testimonies, remembrances, case reports, and newspaper articles.
Our Image Library main page offers hundreds of photos of people affected by vaccine-preventable diseases; micrographs of viruses, bacteria, and pathology specimens; and pictures of people being vaccinated. Please follow noted copyright requirements.
Influenza activity remains elevated in central and south-central United States; vaccination warranted if your unvaccinated patients are at risk
Influenza Surveillance
For week 13, ending on April 2, CDC's Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView summary reports that seasonal influenza activity in the United States continues to gradually increase again this week, with the highest activity in central and south-central regions of the country and increasing activity in northeastern regions.
Influenza Vaccination Dashboard
CDC's new Weekly Flu Vaccination Dashboard shares preliminary vaccination data. This week’s key fact: among adults 18 and older, 40.4 million flu vaccinations were administered in pharmacies and 30.8 million flu vaccinations were administered in physician medical offices as of week ending March 12, 2022. Both of these estimates are lower than the estimates at the same time last year.
CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older get an annual influenza vaccine. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same visit, if needed. COVID-19 vaccination alone provides no protection from influenza or any other respiratory virus.
Vaccine Finder
If you don’t provide influenza vaccine at your site, please strongly recommend vaccination and refer people to sites that do vaccinate. Use VaccineFinder, a user-friendly website to help people of all ages find influenza, COVID-19, and other vaccines. Participating providers can update their vaccine inventory estimates on VaccineFinder. For questions or more information, contact vaccine@healthmap.org.
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Journalists interview Immunize.org experts Journalists seek out Immunize.org experts to help explain vaccines to the public and policy makers. We help the media understand and communicate the complex work vaccinators do. Here is a recent citation.
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
Immunize.org Pages and Handouts
“Hepatitis B Facts: Testing and Vaccination” handout updated to reflect ACIP recommendations
Immunize.org updated its Hepatitis B Facts: Testing and Vaccination handout for healthcare providers. Changes were made to incorporate the newest ACIP recommendations for hepatitis B vaccine:
- Expanding universal vaccination to all adults through age 59 years, in addition to adults age 60 or older with risk factors
- Noting that any adult age 60 or older who does not meet the risk-based recommendations may be vaccinated
“Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccines: Be Sure Your Patients Get the Correct Dose” handout updated to reflect ACIP recommendations Immunize.org updated its Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccines: Be Sure Your Patients Get the Correct Dose handout for healthcare providers. Changes were made to add PreHevbrio and Vaxelis to the list of vaccines containing a HepB component and to update the references.
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“Hepatitis A, B, and C: Learn the Differences” handout updated to reflect ACIP recommendations Immunize.org updated its Hepatitis A, B, and C: Learn the Differences handout for healthcare providers. Changes were made to incorporate the newest ACIP recommendations for hepatitis B vaccine:
- Expanding universal vaccination to all adults through age 59 years, in addition to adults age 60 or older with risk factors
- Noting that any adult age 60 or older who does not meet the risk-based recommendations may be vaccinated
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Use new “Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools” and updated COVID-19 main page to keep up to date
It is challenging to keep up with changes to COVID-19 vaccine guidance and the numerous fact sheets and job aids available. To address this, Immunize.org published a new 2-page job aid, Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools. The checklist includes the most recent revision dates of CDC’s primary COVID-19 vaccination websites, as well as print-ready PDF documents from CDC and FDA. Each date is hyperlinked to the original document or web page. Immunize.org will update this list at least monthly, prominently indicating when it was last updated at the top of the page.
We encourage COVID-19 vaccination providers to review this list monthly to be sure your practices stay up to date. The most recent checklist update was April 4, 2022.
 
In addition, Immunize.org updated its Vaccines: COVID-19 main page on April 4, 2022. This page provides a comprehensive index to key resources from CDC, Immunize.org, and other partners. It facilitates access to information on COVID-19 vaccine products, clinic resources and tools, vaccine fact sheets, and other important vaccine-related topics. Links just added to this web page include the new checklist described above and CDC’s Interim COVID-19 Vaccine Immunization Schedule for Ages 5 Years and Older.
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Order Immunize.org’s redesigned child, adult, and lifetime immunization record cards—wallet-sized, designed to last! Immunize.org's personal immunization record cards, printed on rip-proof, smudge-proof, water-proof paper, are designed to last a lifetime. They fit in a wallet when folded. Give the record cards to your patients as a permanent and personal vaccination record. They 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.
Order today! Laminated versions of CDC’s 2022 immunization schedules available while supplies last. Immunize.org's laminated versions of the 2022 U.S. child and adolescent immunization schedule and the 2022 U.S. adult immunization schedule are in stock and shipping now. Order while supplies last.
While the schedules are available online from CDC at no cost, Immunize.org’s printed, laminated schedules are ideal for use in any busy healthcare setting where vaccinations are given. Their tough coating can be wiped down, and they’re durable enough to stand up to a year's worth of use.
In 2022, the length of each schedule with appendices was extended by two pages. As a result, the laminated schedules are now published in a standard 8.5” X 11” booklet format.
- The child/adolescent schedule booklet is ten pages (i.e., five double-sided pages) and includes a bonus page with Immunize.org’s popular 1-page handout summarizing the dose, route, and needle size recommendations for all vaccines and recipients
- The adult schedule booklet is eight pages (i.e., four double-sided pages)
 
With color coding for easy reading, our laminated schedules replicate the original CDC formatting, including the essential tables and notes.
PRICING
| Number of Copies |
Cost |
| 1–4 copies |
$7.50 each |
| 5–19 copies |
$5.50 each |
| 20–99 copies |
$4.50 each |
| 100–499 copies |
$4.00 each |
| 500–999 copies |
$3.50 each |
For quotes on customizing or placing orders of 1,000 copies or more, call 651-647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org.
Visit the Shop Immunize.org: Laminated Schedules web page for more information on the schedules, to view images of all the pages, to download the order form, and to order today!
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"Increased Risk of Herpes Zoster in Adults ≥50 Years Old Diagnosed with COVID-19 in the United States" published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases
In its March 9 issue, Open Forum Infectious Diseases published Increased Risk of Herpes Zoster in Adults ≥50 Years Old Diagnosed with COVID-19 in the United States. The conclusion appears below.
We found that COVID-19 diagnosis in ≥50-year-olds was associated with a significantly increased risk of developing HZ [herpes zoster], highlighting the relevance of maintaining HZ vaccination.
"Protection by a Fourth Dose of BNT162b2 against Omicron in Israel" published in New England Journal of MedicineIn its April 5 issue, New England Journal of Medicine published Protection by a Fourth Dose of BNT162b2 against Omicron in Israel. The conclusion appears below.
Rates of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe Covid-19 were lower after a fourth dose of BNT162b2 vaccine than after only three doses. Protection against confirmed infection appeared short-lived, whereas protection against severe illness did not wane during the study period.
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MMWR Recap: Articles regarding COVID-19 complications after infection and vaccination, Hep B vaccine recommendations
CDC recently published several articles first distributed as MMWR Early Releases:
- Cardiac Complications after SARS-CoV-2 Infection and mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination—PCORnet, United States, January 2021–January 2022 (MMWR, April 8, HTML or PDF)
- Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination in Adults Aged 19–59 Years: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2022 (MMWR, April 1, HTML or PDF)
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- MMWR main page provides access to MMWR Weekly and its companion publications
“COVID-19 Mortality and Vaccine Coverage—Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, January 6, 2022–March 21, 2022” published in MMWR Early Release
CDC published COVID-19 Mortality and Vaccine Coverage—Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, January 6, 2022–March 21, 2022 on April 8 in an MMWR Early Release. A portion of the summary appears below.
Among persons aged ≥60 years in Hong Kong, 49% had received ≥2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and vaccination coverage declined with age. During January–March 2022, reported COVID-19–associated deaths rose rapidly in Hong Kong. Among these deaths, 96% occurred in persons aged ≥60 years; within this age group, the risk for death was 20 times lower among those who were fully vaccinated compared with those who were unvaccinated.
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“Monkeypox in a Traveler Returning from Nigeria—Dallas, Texas, July 2021” published in MMWR
CDC published Monkeypox in a Traveler Returning from Nigeria—Dallas, Texas, July 2021 on April 8 in MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.
In July 2021, Monkeypox virus was confirmed in a U.S. resident who had returned from Nigeria....
Continued Monkeypox virus transmission in Nigeria might lead to additional sporadic U.S. importations. Early clinical suspicion, prompt reporting to public health authorities, and awareness of the types of exposures that might be high risk are among the lessons learned.
The article contains a table summarizing recommendations for monitoring and postexposure prophylaxis with orthopoxvirus vaccine, by risk level of exposure to a monkeypox patient.
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Virtual: April 20 ACIP meeting announced
CDC has announced that it will convene its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on April 20, from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (ET). The meeting agenda is not yet available, but will be posted on the website.
No registration is required to watch webcasts of live ACIP meetings or listen via telephone. Opportunities for public comment are described at the website.
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Virtual: AIRA hosts its 2022 National Meeting on April 26 and 27; registration closes on April 22 The American Immunization Registry Association (AIRA) will host its virtual #AIRA2022 National Meeting on April 26 and 27. This annual opportunity brings together partners to discuss the latest immunization information system (IIS) best practices. This year's event will include keynote speaker, Dr. David A. Ross, ScD, chief executive officer and president of the Task Force for Global Health, along with a panel presentation on data modernization.
The meeting agenda, along with other helpful information, is available online.
Register to attend.
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