CDC published Screening and Testing for Hepatitis B Virus Infection: CDC Recommendations—United States, 2023 on March 10 in MMWR. The report updates previous guidelines, now recommending that all adults be screened for HBV infection with a triple-panel test at least once in their lifetimes.

The new guidelines also recommend that people who are not vaccinated for hepatitis B, but are at increased risk of HBV infection, receive periodic testing.  Risk-based testing is expanded to include more conditions:

• People incarcerated or formerly incarcerated in a jail, prison, or other detention setting
• People with a history of sexually transmitted infections or multiple sex partners
• People with a history of hepatitis C virus infection

Anyone can be infected with hepatitis B. Because risk may be transient or unrecognized, all adults can benefit from knowing their status and being protected from infection. To provide increased access to testing, anyone who requests HBV testing should receive it, regardless of disclosure of risk. In addition to screening, CDC recommends vaccination of all people younger than age 60 years and all people age 60 or older at increased risk. Anyone age 60 or older may be vaccinated.
 
A person who is unvaccinated may have blood drawn for screening, followed by the first dose of vaccine at the same visit. If vaccination is indicated, it should not be delayed if screening is not feasible.



Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.

Related Links

• MMWR's main page provides access to MMWR Weekly and its companion publications
• CDC: Viral Hepatitis: Hepatitis B main page
• Immunize.org: Vaccines: Hepatitis B main page 

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FDA approves intramuscular injection as an option, in addition to subcutaneous administration, for M-M-R II, Varivax, and ProQuad vaccines 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved intramuscular (IM) injection as an option for M-M-R II (measles-mumps-rubella vaccine), Varivax (varicella vaccine), and ProQuad (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine) from Merck. Previously, these vaccines were only licensed for subcutaneous (subcut) injection. 

Two brands of MMR vaccine are distributed in the United States. Only Merck’s brand is licensed for either IM or subcut administration. Priorix from GSK is licensed for subcut administration. In coming weeks, Immunize.org will update its resources on vaccine administration to reflect this new route of administration option.

Related Links

• FDA: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live (M-M-R II) protect information 
• FDA: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella Virus Vaccine Live (ProQuad) product information
• FDA: Varicella Virus Vaccine Live (Varivax) product information
• Merck press release: U.S. FDA Approves Intramuscular Administration for Merck’s MMRV Family of Vaccines: M-M-R II (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live), Varivax (Varicella Virus Vaccine Live), and ProQuad (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella Virus Vaccine Live) (3/6/23)
• Immunize.org: Food and Drug Administration: Package Inserts & FDA Product Approvals main page

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March is Women’s History Month; Immunize.org celebrates the many contributions of women in vaccinology

March is Women's History Month and Immunize.org acknowledges the important contributions of women to vaccinology. Since the beginning of the vaccine era, women contributed to vaccine science and vaccination programs globally. We celebrate women’s trailblazing contributions in vaccinology, including:

• Lady Mary Wortley Montagu introduced smallpox inoculation to Britain and Western Europe in 1721
• Anna Wessels Williams isolated the reference strain of diphtheria used to develop the first diphtheria antitoxin and later a diphtheria toxoid in the 1890s. She developed a quick test to diagnose rabies in 1902.
• Margaret Pittman recognized in 1931 that type b of Haemophilus influenzae was a major cause of disease
• Ida A. Bengtson developed the complement fixation test in the 1920s, which was used to standardize units of biological activity for botulinum, gas gangrene, and other antitoxins
• Pearl L. Kendrick and Grace Elderling researched pertussis in the 1940s, tested their vaccine first on themselves, and ran a successful clinical trial, resulting in the first vaccine against pertussis. Loney Clinton Gordon aided their efforts.
• Dorothy Horstmann showed that poliovirus reaches the brain through the blood in the 1940s
• Clara I. Nigg codeveloped botulinum toxoids in 1947
• Isabel M. Morgan and her team proved that inactivated viruses could produce immunity in the 1940s; her work led the development of Salk's polio vaccine in 1955
• Brigitte Alice Askonas's work on antibodies and T-cells in the 1950s informed research to improve vaccines
• Ruth L. Kirshstein helped develop and refine tests to assure the safety of viral vaccines against polio, measles, and rubella in the 1950s–1970s
• Özlem Türeci helped lead the development of the BioNTech/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in 2020 
• Lisa Jackson led the world's first COVID-19 clinical vaccine trial in 2020
• Kizzmekia Corbett helped create the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in 2020
• These are a few of the countless women contributing to vaccine development and the success of vaccination programs worldwide

The contributions of all of the women who work tirelessly to advance vaccine science, policy, and program implementation are deeply appreciated.  
 
 Related Links 

• Women's History Month website 
• Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: The Women Who Made Modern Vaccines Work web page
• International Vaccine Institute: Celebration Women in Vaccines – International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2023 web page 

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Immunize.org updates its "Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools"

The Immunize.org reviews and updates the Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools every month, prominently indicating when it was last updated at the top of the page. This month’s updates are minimal, including an updated FDA page on expiration dates and the date of the Immunize.org  Vaccines: COVID-19 main page.

All COVID-19 vaccination providers should review the checklist regularly to be sure practices stay up to date.



CDC posted a spotlight on influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) this season. Multiple estimates show that influenza vaccine provides substantial protection to children and adults this season against illness and hospitalization.

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools (PDF)
• Immunize.org: Vaccines: COVID-19 main page
• Immunize.org: Ask the Experts: COVID-19 web page
• CDC: Interim Clinical Considerations main page summarizing use of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States

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Immunize.org's Clinic Tools: Administering Vaccines main page is a collection of resources from Immunize.org, CDC, and other organizations. To find it, select the "Clinic Tools" tab in the middle of the blue banner atop every Immunize.org web page and then select "Administering Vaccines." 

On the "Clinic Tools: Administering Vaccines" main page, you will find educational materials such as: 

• Administering Vaccines: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size
• Don’t Be Guilty of These Preventable Errors in Vaccine Administration
• How to Administer Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Vaccine Injections
• Skills Checklist for Vaccine Administration

Visit the Clinic Tools: Administering Vaccines main page on Immunize.org.

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These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.

• AMA: Why COVID-19 Deaths among Vaccinated Show That Boosters Matter (3/7/23)
• U.S. News: Highlighting Link between Flu & Heart Trouble Can Nudge Folks to Get Vaccine (3/7/23)
• ABC: MMR Vaccine Rates Are Lagging amid a Rise in Measles Cases. Experts Blame a Discredited Study. (3/6/23)

Immunize.org updated Talking about Vaccines: Alternative Schedules, Talking about Vaccines: Autism, and Talking about Vaccines: MMR Vaccine main pages. These pages lead to many resources from Immunize.org, CDC, and others to help healthcare professionals communicate with parents and patients about important vaccine topics.

The pages were updated to optimize links and content.

    

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Handouts for Patients and Staff main page, where you can sort materials by topic, vaccine, or language
• Immunize.org: Educational Materials for Patients and Staff—an alphabetical listing of more than 230 ready-to-print staff educational materials and patient handouts
• Immunize.org: Talking about Vaccines main page

Immunize.org further expanded its collection of Vaccination Information Statement (VIS) translations. With CDC funding to increase the availability of translations, 19 new VIS translations were added in Bengali.

All translations are available in print-ready PDF format. 

New VIS translations in Bengali: 

• Updated: DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) VIS 
• Updated: Hepatitis A VIS
• Updated: Hepatitis B VIS
• Updated: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) VIS 
• Updated: HPV (Human Papillomavirus) VIS 
• Updated: Influenza (Inactivated or Recombinant) VIS
• Updated: Influenza (Live Intranasal) VIS 
• Updated: Meningococcal ACWY VIS 
• Updated: Meningococcal B VIS 
• Updated: MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) VIS
• Updated: MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella) VIS 
• Updated: Polio VIS
• New! Rabies VIS
• New! Rotavirus VIS 
• New! Smallpox/Monkeypox VIS
• Updated: Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria) VIS 
• Updated: Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) VIS
• Updated: Varicella (Chickenpox) VIS
• New! Recombinant Zoster (Shingles) VIS 

Check the version dates of your office copies of newly updated translations. Translations of previous VIS versions should be discarded now that translations of the current versions are available.

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Bengali-Language VISs main page
• Immunize.org: Vaccine Information Statement main page for VISs in 47 languages
• Immunize.org: Dates of Current Vaccine Information Statements (PDF)
• CDC: What's New with VISs web page
• CDC: Current VISs web page

The Society for Women's Health Research launched its #SWHRtalksHPV Video Series to help parents and guardians learn about cancer prevention via HPV vaccination. Experts share facts and insights as they answer key questions.

The series of ten videos features Immunize.org’s chief policy and partnerships officer, L.J Tan, PhD, MS.



Share the video series on social media and with your networks, and tag @SWHR and #SWHRtalksHPV. 

Immunize.org's laminated versions of the 2023 U.S. child and adolescent immunization schedule and the 2023 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 laminated schedules are ideal for use in any busy healthcare setting. Their tough coating can be wiped down, and they’re durable enough to stand up to a year of use.

• Length: Each schedule with appendices is 12 pages
• Size: Standard 8.5” X 11” booklet format
• Full Color: With color coding for easy reading, our laminated schedules replicate the original CDC formatting, including the essential tables and notes
• Bonus: The adult schedule includes Immunize.org’s popular 1-page handout summarizing the dose, route, and needle length recommendations for all vaccines and recipients

    

Pricing for Each Schedule
$10.00: 1 copy
$  9.50 each: 2–4 copies
$  8.50 each: 5–19 copies
$  7.50 each: 20–99 copies
$  6.00 each: 100–499 copies 
$  5.00 each: 500–999 copies
$  4.00 each: 1,000–1,999 copies
$  3.25 each: 2,000+ copies

Visit Shop Immunize.org: Laminated Schedules to view images of each page and order today!

For additional information, call 651-647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org.

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Laminated Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedules (0–18 years) web page
• Immunize.org: Laminated Adult Immunization Schedules (19 and older) web page
• Immunize.org: Shop Immunize.org main page 
• CDC: Immunization Schedules

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CHOP's Vaccine Education Center offers video on measles symptoms, spread, and complications

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's (CHOP) Vaccine Education Center (VEC) offers Measles: Symptoms, Spread & SSPE in its Doctors Talk video series. In this video, CHOP's Paul Offit, MD, and Katie Lockwood, MD, MEd, talk about measles, its symptoms, side effects, and physician worries when a child contracts measles.

Watch and share the video. 

Related Links

• CHOP VEC: A Look at Each Vaccine: Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine web page
• CHOP VEC: Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) Infographic (PDF)

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On February 28, Immunize.org and Canadian experts from the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, and Society for Infodemic Management, Québec, hosted a 1-hour webinar, Improving the Vaccination Experience: Reducing Pain and Anxiety for Children and Adults. During this webinar, participants learned about the principles behind vaccination pain and anxiety and simple, evidence-based strategies to reduce apprehension. These strategies were developed by the experts from HELP Eliminate Pain in Kids and Adults. Their work was used by the World Health Organization (WHO), Public Health Canada, and others to develop guidelines for reducing vaccination pain.

The video of the webinar, slide set, and web links to other resources are now available on our website for on-demand viewing. Please view and share this important webinar with your colleagues.



Related Link 

• Immunize.org: Improving the Vaccination Experience: Accessible Vaccination for Neurodiverse People at Any Age (webinar held on 12/13/22)

Download Immunize.org’s free 142-page book on adult vaccination to help build your program and train your team: Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide (Guide).

 

This thorough "how to" guide on adult vaccination provides easy-to-use, practical information covering all essential activities. It helps vaccine providers enhance their existing adult vaccination services or introduce them into any clinical setting.

The Guide is available to download/print either by chapter or in its entirety free at www.immunize.org/guide. The National Vaccine Program Office and CDC both supported the development of the Guide and provided early technical review.

The Guide is a valuable resource to assist providers in increasing adult vaccination rates. Be sure to get a copy today!

Please note: this guide was produced in 2017, before the COVID-19 era, and reflects the recommendations of that time.

Related Links

• Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide main page, permitting download of entire Guide (142 pages, PDF)
• View the table of contents and individual chapters (PDF):
  • Table of Contents
  • Step 1: Getting Started
  • Step 2: Setting Up for Vaccination Services
  • Step 3: Vaccine Storage and Handling
  • Step 4: Deciding Whom to Vaccinate
  • Step 5: Administering Vaccines
  • Step 6: Documentation and Related Issues
  • Step 7A: Financial Considerations
  • Step 7B: How to Bill for Adult Immunizations
• Immunize.org’s educational materials (handouts) on adult immunization

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases will host a webinar titled Updates from February 2023 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Meeting, 12:00–1:00 p.m. (ET) on March 22. During the webinar, William Schaffner, MD, NFID Medical Director and ACIP liaison, and Jessica R. MacNeil, MPH, ACIP Deputy Executive Secretary, will discuss the updates to current U.S. vaccination recommendations for children, adolescents, and adults. Content will focus primarily on non-COVID-19-related topics.

There is no fee to participate in this activity, but pre-registration is required. CME available.

Register for the webinar.

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Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition (MAIC) will host its 28th Annual Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference virtually, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (ET), on April 4. This year's theme is the future of vaccination.  

The goal is to educate healthcare professionals on best practices for adult immunization. The 2023 conference offers an opportunity to receive the most updated information on routine adult immunization from leading experts and network with experts and colleagues.

Professionals outside of Massachusetts are encouraged to attend. First-time attendees get free registration; $50 for students and $75 for others. Up to 6.75 CME credits are available.

Register for the conference.