“Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mpox Cases and Vaccination among Adult Males—United States, May–December 2022” published in MMWR
CDC published Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mpox Cases and Vaccination among Adult Males—United States, May–December 2022 on April 14 in MMWR. A portion of the article appears below.
During May 10–December 31, 2022, mpox case incidences were higher among racial and ethnic minority males than those among White males, except Asian males, whose incidence was similar to that among White males. Disparities in mpox incidence peaked in August, particularly among Black (RR = 6.9) and Hispanic (RR = 4.1) males, relative to White males. After incidence peaked in August, disparities decreased slightly through December; however, substantial disparities in incidence remained during October–December. . . .
The vaccination-to-case ratio aggregated across all racial and ethnic groups during the full analytic period was 23.8. The highest vaccination-to-case ratios were observed among Asian (59.2) and White (42.5) males, whereas those among Hispanic and Black males were the lowest (16.2 and 8.8, respectively). From the beginning of the outbreak (May–June) to its peak (August), all groups showed increases in vaccination-to-case ratios, reflecting higher vaccination availability during this period. However, across each separate period examined, vaccination-to-case ratios were lowest among Black and Hispanic males (Figure).
Sustained equity-based strategies, such as tailored messaging and expanding vaccination services to reach racial and ethnic minority groups, are needed to prevent disparities in future mpox outbreaks.
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“Epidemiologic and Clinical Features of Mpox-Associated Deaths—United States, May 10, 2022–March 7, 2023” published in MMWRCDC published Epidemiologic and Clinical Features of Mpox-Associated Deaths—United States, May 10, 2022–March 7, 2023 on April 14 in MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.
Thirty-eight mpox-associated deaths occurred in the United States during May 10, 2022–March 7, 2023 (1.3 mpox-associated deaths per 1,000 cases). Most decedents were non-Hispanic Black or African American (87%) persons and cisgender men (95%). Among 24 decedents with HIV for whom data were available, all had advanced HIV, typically with a CD4 count <50. . . .
Equitable and early access to prevention and treatment for both mpox and HIV is critical to reducing mpox-related mortality.
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Virtual: Watch April 19 ACIP meeting. Topics include updates to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. CDC will convene its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) today, April 19, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (ET). The meeting will include discussion of the use of bivalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccines as primary series vaccines, consideration of an additional booster dose recommendation among people at high risk of serious COVID-19 illness, and simplification of the COVID-19 vaccination schedule.
No registration is required to watch webcasts of live ACIP meetings or listen via telephone. Opportunities for public comment are described on the website.
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- ACIP main page for access to webcast, agendas
- ACIP: Meeting Information for presentation slides, content from previous meetings, and information about future meetings
National Infant Immunization Week is April 24–30; use CDC’s 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. Completing the recommended vaccinations by age 2 years is the best way to protect young children from 15 potentially life-threatening diseases. After the disruptions of three pandemic years, these messages are more important than ever for families to hear.
CDC makes it simple for you to participate in NIIW by using their 2023 NIIW Digital Media Toolkit to plan activities. The toolkit includes updated English and Spanish logos, sample social media content, social graphics, and key messages. Please share your posts using the hashtag #ivax2protect.
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Spotlight: Immunize.org resources to help with your vaccine advocacy 
In this week’s Spotlight, we summarize resources at Immunize.org that can aid your vaccine advocacy efforts.
State Laws and Mandates by Vaccine main page contains links to vaccine-specific requirements state by state for daycare, K-12, and post-secondary education settings. State-specific information about exemption policies is available as well.
State Exemptions main page offers information on state mandates by vaccine-preventable disease. It includes policy statements from medical organizations endorsing strong school and childcare vaccination requirements and the elimination of non-medical exemptions.
State Information: Exemptions Permitted for State Immunization Requirements web page shows which states allow medical, religious, and personal vaccination exemptions and offers a map of exemptions permitted for school and child care.
State Information: Direct Links to State Immunization Websites main page offers links to each state’s vaccination policy web page.
Talking about Vaccines main page provides medical professionals with background information and practical resources divided into different topics that will help them discuss vaccination with concerned parents or patients.
Unprotected People Stories main page features 109 real-life accounts of people who suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases: compelling personal testimonies, remembrances, case reports, and newspaper articles.
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
Immunize.org Pages and Handouts
Immunize.org updates its resource “Pneumococcus: Questions and Answers”
Immunize.org updated its resource Pneumococcus: Questions and Answers to incorporate the newer pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15 and PCV20) and their recommendations.
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Immunize.org updates its resource for healthcare professionals: “Don't Be Guilty of These Preventable Errors in Vaccine Storage and Handling!” Immunize.org recently updated its resource for healthcare professionals: Don't Be Guilty of These Preventable Errors in Vaccine Administration! Changes include information on accessing CDC's vaccine storage and handling information for COVID-19 vaccines.
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Immunize.org updates and streamlines its “Vaccines: COVID-19” main page
Immunize.org updated and simplified its Vaccines: COVID-19 main page. This page directs visitors seeking quick links to any print-ready federal fact sheets and COVID-19 vaccination resource to Immunize.org’s Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools. This checklist consolidates all of these resources in one document, and is updated at least monthly.
Bookmark Immunize.org's Vaccines: COVID-19 main page to connect with a comprehensive list of resources from CDC and FDA including fact sheets, clinical considerations, vaccine administration tools, and storage and handling guidance.
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Organizing a new vaccination program? Use Immunize.org’s Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide—free to download by chapter or in its entirety. 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.
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"COVID-19 Vaccines in Young Children—Reassuring Evidence for Parents," commentary by Paul Offit, MD, published in JAMA Pediatrics
In the January 23 issue, JAMA Pediatrics published a commentary by Paul Offit, MD, titled COVID-19 Vaccines in Young Children—Reassuring Evidence for Parents. A portion of the article appears below.
Parents should be both compelled and reassured by the following facts: (1) although the COVID-19 pandemic is ending, SARS-CoV2 virus will be circulating for years, if not decades; (2) while some SARS-CoV-2 variants might have become less virulent, the virus is unlikely to evolve to avirulence; (3) about 3 to 4 million children will be born every year who will be susceptible to this virus; (4) the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause severe and occasionally fatal disease in all age groups; (5) mRNA vaccines, which have now been given to more than 10 million children between 5 and 11 years of age, have been shown to be effective at preventing severe disease; and (6) myocarditis is an extremely rare consequence of mRNA vaccines in young children. Given the amount of information currently available to parents, the decision to vaccinate their children should be an easy one.
"Bivalent Prefusion F Vaccine in Pregnancy to Prevent RSV Illness in Infants" published in New England Journal of MedicineIn the April 5 issue, New England Journal of Medicine published Bivalent Prefusion F Vaccine in Pregnancy to Prevent RSV Illness in Infants. The study found a vaccine efficacy of 81.8% for medically attended severe lower respiratory tract illness occurring within 90 days after birth, and 69.7% within 180 days after birth. The conclusions section appears below.
RSVpreF vaccine administered during pregnancy was effective against medically attended severe RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illness in infants, and no safety concerns were identified.
“Update on Wild Poliovirus Type 1 Outbreak—Southeastern Africa, 2021–2022” published in MMWR
CDC published Update on Wild Poliovirus Type 1 Outbreak—Southeastern Africa, 2021–2022 on April 14 in MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.
To date, one WPV1 [wild poliovirus type 1] case was detected in Malawi and eight in Mozambique. These countries and Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe implemented up to six national and subnational supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) per country and strengthened poliovirus surveillance. . . .
Further enhancing surveillance, implementing high-quality SIAs, and strengthening routine immunization are essential to stopping WPV1 transmission within 12 months of the first case, thereby preserving the WHO African Region’s WPV-free status.
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