Issue 1,508: August 5, 2020
Top Stories
Handouts
Featured Resources
Journal Articles and Newsletters
Education and Training
On the Lighter Side
Top Stories
ACIP meets in virtual session to review COVID-19 vaccination options
On July 29, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) held the first of several virtual meetings to discuss issues relevant to COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution. These supplementary meetings allow ACIP to respond to accelerated vaccine development. Highlights of the meeting, at which no votes were taken, are outlined below.
COVID-19 Epidemiology – More than 4 million cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in the U.S. through July. Although occupational information on these cases has not been systematically collected, occupational risk appears to be increased among healthcare personnel, as well as staff at long-term care facilities, correctional and detention facilities, and food/agricultural settings.
Vaccine Candidates – Worldwide, more than 200 COVID-19 vaccine candidates are currently in development, including at least six that are in clinical trials in the U.S.
Federal Coordination – Operation Warp Speed (OWS) is the U.S. government consortium responsible for strategy, coordination, and resource allocation related to vaccine development. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has established a public-private partnership, Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) to coordinate responses, and the COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN) to oversee execution of phase 3 trials. Currently there are 117 US CoVPN clinical sites.
Safety – Dr. Kathryn Edwards discussed safety issues that impeded development of RSV and dengue vaccines and highlighted evidence on the lack of parallel problems in current candidate vaccines. The appropriateness of various animal models for vaccine development was described. To date, recipients of COVID-19 vaccines in early clinical trials have frequently reported self-limited injection-site reactions (e.g., pain, tenderness) and systemic events (e.g., fever, fatigue) within a few days after vaccination; no serious adverse events have been reported. ACIP emphasized that vaccine safety must be addressed from multiple perspectives to safeguard the public health.
Licensure vs. Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) – In June, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published Development and Licensure of Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19, Guidance for Industry, which outlines the standards vaccine developers must meet to attain FDA licensure. FDA could initially allow vaccine use under an EUA while moving forward with the process that would eventually lead to licensure. While both EUA and licensure involve submission of substantial evidence of effectiveness and safety, the EUA allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to more rapidly approve vaccine use when available evidence shows that the balance of known and potential benefit outweighs known and potential harms.
Distribution and Delivery – CDC participates in each of the federal groups outlined above and will oversee the complex, challenging aspects of vaccine distribution and administration. CDC speakers emphasized the need for the involvement of multiple traditional and non-traditional partners.
Next Steps for ACIP’s Work Group (WG) – The COVID-19 WG will continue to review clinical trial data for candidate vaccines as they become available and build an understanding of needed adverse event reporting and surveillance systems. The WG also is reviewing considerations for vaccine prioritization groups (including essential workers, such as healthcare personnel) and will further refine the tiered groups for allocation of initial vaccine supplies. It was noted that, in response to a request from the NIH and CDC, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) have formed the Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for Novel Coronavirus. The committee will develop an overarching framework to assist policymakers in the U.S. and global health communities in planning for equitable allocation of vaccines against COVID-19, producing its report in Fall 2020.
Meeting information on ACIP’s next virtual meetings to review COVID-19 vaccine information, tentatively scheduled for August 26 and September 22, will be announced on the ACIP website.
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CDC publishes "Rebound in Routine Childhood Vaccine Administration following Decline during the COVID-19 Pandemic—New York City, March 1–June 27, 2020" in MMWR
CDC published
Rebound in Routine Childhood Vaccine Administration following Decline during the COVID-19 Pandemic—New York City, March 1–June 27, 2020 in the July 31 issue of
MMWR. A summary appears here.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) monitored the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood vaccination using the city’s immunization registry. Beginning in early March, data from the immunization registry showed a decrease in the number of doses given to children 18 and under. DOHMH used the city’s immunization registry and worked with healthcare providers so they could identify unvaccinated children and ensure they received vaccines they missed. Vaccine administration increased among children under 2 starting in mid-April and had returned to levels similar to those during 2019 by mid-May. Vaccine administration among children aged 2–18 years increased starting in late April and early May and continued to rise. However, during the most recent week for which data were available (June 21–27), the number of vaccines given to children aged 2–18 years was still 35% lower than the same time period in 2019. The rebound of vaccination among children under age 2 years demonstrates the critical role of public health departments and partnerships with numerous stakeholders, specifically healthcare providers, in childhood vaccination.
Access the
MMWR article in
HTML format or in
PDF format.
Related Link
- MMWR gateway page provides access to MMWR Weekly, MMWR Recommendations and Reports, MMWR Surveillance Summaries, and MMWR Supplements
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The Maternal Immunization Task Force issues call to action highlighting Tdap and flu vaccination during pregnancy and critical role of prenatal caregivers in promoting vaccination
The Maternal Immunization Task Force has issued
Immunization for Pregnant Women: A Call to Action to highlight the crucial
importance of Tdap and flu vaccination for pregnant women. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses constitute this task force and collaborated to create this call to action.
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Fall semester brings mandatory influenza vaccination for attendance at some colleges and universities
At least three colleges and universities that have mandated influenza vaccination for the 2020–21 academic year: University of Miami, Purdue University, and the University of Tennessee.
IAC requests that you notify us of any additional colleges or universities that are mandating influenza vaccine by sending the name of the institution, as well as a link to the relevant policy, if available, to admin@immunize.org.
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HepFree Hawai'i launches comprehensive strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030
On July 28, World Hepatitis Day, HepFree Hawai'i released Hep Free 2030: The Hawai'i Hepatitis Elimination Strategy 2020–2030. The strategy's elimination priorities regarding viral hepatitis focus on:
- data for decision-making,
- awareness and education,
- access to services,
- advocacy at all levels, and
- equity in everything.
The Hep Free 2030: The Hawai'i Hepatitis Elimination Strategy 2020–2030 gateway page provides links to view and download the full strategy, a 1-page summary, slide deck, and a 50-minute video recording of the partners' discussion about viral hepatitis in Hawaii and the launch of this endeavor.
View and download the strategy Hep Free 2030: The Hawai'i Hepatitis Elimination Strategy 2020–2030 (48-page) in PDF format.
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ImmYounity, an eLearning platform for healthcare providers about communicating effective, efficient, and confident vaccine recommendations for patients, now available
ImmYounity is a new eLearning educational tool for healthcare providers from Sanofi Pasteur designed to increase healthcare provider confidence by helping them engage in conversations about vaccines, enhance trust, and improve vaccine acceptance. This training is designed for the entire healthcare community including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, medical assistants, office staff, and pharmacy technicians. This training tool is of particular importance as healthcare providers prepare for the upcoming influenza season. The materials are unbranded.
This eLearning curriculum is available for smartphones, tablets, and computers. The education is personalized to the learner based on their role and experience.
Ninety percent of patients surveyed stated that the number one reason they accept vaccination is because of the recommendation of their trusted healthcare provider. When patients have questions or concerns about vaccination, a healthy dialogue that develops trust is essential. ImmYounity eLearning—grounded in evidence-based vaccine science—is designed to teach a communication process that facilitates effective conversations. Since ImmYounity eLearning is available to all healthcare personnel, it can be used to help align entire practices with the knowledge and skills to support timely vaccination.
Visit ImmYounity.vaccines.com today to register and start learning.
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August is National Immunization Awareness Month; promote vaccination with resources from CDC and the Public Health Foundation
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the efforts of healthcare professionals to protect patients of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases through on-time vaccination.
It is critical to maintain routine vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect both individuals and communities. Routine vaccination prevents illnesses that lead to additional medical visits, hospitalizations, and further strain on the healthcare system. This year, CDC is calling on its partners to amplify these important messages when communicating with parents, pregnant women, healthcare professionals, and other adults.
CDC’s NIAM web page includes two toolkits, one for communicating with healthcare professionals and the other for communicating with parents and patients. Each includes key messages, sample social media content, and educational resources. CDC is encouraging its partners to share these messages and resources throughout the month of August using the hashtag #ivax2protect.
CDC will host an Instagram Q&A event for parents on August 24 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET to answer questions about the importance of maintaining routine immunization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents can tune in and participate on CDC’s Instagram feed.
An additional resource made available for NIAM this year is CDC's archived webinar, Vaccinating Adults with Chronic Conditions: Recommendations and Lessons Learned, produced by the Public Health Foundation.
Related Links
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Use IAC's expanded Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during COVID-19 Pandemic to organize staff training
In May, IAC launched the 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 more than 130 resources that appear in the repository come from the federal government, nationally recognized healthcare organizations, state health departments, state immunization coalitions, and other organizations devoted to disseminating accurate immunization information.
These resources can be sorted and searched by date, title, geographic area, source, type, age category, or setting.
If you have a resource to submit to the repository, please send a message to info@immunizationcoalitions.org.
Access the repository to view the range of valuable resources available to support the patients, families, and communities you serve.
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IAC Spotlight! These IAC patient and staff educational materials and web pages were updated in June and July
IAC Express regularly provides readers with information about IAC’s new and updated educational materials for healthcare professionals and handouts for patients. All materials are free to download, print, and distribute.
In case you missed them during recent weeks, we announced updates to these helpful items:
Staff Education Materials
Handouts for Your Patients
New and Updated Web Pages
Related Links
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Prepare for flu season by ordering IAC’s new "FLU VACCINE" buttons and stickers!
IAC's “FLU VACCINE” buttons and stickers are ready to ship! Their bright red color helps broadcast your important message about the need for flu vaccination. And the cost is nominal.
“FLU VACCINE” BUTTONS
The button measures 1.25" across and carries a bold message! Pin on lab coats, uniforms, other clothing, tote bags, or backpacks to show support for flu vaccine.
Buttons are delivered in bags of 10 buttons per bag.
Click here for pricing and ordering information for "FLU VACCINE" buttons.
“FLU VACCINE” STICKERS
Measuring 1.5" across and printed on Avery labels, theses stickers adhere well to clothing and have an easy-peel-off back.
Stickers are delivered to you cut individually (not on rolls)—available in bundles of 100.
Click here for pricing and ordering information for “FLU VACCINE” stickers.
Visit Shop IAC for additional items, including "Vaccines Save Lives" enamel pins, patient record cards, and a vaccine administration training video.
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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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IAC Handouts
IAC and AIM update important staff resource for upcoming flu season, “Communicating the Benefits of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine during COVID-19”
IAC and the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) have collaborated to update their popular tip sheet, Communicating the Benefits of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine during COVID-19.
This one-page informational sheet outlines the many ways in which influenza vaccination can lower the risk of influenza-related illness, hospitalization, and death. It covers information about the burden of disease resulting from influenza infection and highlights the sub-optimal vaccination coverage rates seen in various populations. Importantly, the handout provides helpful tips to assist healthcare professionals as they discuss the benefits of influenza vaccination with their patients.
The importance of influenza prevention during the 2020–21 influenza season is greater than ever because of COVID-19. COVID-19 and influenza share many of the same symptoms, and the high-risk populations for both diseases largely overlap. Increasing influenza vaccination uptake will help reduce the number of people seeking medical care and testing, saving healthcare resources for people with COVID-19 and other conditions.
Be sure to check out this updated tool and use it to train office personnel to increase influenza vaccination coverage rates during the coming season.
Related Links
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IAC updates its staff education materials: "Current Dates of Vaccine Information Statements" and "You Must Give Your Patients Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)—It’s Federal Law!"
IAC recently revised Current Dates of Vaccine Information Statements as well as You Must Give Your Patients Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)—It’s Federal Law! to reflect the 7/28/2020 date of the recently updated Hepatitis A VIS.
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Featured Resources
CDC podcasts provide recommendations from CDC experts on preventing flu
CDC has posted several podcasts that present information and recommendations from CDC experts on important aspects of flu prevention for the upcoming flu season.
These podcasts include
Preparing for Fall: Back to School and Influenza Season, from Public Health Review. In this podcast, CDC's Dr. Nancy Messonnier discusses why flu vaccination is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other podcasts are geared for specific audiences, such as parents, pregnant women, and Spanish-speaking audiences.
Related Link
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In our "Video of the Week" on avoiding shoulder bursitis with vaccine administration, Sandra Fryhofer, MD, shows preferred anatomic sites for vaccine injection
In this June 2020 video from Medscape, Sandra Fryhofer, MD, discusses how to avoid causing shoulder bursitis during vaccine administration. She presents a flu vaccine administration "tune-up," including instructions to inject into the midpoint of the deltoid muscle with the needle at a 90-degree angle to the skin. Medscape login is required.
Visit the VOTW archive.
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IAC's comprehensive Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide is available for free download either by chapter or in its entirety (142 pages)
In late 2017, the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) published Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide (Guide).
This up-to-date, thorough "how to" guide on adult immunization provides easy-to-use, practical information covering essential adult immunization activities. It helps vaccine providers enhance their existing adult immunization services or introduce them into any clinical setting.
In addition, the Guide is filled with hundreds of web addresses and references to help providers stay up to date on the latest immunization information, both now and in the future.
The Guide is available without charge to download/print either by chapter or in its entirety at www.immunize.org/guide. The downloaded version is suitable for double-sided printing. The National Vaccine Program Office and CDC both supported the development of the Guide and provided early technical review.
The Guide is a uniquely valuable resource to assist providers in increasing adult vaccination rates. Be sure to get a copy today!
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Journal Articles and Newsletters
CDC publishes July issue of Immunization Works newsletter; subscribe for monthly immunization resources and information
CDC recently released the July issue of its monthly newsletter Immunization Works. The newsletter offers the immunization community information about current topics. The information is in the public domain and may be reproduced and circulated widely.
Related Links
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Vaccine-focused scientific content
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Education and Training
CDC’s recorded webinar on DTaP/Tdap, as well as five other segments in the “Pink Book” weekly series, available now
CDC is presenting a
15-part 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"). These weekly 1-hour web-on-demand videos, which began July 1, will run through October 14.
This year, because of limited CDC staff availability during the ongoing COVID-19 response, the series consists of prerecorded rather than live events. There is no registration process to view the sessions. The link to each course can be accessed on or after the indicated date.
The first five webinars are available online now. The next two webinars are scheduled as follows:
- August 5: DTaP/Tdap
- August 12: Rotavirus and Hepatitis A
HepB United is sponsoring a virtual workshop,
Advocating for Hepatitis B at the State Level, on August 25, at 3:00 p.m. (ET). The purpose of this workshop is to help organizations explore ways to advance hepatitis B state policy priorities.
Register for the webinar by August 21. The registration page includes additional information about the workshop.
HepB United welcomes questions or topics to include in the discussion. These can be submitted through the registration form or by emailing
rhea.racho@hepb.org.
Related Link
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On the Lighter Side
In this vaccine-promotion video from 1998, a baby responds with a smile to news that vaccines will provide protection from dangerous diseases
In this vaccine-promotion video, a smile dawns on a baby's face upon hearing that vaccines will provide protection from dangerous diseases. Produced by the Children's Hospital of Minnesota in 1998, it is part of a PSA collection curated by vaccine expert William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH.
Previous videos mentioned in “On the Lighter Side” are available when viewing this Vimeo video.
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