Issue 1,511: August 19, 2020
Top Stories
IAC Handouts
Featured Resources
Journal Articles and Newsletters
Education and Training
Conferences and Meetings
On the Lighter Side
Top Stories
Have you watched the PBS documentary about IAC,
Protecting Health: Saving Lives?
IAC is proud that the award-winning PBS television documentary series, Visionaries, hosted by Sam Waterston, is including the story of Dr. Deborah L. Wexler, founder and executive director of the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC), in its 24th season. The Visionaries episode, Protecting Health: Saving Lives, showcases Dr. Wexler’s commitment to supporting the nation’s healthcare professionals with immunization education information and materials.
The 30-minute documentary follows Dr. Wexler’s passion from its origins in 1988 to 1990 while she provided care to undervaccinated children in the Hmong community of St. Paul, Minnesota, through to her founding and continued leadership of IAC, a nationally renowned provider of immunization education resources.
In 1989–90, undervaccination of children took its toll on the nation with a resurgence of measles, killing 123 people, primarily children younger than 5 years of age, including three Hmong 1-year-olds in Saint Paul. Dr. Wexler responded by establishing the Immunization Action Coalition to educate and advocate for the importance of vaccination. The Visionaries documentary beautifully captures Wexler's passion for prevention and her ability to attract a circle of preeminent vaccination experts to carry out the mission of IAC.
Protecting Health: Saving Lives makes a powerful case for vaccination, addressing and defusing the fears that fuel the antivaccine movement, showcasing stories of vaccine-preventable disease, and recognizing the science that has saved millions of lives through vaccination.
Today, the success of vaccination in preventing deadly diseases is threatened by a small but vocal number of individuals opposed to vaccination. It is hoped that this Visionaries documentary will help allay concerns and widen the understanding of how important vaccines are.
Protecting Health: Saving Lives will premiere on many PBS stations nationwide beginning in late-August, 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 it if you’d circulate this link to your immunization colleagues and friends through member newsletters, e-mail listservs, social media channels, conferences and web-based events, and web pages.
To learn more about Visionaries, visit www.visionaries.org.
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For National Immunization Awareness Month, HHS releases “Catch-Up to Get Ahead Toolkit” with resources to promote vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic
In recognition of National Immunization Awareness Month, HHS has released a Catch-Up to Get Ahead Toolkit to help spread awareness about catching up on childhood immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The toolkit includes key messages, social media content, and videos. One new item is a press release template for healthcare providers to announce extended hours. HHS is encouraging its partners to share these messages and resources using the hashtags #WellChildWednesday and #CatchUpGetAhead.
Related Links:
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University of California system mandates flu vaccine for all students and faculty at 10 campuses—other colleges doing the same
As an important proactive measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of California will require all students and faculty to receive flu vaccine this fall across all 10 major campuses. Two paragraphs from the press release are reprinted below.
To support the health and well-being of UC students, faculty and staff and our communities, the University of California, in consultation with UC Health leadership, has issued a systemwide executive order requiring all members of the UC community to receive an influenza immunization before Nov. 1, 2020....
The executive order requires the vaccination for all faculty and staff who are working at a UC location. The university already has a clear policy on immunizations for students, and this action adds influenza to existing vaccination requirements for them, and extends the requirement to faculty and staff beyond those which presently exist for all UC health care workers....
We are now aware of several other colleges and universities that require influenza vaccination for students for the 2020–21 academic year, including University of Miami, Purdue University, and the four primary campuses and extensions of the University of Tennessee system.
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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IAC Spotlight: Does your healthcare setting require influenza vaccination? If yes, ask to join the 1,000+ already included on IAC’s Honor Roll.
Does your healthcare setting require influenza vaccination for personnel? Are you yet to be recognized on IAC’s Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll?
We want you to apply!
The Honor Roll recognizes settings of all sizes, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, medical practices, pharmacies, professional organizations, health departments, and other government entities.
There are now 1,139 organizations enrolled in IAC's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll. To find out more about the Honor Roll, click here. You may apply by visiting the Application page.
Related Links
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Use IAC's expanded Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic to invigorate your activities
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.
More than 173 resources appear in the repository, coming 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 add to the repository, please send a message to info@immunizationcoalitions.org.
Related Link
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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 posts seven updated translations for “Vaccinations for Adults” and “Vaccinations for Pregnant Women”
IAC now offers seven updated translations for its patient handout Vaccinations for Adults: You’re Never Too Old to Get Vaccinated!
IAC also updated seven translations of the patient handout Vaccinations for Pregnant Women, which was developed in collaboration with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
 
Vaccinations for Adults has been translated into Arabic, Chinese Simplified, French, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Vaccinations for Pregnant Women has been translated into Arabic, Chinese Simplified, French, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Related Links
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IAC posts seven updated translations for “Vaccinations for Infants and Children, Age 0–10 Years” and “Vaccinations for Preteens and Teens, Age 11–19 Years”
IAC now offers seven updated translations for its parent schedule Vaccinations for Infants and Children, Age 0–10 Years.
IAC also updated seven translations of its parent schedule Vaccinations for Preteens and Teens, Age 11–19 Years.
 
Vaccinations for Infants and Children, Age 0–10 Years has been translated into Arabic, Chinese Simplified, French, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Vaccinations for Preteens and Teens, Age 11–19 Years has been translated into Arabic, Chinese Simplified, French, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Related Links
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Featured Resources
In our "Video of the Week," a mother becomes a strong vaccine advocate after her infant son’s terrible case of chickenpox
This August 2020 video from Vaccinate Your Family shares the story of when Kerri's infant son Rory got a severe case of chickenpox due to a lack of community immunity. He was extremely ill with more than 400 lesions on his body. Kerri's experience led her to become a vocal vaccine advocate, and she discusses why she hopes other parents will join her in speaking up for vaccines.
Visit the VOTW archive.
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Get ready for flu vaccination! IAC is shipping tens of thousands of our bright red "FLU VACCINE" buttons and stickers! Order yours now!
IAC “FLU VACCINE” buttons and stickers are flying out of our office by the thousands! A half-million stickers already sold this year! 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, these stickers adhere well to clothing and have an easy-peel-off backing.
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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CDC updates one of the pertussis appendices in its Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
CDC recently updated a pertussis appendix in its Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Updates were made to reflect the change in the case definition for pertussis.
The Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases provides current guidelines for those directly involved in surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases, especially personnel at local health departments.
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Journal Articles and Newsletters
CDC "Quick Stats:" the percentage of adults 65 years or older who had ever received pneumococcal vaccine
CDC published a "Quick Stats" report, Percentage of adults aged ≥65 years who had ever received pneumococcal vaccination, by age group—National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2000–2018 in the August 14 issue of MMWR. The text accompanying the "Quick Stats" graphic is reprinted below.
During 2000–2018, the percentage of adults aged ≥65 years who had ever received a pneumonia vaccine increased. The percentage increased from 48.0% to 64.8% among adults aged 65–74 years, from 59.5% to 74.9% among adults aged 75–84 years, and from 56.4% to 76.3% among adults aged ≥85 years. Throughout the period, adults aged 65–74 years were less likely to have ever received a pneumonia vaccine than adults aged ≥75 years.
Related Link
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Education and Training
CDC’s recorded webinar on meningococcal vaccines, as well as seven other segments in the "Pink Book" weekly series, available now
CDC continues its 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"). 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 recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meetings and votes.
Because of limited CDC staff availability during the ongoing COVID-19 response, the series is prerecorded.
There is no registration process to view the sessions. The link to each course can be accessed at midday on the indicated date or thereafter.
These weekly 1-hour web-on-demand videos will run through October 14.
The first eight webinars are available online now. The next two webinars are scheduled as follows:
- August 26: Measles, Mumps, Rubella
- September 2: Polio and Hib
Questions about the material presented can be submitted to nipinfo@cdc.gov. Continuing education will be available for each event.
Information and program details are available on CDC's Pink Book Webinar Series web page.
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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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine forms Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus; sign up to receive updates and watch events online
Watch the virtual ACIP meeting on August 26; no registration is required
A live, virtual meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will be held on August 26. The agenda (including times) will be posted soon and is expected to feature COVID-19 vaccination. No registration is required to watch the live August ACIP meeting or listen via telephone.
Related Link
- ACIP gateway page for recordings and content from previous meetings, as well as information about future meetings
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Flash back to 1998 in Maricopa County, AZ’s PSA, featuring basketball player Jason Kidd promoting childhood vaccination
In this 1998 PSA titled It Takes Teamwork, basketball player Jason Kidd promotes childhood vaccination. Produced by the Maricopa County (Arizona) Department of Public Health, 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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