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Issue 1,555:
March 10, 2021
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Featured Resources
Journal Articles and Newsletters
Education and Training
From the Archives
Top Stories
CDC updates its clinical considerations for use of
COVID-19 vaccines to include Janssen (J&J) vaccine
CDC updated its Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United
States web page on March 3.
Recent changes to CDC's interim clinical considerations for COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the U.S. include:
- Clinical considerations added for use of Janssen (division of Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine
- Updated recommendations for fully vaccinated people who subsequently develop COVID-19 infection
- Updated recommendations related to COVID-19 vaccination timing for immunocompromised people
- Updated contraindications and precautions to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
- Updated information on interpretation of SARS-CoV-2 antibody test results after vaccination
View CDC's Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United
States web page.
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CDC issues interim public health recommendations for people fully vaccinated
against COVID-19
CDC has issued the first set of public health recommendations for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The
new guidance includes recommendations for how and when a fully vaccinated person can visit with other people who are fully vaccinated and with other
people who are not vaccinated.
People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at ≥2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-
BioNTech or Moderna), or ≥2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson/Janssen). The following new
recommendations apply to fully vaccinated people in non-healthcare settings:
- Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
- Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or
physical distancing
- Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic
CDC estimates that just 9.2% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine that the FDA has authorized for emergency use.
While the new guidance is a positive step, the vast majority of people need to be fully vaccinated before COVID-19 precautions can be lifted widely. Until
then, CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people continue to take these COVID-19 precautions when in public, when visiting with unvaccinated
people from multiple other households, and when around unvaccinated people who are at high risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19:
- Wear a well-fitted mask
- Stay at least 6 feet from people with whom you do not live
- Avoid medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings
- Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
- Follow guidance issued by individual employers
- Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations
Guidance will be updated and expanded based on the level of community spread of SARS-CoV-2, the portion of the population that is fully vaccinated,
and the rapidly evolving science on COVID-19 vaccines.
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“The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim
Recommendation for Use of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine—United States, February 2021” published in
MMWR
CDC published The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim Recommendation for Use of
Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine—United States, February 2021 in the March 2 issue of MMWR. A portion of the summary appears
below.
…On February 28, 2021, after a transparent evidence-based review of all available data, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) issued an interim recommendation for use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in persons aged ≥18 years for the prevention of COVID-
19….
…The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has high efficacy against COVID-19–associated hospitalization and
death. Persons may receive any ACIP-recommended COVID-19 vaccine and are encouraged to receive the earliest vaccine available to them. Use of all
EUA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines is critical in controlling the pandemic.
Access the MMWR article in HTML format or in PDF format.
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IAC posts video archive and slides from March 4 webinar by CDC scientists on
safety monitoring and communications for COVID-19 vaccines
On March 4, two CDC scientists were featured speakers on an IAC webinar titled "Updates on CDC’s Safety Monitoring and
Communications for COVID-19 Vaccines":
- Tom Shimabukuro, MD, MPH, MBA, deputy director, Immunization Safety Office
- Janine Cory, MPH, associate director for communications, Vaccine Task Force
Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH, IAC deputy director, moderated the webinar.
The entire webinar is now archived for viewing and the slides are available to download.
Please share the webinar link with your colleagues.
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Society for Breast Imaging addresses mammography timing and COVID-19
vaccination: swollen lymph nodes temporarily caused by vaccination may be detectable on imaging
The Society for Breast Imaging (SBI) has issued
Recommendations for the Management of Axillary Adenopathy in Patients with Recent COVID-19 Vaccination. These recommendations
offer suggestions for timing of mammography, given that COVID-19 vaccination may temporarily result in swollen lymph nodes under the arm on the side
where vaccination was administered.
SBI suggests that radiology teams gather information about COVID-19 vaccination history at intake and suggests messaging to minimize patient anxiety.
The SBI statement offers guidance to radiologists on how to handle findings of unilateral swollen lymph nodes in people recently vaccinated against
COVID-19.
When scheduling screening mammograms, SBI recommends scheduling screening exams before the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or 4 to 6 weeks
after the COVID-19 vaccination series is complete, in circumstances when this will not unduly delay care.
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AMA, ANA, and APhA publish open letter encouraging America’s healthcare
personnel to collect and report race and ethnicity information when administering COVID-19 vaccines
Early data indicates that race and ethnicity information is missing from nearly half of the vaccine records reported by the CDC. The American
Medical Association (AMA), American Nurses Association (ANA), and American Pharmacists Association (APhA) issued an open letter to healthcare
personnel and other key stakeholders to encourage efforts to collect and report race and ethnicity information when administering COVID-19
vaccinations.
Healthcare personnel are encouraged to share with patients in a transparent and culturally sensitive manner why collecting race and ethnicity information
can help improve the health of their patients’ families and communities. Reported data will aid in a better understanding of whether the nation is
providing vulnerable populations access to vaccines and will also provide critical information to clinicians, healthcare organizations, public health
agencies, and policymakers to improve the quality of care and delivery of public health services.
Improved reporting of COVID-19 vaccine race and ethnicity data can help improve equitable distribution and access to COVID-19 vaccines and the health
of our nation.
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American Cancer Society calls for families to get
essential vaccines, including HPV, as soon as they can
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, well-care visits, including visits for routine vaccinations, were largely put on hold to prioritize urgent needs and
reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19. This led to a significant drop in adolescent vaccinations, including for the prevention of HPV infection that can
lead to certain types of cancers.
The CDC asks health care providers to work with families to keep children up to date with all recommended vaccinations. The National HPV Vaccination
Roundtable offers an infographic and a series of
videos for
parents to address vaccine safety concerns. The
American Academy of Pediatrics encourages families to reach out to their healthcare providers for support to protect their children from
vaccine-preventable diseases during the pandemic.
Newly unemployed parents may not know that children may be eligible for the federal Vaccines for Children program. Routine vaccines are covered by insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act.
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IAC honors five institutions extending their tenure on the Hepatitis B Birth Dose
Honor Roll
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) is pleased to announce that five institutions have re-enrolled in its
Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll. One institution is recognized for a second year:
- Grove Creek Medical Center, Blackfoot, ID (90%)
Two institutions are recognized for a third year:
- Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, NY (95%)
- St. Francis - Emory Health, Columbus, GA (96%)
Finally, two institutions are recognized for a fourth year:
- Adirondack Medical Center, Saranac Lake, NY (90%)
- Pratt Regional Medical Center, Pratt, KS (93%)
The Honor Roll now includes 528 birthing institutions from 44 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and an overseas U.S. military base. One hundred twenty-two
institutions have qualified for two years, 72 institutions have qualified three times, 39 institutions have qualified four times, 26 institutions have qualified five
times, 19 institutions have qualified six times, seven institutions have qualified seven times, two institutions have qualified eight times and one institution has
qualified nine times.
The Honor Roll is a key part of IAC’s major initiative urging the nation’s hospitals to Give Birth to the End of Hep B. Hospitals and birthing
centers are recognized for attaining high coverage rates for administering hepatitis B vaccine at birth and meeting specific additional criteria. The
initiative urges qualifying healthcare organizations to apply for the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll online.
To be included in the Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll, a birthing institution must have: (1) reported a coverage rate of 90 percent or greater, over a 12-
month period, for administering hepatitis B vaccine before hospital discharge to all newborns, including those whose parents refuse vaccination, and (2)
implemented specific written policies, procedures, and protocols to protect all newborns from hepatitis B virus infection prior to hospital discharge.
Honorees are also awarded an 8.5" x 11" color certificate suitable for framing and their acceptance is announced to IAC
Express’s approximately 52,000 readers.
Please visit the
Hepatitis B Birth Dose Honor Roll web page that lists these institutions and their exceptional efforts to protect infants from perinatal
hepatitis B transmission.
Related IAC Resources
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CDC offers PDF with live links summarizing COVID-19 vaccination training
programs and reference materials for healthcare personnel
CDC released a PDF document with live links compiling COVID-19 vaccination training
programs and reference materials for healthcare personnel. The document describes training and educational materials, including basic and COVID-19-
vaccine-specific information. Sections include:
- Vaccine storage and handling
- Vaccine administration
- Communicating with patients about vaccines
- COVID-19 vaccine training and clinical materials
In addition to the COVID-19 training, CDC offers numerous other education and training programs for healthcare personnel. Many topics and formats are
available. All are based on Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) recommendations.
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IAC Spotlight! IAC’s “Ask the Experts” gateway page offers
more than a thousand questions on vaccines and vaccine administration answered by IAC experts
The IAC Ask the
Experts gateway page offers over a thousand timely questions on vaccines and vaccine administration answered by IAC experts. The gateway page
is one of the most highly visited destinations on immunize.org. Whether you're looking for vaccine delivery guidance (e.g., administration,
billing, documenting) or information on a specific vaccine, you'll likely find what you're looking for on one of the gateway page's 29 topic
links.
New and updated Ask the Experts Q&As are published in special editions of IAC Express five times per year. If you have a
question that you think may be of interest to our readers, please send it to us using our online form. We will consider it for inclusion in an update of the
Ask the Experts feature.
To locate this gateway page, use the “Favorites” tab at the top of every immunize.org web page.
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Voices for Vaccines releases new podcast interviewing “The Other Dr.
Sears on Vaccines”
Voices for Vaccines (VFV) has posted a new entry in its Vax Talk podcast series: The Other Dr. Sears on Vaccines. A description from their web
page appears below.
Dr. Peter Sears is the not-famous brother of Dr. Jim and Dr. Bob Sears and a family physician. He is also a strong advocate for on-time
immunization, even as his brother Bob is perceived as having close ties with the anti-vaccine world. We invited Dr. Peter to the podcast to talk about
alternative schedules, ingredient fears, and vaccine mandates.
Voices for Vaccines is a national organization of parents and others who are dedicated to raising the level of the voices of immunization supporters. VFV
invites everyone who values vaccines to become a member, use VFV tools in their own community, and
sign up for VFV’s free newsletter. Please spread the
word to your friends and colleagues to join VFV!
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IAC experts called on by news
media
With vaccines in the news so much lately, journalists have sought out IAC experts to communicate the intricacies of running a quality vaccination
program. Our insights have helped explain vaccines to the public and policy makers. We want to help them understand the complex work vaccinators do.
We've reached mass markets and local stations, across the U.S. and overseas, via print, radio, television, blogs, and more. Here is a selection of
our recent citations:
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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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Featured Resources
In IAC’s “Video of the
Week,” Jeremy Farrar, director of Wellcome Trust, explains why we need fair global vaccine allocation to end the COVID-19
pandemic
In this February 18 video Why We Need Fair Global Vaccine Allocation to End Covid-19, Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable
foundation, emphasizes that the only way to end the pandemic is to make vaccines available to everybody around the world. He states that vaccinating
many people in a few countries will not end the pandemic and will encourage the development of new variants.
Visit the whole collection at
the VOTW archive.
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Order today! IAC’s laminated
versions of CDC’s 2021 immunization schedules are shipping soon!
IAC's laminated versions of the
2021 U.S. child and adolescent immunization schedule and the 2021 U.S. adult immunization schedule are available for order and will ship in mid-March.
These 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.
The child/adolescent schedule is eight pages (i.e., four double-sided pages) and the adult schedule is six pages (i.e., three double-sided pages), but both
schedules fold down to a convenient 8.5" x 11" size.
 
With color coding for easy reading, our laminated schedules replicate the original CDC formatting, including the essential tables and notes.
PRICING
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 IAC: Laminated Schedules web page for more information on the schedules, to view images of all the pages, to download the order
form, and to pre-order today!
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Valuable resources added to
IAC’s website Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org to help set up mass vaccination clinics
The Immunization Action Coalition’s website, www.Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org, assists you in finding ideas for developing your own
mass vaccination clinics. Mass vaccination efforts will continue to be useful for expediting COVID-19 vaccination now, as well as other vaccinations in the
future.
Many of the documents were written in the pre-pandemic era and will need modification to ensure that additional protections, such as social distancing
and personal protective equipment, help safeguard against COVID-19 transmission.
More resources have been added, including:
In addition, IAC's archived, full-length webinar (1 h. 46 min.) highlighting best practices and offering practical information for conducting a
successful mass vaccination clinic, Mass Vaccination Clinics: Challenges and Best Practices, can be viewed on
www.Mass-Vaccination-Resources.org.
If you have a resource to suggest for the website, please send a message to info@mass-vaccination-resources.org.
The webinar and the new website are supported by a medical education grant from Seqirus.
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Updated 65+ Flu
Defense website features tools and resources for healthcare personnel serving older adults
Confident recommendations for flu vaccine from healthcare personnel are powerfully persuasive and make a significant difference in decisions your
patients make about vaccination. To assist you in maximizing protection for your patients, IAC, in collaboration with Seqirus, has updated
the 65+ Flu Defense website at www.influenza-defense.org.
A new fact sheet on the site, The Importance of Preventing Influenza during a Pandemic, offers responses to help guide discussions with patients on the increased importance of flu vaccination during the COVID-19
pandemic. Age increases risks associated with COVID-19 infection including hospitalization and death. Preliminary studies suggest coinfection with
influenza B and SARS-CoV-2 may elevate the risk of poor outcomes.
This helpful site includes information, tools, and tips for communicating with these adults about the scope and severity of influenza, for example:
Be sure to check out the updated 65+ Flu Defense website at www.influenza-defense.org to assist your efforts in protecting
this vulnerable population.
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Journal Articles and Newsletters
CHOP's Vaccine Education
Center publishes February issue of Vaccine Update newsletter
The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) publishes a monthly immunization-
focused newsletter titled Vaccine Update. The February issue includes the following articles:
Additional resources, including information booklets for patients, are available
in the full newsletter.
Access the sign-up form to subscribe to Vaccine Update.
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“A Global Initiative for
Advancing Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Preparedness and Response” published by National Academy of
Medicine
The National Academy of Medicine published A Global Initiative for Advancing Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza
Vaccine Preparedness and Response in reply to the threat of novel influenza viruses. These viruses can lead to circumstances similar to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Both domestic and global efforts, such as the U.S. National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy 2020–2030 and the
WHO Global Influenza Strategy 2019–2030, have called for the development of more effective influenza vaccines complemented by
modern, adaptable manufacturing technologies that can scale production and meet demand during a pandemic.
The global response to COVID-19 could inform and advance future pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine preparedness efforts. The National
Academy of Medicine will take a comprehensive approach to explore the current state of the art and provide recommendations to improve the global
design, composition, clinical trials, production, scale-up, regulatory approval, distribution of influenza vaccines, and post-approval surveillance for adverse
events. These recommendations will be developed by four concurrent National Academies consensus study committees and released as four consensus
reports.
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Education and Training
NFID hosts discussion on updates
from the February 24–25 ACIP meeting, CE available
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) will present a webinar titled
Updates from February 2021 ACIP Meeting on
Wednesday, March 17 from 12:00–1:00 p.m. (ET). William Schaffner, MD, NFID medical director, and Jessica MacNeil, MPH, ACIP Deputy
Executive Secretary, CDC, will discuss updates from the February 24–25 ACIP meeting, including current U.S. vaccination recommendations for
children, adolescents, and adults.
Register for the webinar.
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National HPV Roundtable, Vaccinate
Your Family, and Hager Sharp host “HPV Roundtable Forum: Combating Vaccine Misinformation Online” on March 11
The National HPV Vaccination Roundtable has partnered with Vaccinate Your Family and Hager Sharp to host a webinar titled
HPV Roundtable Forum: Combating Vaccine Misinformation Online on March 11 from 2:00–3:00 p.m.
(ET). Vaccine rumors and conspiracy theories erode the public trust in the safety and effectiveness of all vaccines. Social media companies have taken
some steps to remove false and misleading information about vaccines from their sites, but misinformation is difficult to stop. Many rumors are spread by
people who may not realize they are sharing questionable claims and are sharing them to be helpful without realizing the harm they are doing. This
webinar is designed to empower vaccine advocates to spot, combat, and dispel online vaccine misinformation.
Register for the webinar.
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ASTHO offers weekly
webinar series Prioritizing Equity in Public Health Leadership Summit each Friday in March, culminating in a virtual meeting on April
21
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will offer a weekly webinar
series, Prioritizing Equity in Public Health Leadership Summit, taking place each Friday in March from 1:00–2:15 p.m. (ET),
culminating in a virtual meeting on April 21
from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (ET). This series is designed to inspire state and territorial public health leaders and stakeholders to create innovative
policy and practice solutions to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. The webinar topics are listed below.
- March 5 – Leadership and Policy: Actions to Address Racism as a Public Health Issue
- March 12 – Transforming Public Health Through Leadership, Justice, and Racial Healing
- March 19 – Institutionalizing Equity: Public Health Leaders Advance Organizational Change
- March 26 – Shifting Power Workshop: Collaborations to Confront the Root Causes of Health Inequities
Register for the webinars.
Register for the April 21 virtual meeting.
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MCIC and Asian American Coalition
host “Asian American Coalition COVID-19 Vaccination Virtual Town Hall” on March 16
Montgomery County (Pennsylvania) Immunization Coalition (MCIC) in partnership with the Asian American Coalition will present a webinar titled Asian American Coalition COVID-19 Vaccination Virtual Town Hall on March 16 at 7:00–8:00 p.m.
(ET). Join this town hall to hear from community and healthcare leaders about current COVID-19 vaccines, distribution, available community
resources, and to answer your questions and concerns. Attendees can submit questions in advance through the
registration link or ask them live. The event is free and open to anyone who would like to attend.
Register for the webinar.
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From the Archives
In this 2004 PSA
from the Nevada State Health Division, a student proudly tells her class about her recent vaccination
In this lovable 30-second public service announcement (PSA) from the Nevada State Health Division, a little girl proudly
shows off her Band-Aid and tells her classmates that immunizations will keep them safe by keeping diseases from spreading. This PSA is
part of a collection curated by vaccine expert William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH.
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