“Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccine (Priorix): Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2022” published in MMWR
CDC published Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccine (Priorix): Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2022 in the November 18 issue of MMWR. The newly available measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine option (Priorix, GSK) is functionally equivalent to the long-available MMR vaccine (MMR II, Merck); they may be used interchangeably. A portion of the summary appears below.
Since 1978, M-M-R II has been the only measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) combination vaccine used in the United States. In June 2022, the Food and Drug Administration licensed an additional MMR vaccine, PRIORIX. . . .
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends PRIORIX as an additional option to prevent MMR according to existing vaccine recommendations and off-label uses. . . .
Both vaccines are interchangeable for all indications for which MMR vaccination is recommended. Availability from multiple manufacturers safeguards U.S. vaccine supply. . . .
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Registration open for Immunize.org’s free December 13 webinar! The Autism Society’s experts and our panel present “Improving the Vaccination Experience: Accessible Vaccination for Neurodiverse People at Any Age.” People with autism and other developmental disabilities have lower childhood immunization rates than their peers without autism, leaving them vulnerable to many vaccine-preventable diseases. The vaccination visit can be especially stressful for these families. Effective strategies exist to reduce pain and anxiety for these families during the vaccination visit.
Please join Immunize.org and experts from the Autism Society on December 13 at 1:00 p.m. (ET) for a free, live, 1-hour webinar, Improving the Vaccination Experience: Accessible Vaccination for Neurodiverse People at Any Age. In this webinar, we will learn more about the Autism Society’s practical tips to improve vaccine confidence by employing strategies to reduce stress when vaccinating neurodiverse patients.
 
Click the form above to register now for this important educational session.
If you work in a facility where neurodiverse people receive vaccines, you will want to learn more from our speakers:
- Danielle Hall, MSW; Program Manager, Vaccine Education Initiative, Autism Society
- Allie Tasche, BEd, MSLOD; Director of National Programs, Autism Society
- Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH; President and CEO, Immunize.org
- Sharon G. Humiston, MD, MPH; Director for Research, Immunize.org; Quinn’s mother
After the presentation, ample time is reserved for your questions.
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Influenza continues to spread across the country; ensure your patients are protected as families gather Continue to urge your patients, your coworkers, and your loved ones to be vaccinated against influenza as they gather with family for the holiday season. High levels of influenza activity are expanding nationwide. CDC expects influenza activity to continue to increase and spread in its seasonal epidemic pattern. CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView, provides a valuable snapshot of influenza activity state-by-state.
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) will be observed from December 5 through 9. Check the NIVW web page for updated social media messages and graphics to encourage influenza vaccination among your patients.
Influenza Surveillance
For week 45, ending November 12, CDC's Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView reports that, nationwide, 5.8% of patient visits reported through the Outpatient Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) were due to respiratory illness that included fever plus a cough or sore throat. This exceeds the national baseline of 2.5%. Multiple respiratory viruses are co-circulating; the relative contribution of influenza virus infection to influenza-like illnesses (ILI) varies by location.
Sadly, seven children died from influenza-associated causes so far during the 2022–23 season. CDC estimates that there have been at least 4.4 million illnesses, 38,000 hospitalizations, and 2,100 deaths from influenza so far this season.
Influenza Vaccination Dashboard
CDC's Weekly Flu Vaccination Dashboard data show that 150 million doses of influenza vaccine were distributed in the United States through November 5, 2022. Supplies are sufficient to meet the surge in vaccination demand needed to blunt the impact of this early influenza season on the public’s health and the healthcare system.
CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older get annual influenza vaccination. “Vaccines.gov” offers VaccineFinder, a service of Boston Children’s Hospital, to help people find influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for any age group. To be listed as a provider by VaccineFinder, see the information at this website.
Coadministration of influenza and COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccinations when both are due is safe, recommended, and efficient; however, if the patient accepts only one at a time, be sure to schedule a follow-up visit to give the other. There’s no required minimum interval between them. To gain confidence in your approach to administering multiple intramuscular vaccinations to an adult, download Immunize.org’s printable document How to Administer Multiple Intramuscular Vaccines to Adults during One Visit.
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Texas Children's Hospital publishes Vaccine-Preventable Disease: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) booklet with stories of families affected by COVID-19 The Immunization Project at Texas Children's Hospital recently published Vaccine-Preventable Disease: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), a booklet that features the stories of 12 families who were profoundly affected by COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination helps prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death, yet millions of children remain unvaccinated. This book, along with a corresponding series of posters and YouTube videos, shines a light on the importance of COVID-19 vaccination for children. The book and posters can be purchased for a nominal fee at https://www.tchorderprocessing.com/.
 
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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 "Vaccinations for Infants and Children, Age 0–10 Years"
Immunize.org recently updated its popular parental handout Vaccinations for Infants and Children, Age 0–10 Years. Changes include expanding COVID-19 vaccine to all individuals age 6 months and older and changing references to PCV13 to “PCV” to account for the PCV15 option. Also added: a new footer and QR code linking users to the PDF of the current document.
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Immunize.org updates "Strategies to Improve Adult Vaccination Coverage" Immunize.org recently revised its 2-page resource titled Strategies to Improve Adult Vaccination Coverage. Revisions added information on vaccines that should not be co-administered or for which a delay should be considered. Also added: a new footer and QR code linking users to the PDF of the current document.
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Immunize.org updates resource titled “Vaccinations Are Safe: Explaining Why” Immunize.org recently updated its 8-page resource for the public titled Vaccinations Are Safe: Explaining Why. This handout explains the science underpinning public confidence in today’s vaccines. Vaccination Injury Compensation Program (VICP) data were updated. Also added: a new footer and QR code linking users to the PDF of the current document.
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Immunize.org updates "Vaccine Injury Compensation Programs" information sheet Immunize.org recently revised its 2-page handout titled Vaccine Injury Compensation Programs. Changes include adding data for pay-out to petitioners and updating the number of doses of vaccine covered by VICP. Also added: a new footer and QR code linking users to the PDF of the current document.
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Vaccine Information Statements
CDC revises Monkeypox/Smallpox Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
Immunize.org posted a revised Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): Smallpox/Monkeypox Vaccine, revised by the CDC on November 14. Providers are encouraged to begin using the 11/14/2022 VIS immediately, but stocks of the previous edition may be used until exhausted.
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Immunize.org revises "You Must Provide Patients with Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) – It's Federal Law!" and "Dates of Current Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)" Immunize.org updated two provider resources with the date of the revised 11/14/2022 Smallpox/Monkeypox VIS:
 
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American College of Physicians posts new I Raise the Rates resources to support adult vaccination
The American College of Physicians (ACP) posted new resources to its ACP Advance: I Raise the Rates web page. The I Raise the Rates initiative provides resources to help clinicians increase adult vaccination rates in their practices. New resources include:
- Practical Immunization Tips: Microlearning Resources: Stay up to date on the latest pneumococcal and influenza vaccine recommendations and learn time-saving tips to make effective vaccine recommendations and boost vaccine confidence. Seven microlearning content options are available.
- High Value Care Immunization Referral Toolkit: Every member of the healthcare team should play a role in raising immunization rates. This resource provides tools to facilitate more effective and collaborative immunization referrals among those in your patient’s immunization neighborhood.
- Get Your FREE Adult Vaccination Rx Pads! Vaccination referral resource containing ACIP recommended vaccines for adult patients.
View the ACP Advance: I Raise the Rates web page for adult vaccination resources for your practice.
"Multi-decade National Cohort Identifies Adverse Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes Associated with Acute Respiratory Illness Hospitalisations during the Influenza Season" published in Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses
In the October 28 issue, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses published Multi-decade National Cohort Identifies Adverse Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes Associated with Acute Respiratory Illness Hospitalisations. A portion of the conclusion section appears below.
In this population-based cohort, being hospitalised for an ARI [acute respiratory infection] during the influenza season while pregnant was a risk factor for delivering a preterm or a low birthweight infant and vaccination reduced this risk.
Key points appear below:
- Individuals vaccinated against influenza during pregnancy had a lower risk of certain negative birth outcomes, including fetal death (stillbirth), preterm birth, and low birthweight. This study adds to the body of evidence supporting the benefits of flu vaccination during pregnancy for both mother and baby.
- Unfortunately, flu vaccine coverage among pregnant individuals in the United States fell 8 percentage points in the past two seasons
- Preliminary coverage data indicates vaccination is down another 5 percentage points from this time last year
“Perception of Local COVID-19 Transmission and Use of Preventive Behaviors among Adults with Recent SARS-CoV-2 Infection—Illinois and Michigan, June 1–July 31, 2022” published in MMWRCDC published Perception of Local COVID-19 Transmission and Use of Preventive Behaviors among Adults with Recent SARS-CoV-2 Infection—Illinois and Michigan, June 1–July 31, 2022 in the November 18 issue of MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.
During June–July 2022, many U.S. counties experienced high COVID-19 transmission levels. . . .
One half of adults surveyed during June–July 2022 who had recently received a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result in metropolitan Detroit, Michigan and DuPage County, Illinois perceived local COVID-19 transmission when surveyed to be low or moderate, despite documented sustained high transmission. Higher perceived local COVID-19 transmission was associated with more use of preventive behaviors, overall and in response to high local COVID-19 transmission. . . .
Continued monitoring of public perceptions of local COVID-19 levels, and further understanding their impact on use of preventive behaviors, can guide pandemic-related communication strategies and policymaking.
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“Sociodemographic Variation in Early Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine and Parental Intent and Attitudes toward Vaccination of Children Aged 6 Months–4 Years—United States, July 1–29, 2022” published in MMWRCDC published Sociodemographic Variation in Early Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine and Parental Intent and Attitudes toward Vaccination of Children Aged 6 Months–4 Years—United States, July 1–29, 2022 in the November 18 issue of MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.
Although COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, administrative data reported to CDC indicate that COVID-19 vaccination coverage among children aged <5 years is low. . . .
Four percent of children aged 6 months–4 years had received ≥1 doses of COVID-19 vaccine based on interviews conducted during July 2022; 59% were unvaccinated, but the parent was open to vaccinating their child; and 37% were unvaccinated and the parent was reluctant to vaccinate. Among parents open to vaccination, 25% reported receiving a provider recommendation, and 57% were confident of the vaccine’s safety; confidence of vaccine safety varied by race or ethnicity and household income. . . .
Health care provider recommendations and assurances of COVID-19 vaccine safety by trusted persons could increase vaccination coverage among young children.
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