Issue 1723: November 15, 2023

     

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Have you explored the redesigned Immunize.org flagship website? Our new site features enhanced navigation while continuing to provide the timely, accurate resources developed and refined during our 32 years of experience providing educational support to public health professionals and the nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and medical assistants who administer vaccines.    
 
Our redesign offers streamlined navigation and enhanced searchability on mobile devices and desktops. New features of our redesigned Immunize.org website: 

• A homepage navigation guide to introduce you to new search options 
• New mobile responsive design: comfortable viewing and navigation from your device   
• Enhanced search tools: use built-in filters or enter keywords or phrases to narrow your search  
• Filters and keyword searches within our Ask the Experts database  
• Featured resources showcased at a glance on our home page 
• A streamlined subscription process for IZ Express 

 

Our updated site supports our longtime users while making our resources more easily accessible to new visitors. Explore our redesigned website and discover all the ways we made it easier for you to vaccinate with confidence. 

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CDC published Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption from School Vaccine Requirements among Children in Kindergarten—United States, 2022–23 School Year on November 10 in MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below. 

From the 2019–20 to the 2021–22 school year, national coverage with state-required vaccines among kindergartners declined from 95% to approximately 93%, ranging from 92.7% for diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) to 93.1% for polio. . . .

During the 2022–23 school year, coverage remained near 93% for all reported vaccines, ranging from 92.7% for DTaP to 93.1% for measles, mumps, and rubella and polio. The exemption rate increased 0.4 percentage points to 3.0%. Exemptions increased in 41 states, exceeding 5% in 10 states. . . .

Exemptions >5% limit the level of achievable vaccination coverage, which increases the risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccination before school entry or during provisional enrollment periods could reduce exemptions resulting from barriers to vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.

Related Link

• CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications

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CDC published Tick-Borne Encephalitis [TBE] Vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2023 on November 10 in MMWR. This viral vaccine-preventable disease is not present in the Western Hemisphere; the vaccine, available for years in TBE-endemic areas of central Europe, is now licensed for use in the United States for travelers who will be at risk. A portion of the summary appears below. 

ACIP recommends TBE vaccine for U.S. persons who are moving or traveling to an area where the disease is endemic and will have extensive exposure to ticks based on their planned outdoor activities and itinerary. Extensive exposure can be considered based on the duration of travel and frequency of exposure and might include shorter-term (e.g., <1 month) travelers with daily or frequent exposure or longer-term travelers with regular (e.g., a few times a month) exposure to environments that might harbor infected ticks. In addition, TBE vaccine may be considered for persons who might engage in outdoor activities in areas where ticks are likely to be found, with a decision to vaccinate made on the basis of an assessment of their planned activities and itinerary, risk factors for a poor medical outcome, and personal perception and tolerance of risk. In the laboratory setting, ACIP recommends TBE vaccine for laboratory workers with a potential for exposure to TBE virus.

Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.

Related Link

• CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications

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Thanks to CDC support, Immunize.org expanded its repository of VIS translations. Immunize.org posted new and updated Spanish translations for COVID-19 and RSV VISs and the RSV preventive antibody Immunization Information Statement (IIS).

All translations are available in print-ready PDF format. 

COVID-19 VIS (view in English):
New! Spanish PDF (RTF) 
 
RSV VIS (view in English):
Updated! Spanish PDF (RTF)

RSV Preventive Antibody IIS (view in English):
New! Spanish PDF (RTF) 

The COVID-19 VIS and the RSV Preventive Antibody IIS are new translations. Check the version date of your office copies of the newly updated RSV vaccine translation. Discard translations of the previous RSV VIS version now that a translation of the current version is available.

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Vaccine Information Statement main page for VISs in 47 languages
• Immunize.org: Dates of Current Vaccine Information Statements (PDF)
• Immunize.org: COVID-19 vaccine VIS page
• Immunize.org: RSV vaccine VIS page
• Immunize.org: RSV Preventive Antibody IIS page
• CDC: What's New with VISs web page
• CDC: Current VISs web page 

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On November 9, 2023, FDA announced the licensing of Ixchiq from Valneva, the first vaccine to prevent chikungunya (CHIK-uhng-GUUN-yuh). It is indicated for people 18 years of age and older who are at increased risk of exposure to chikungunya virus. ACIP is expected to discuss recommendations for the use of chikungunya vaccine at its February 2024 meeting. A portion of the news release appears below.

The highest risk of infection is in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Americas where chikungunya virus-carrying mosquitos are endemic. . . . 

Infection with chikungunya virus can lead to severe disease and prolonged health problems, particularly for older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions.

Related Link

• FDA: FDA Approves First Vaccine to Prevent Disease Caused by Chikungunya Virus (11/9/23)

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For week 44, ending November 4, CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView, shows that seasonal influenza activity is increasing in most parts of the country, most noticeably in the South Central, Southeast, and West Coast regions. Nationwide, 2.9% 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 (i.e., influenza-like illness [ILI]). The national baseline is 2.5%. One influenza-associated pediatric death occurring during the 2023–2024 season has been reported to CDC.



RESP-NET
Visit the CDC Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) for weekly reports of hospitalizations across the United States due to three vaccine-preventable seasonal respiratory viruses: COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.

Influenza Vaccination Dashboard
CDC's Weekly Flu Vaccination Dashboard shows that as of October 21, an estimated 22 million doses of flu vaccine were administered in pharmacies, and an estimated 11 million doses were administered in medical offices.

CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older get annual influenza vaccination. Influenza and other vaccines (e.g., COVID-19 vaccine, RSV vaccine) may be given at the same visit, if needed. Locate influenza and COVID-19 vaccines in your area by entering your zip code in the VaccineFinder on Vaccines.gov or Vacunas.gov. To be listed as a provider by VaccineFinder, see the information on this website.

Related Links

• CDC: Weekly National Flu Vaccination Dashboard main page 
• CDC: FluView main page
• CDC: RESP-NET main page
• Immunize.org: Vaccines A-Z: Influenza main page
• Immunize.org: Ask the Experts: Influenza main page

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Immunize.org's Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll recognizes facilities that take a stand for patient safety by implementing policies requiring healthcare personnel influenza vaccination. Immunize.org recently welcomed an additional healthcare organization.

• Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Oak Harbor, WA

Eligibility:

• Eligible organizations: hospitals, long-term care facilities, medical practices, pharmacies, professional organizations, health departments, and other government entities
• Requirements:
  • Your policy must require influenza vaccination for all staff
  • The application must describe measures to prevent transmission of influenza from unvaccinated personnel to patients (e.g., masking for the entire work shift)

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Honor Roll Honorees: Influenza
• About the Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll

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Journalists seek out Immunize.org experts to help explain vaccines to the public and policy makers. We help the media understand and communicate the complex work vaccinators do. Here is a selection of our recent citations.

• Washington Post: CDC Data Shows Highest Level Yet of Vaccine Exemptions for Kindergartners (11/9/23)
• Salon: Few Kids Are Getting the Latest COVID Shots. Is It Misinformation or a Lack of Access? (11/7/23)

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These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.

• Medical Express: Why Do Some Vaccines (Polio, Measles) Prevent Diseases, While Others (COVID-19, Flu) Only Reduce Their Severity? (11/3/23)

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In recent weeks, ACIP made routine recommendations for the prevention of RSV in infancy through either maternal RSV vaccination or infant immunization with nirsevimab RSV preventive antibody. Immunize.org now offers two new standing orders templates: one for RSV vaccination during pregnancy, and one for nirsevimab for infants. The nirsevimab standing order template reflects the revised guidelines for eligibility for the 2023–24 season issued by CDC on October 23 in its Health Alert Network advisory concerning the shortage of nirsevimab in its initial season. The templates are: 

• Standing Orders for Administering Pfizer Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine (Abrysvo) during Pregnancy
• Standing Orders for Administering Nirsevimab RSV Preventive Antibody to Infants (2023–24 Season Only)

      

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Standing Orders Templates main page
• CDC Health Alert Network Advisory: Limited Availability of Nirsevimab in the United States—Interim CDC Recommendations to Protect Infants from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) during the 2023–2024 Respiratory Virus Season (10/23/23)

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Immunize.org, in partnership with American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), updated Vaccinations Needed during Pregnancy, a 1-page handout for patients. This patient education resource now includes the need for RSV prevention through maternal vaccination or infant immunization. It also addresses the need for hepatitis B screening during every pregnancy, and routine HepB vaccination of unvaccinated, susceptible pregnant people. Download and share this important resource with pregnant patients.

      

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Pregnancy and Vaccines main page
• Immunize.org: Clinical Resources A-Z main page, where you can filter by topic, vaccine, language, or other criteria

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CDC published Influenza and Up-to-Date COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Health Care Personnel—National Healthcare Safety Network, United States, 2022–23 Influenza Season on November 10 in MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below. 

CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend that health care personnel (HCP) receive an annual influenza vaccine and stay up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccination. . . .

During the 2022–23 influenza season, influenza vaccination coverage was 81% among HCP at acute care hospitals and 47% among those at nursing homes. Up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination coverage was 17% among HCP at acute care hospitals and 23% among those at nursing homes. . . .

There is a need to promote evidence-based strategies to improve vaccination coverage among HCP. Tailored strategies might be useful to reach all HCP with recommended vaccines to protect them and their patients from vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases.



Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.

Related Link

• CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications

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CDC published Declines in Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Health Care Personnel in Acute Care Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic—United States, 2017–2023 on November 10 in MMWR. A summary appears below.

CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend that health care personnel (HCP) receive an annual influenza vaccination to reduce influenza-related morbidity and mortality. . . .

HCP working in acute care hospitals during the 2017–2023 influenza seasons were less likely to be vaccinated against influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic (influenza seasons 2020–21 through 2022–23) than before the pandemic (influenza seasons 2017–18 through 2019–20). . . .

Efforts are needed to implement evidence-based strategies to increase vaccination coverage among HCP. HCP should receive seasonal influenza vaccines to protect other HCP and patients from influenza-related morbidity and mortality.

Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.

Related Link

• CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications

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