- "Use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines in Adults Aged ≥60 Years: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2024" published in MMWR
- "Health and Economic Benefits of Routine Childhood Immunizations in the Era of the Vaccines for Children Program—United States, 1994–2023" published in MMWR
- CDC’s Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: Mpox Caused by Human-to-Human Transmission of Monkeypox Virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with Spread to Neighboring Countries
- August is National Immunization Awareness Month; engage in learning opportunities with CDC’s immunization education and training courses
- Watch and share the latest installment in Immunize.org’s Orientation Video Series: Introducing Ask the Experts
- Vaccines in the news
- Spotlight on the website: Use the "Vaccines A–Z" menu to reach vaccine-specific content for 34 vaccine-preventable diseases
- Recap: Immunize.org updates two RSV standing orders templates to protect infants: nirsevimab for infants and Abrysvo (RSV vaccine) during pregnancy
- Summary: These updated Immunize.org educational materials for clinicians were released during June and July
- Virtual: North Dakota State University hosts webinar titled “RSV across the Ages: Immunizations to Protect Older Adults, Infants, and Young Children" on August 19 and 20 at 1:00 p.m. (ET); CME available
- Virtual real-time: ACOG and CDC host webinar titled “Prepare Your Clinics and Pregnant Patients for Fall and Winter Respiratory Season” on August 22 at 12:00 p.m. (ET); CE credit available
- Virtual: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia hosts webinar titled “Implementing ACIP Recommendations this Fall” on September 11 at 12:00 p.m. (ET); CE credit offered
CDC published Use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines in Adults Aged ≥60 Years: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2024 on August 6 in MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.
On June 26, 2024, ACIP voted to update these recommendations as follows: all adults aged ≥75 years and adults aged 60–74 years who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease should receive a single dose of RSV vaccine. . . .
These updated recommendations are intended to maximize RSV vaccination coverage among persons most likely to benefit. Continued postlicensure monitoring will guide future recommendations.
Risk factors for severe RSV disease among adults age 60 through 74 years appear in a box within the article. Patient attestation is sufficient evidence of the presence of a risk factor. Vaccinators should not deny RSV vaccination to a person because of lack of documentation.
Immunize.org is developing a standing orders template to support the use of RSV vaccines in adults age 60 years and older in accordance with the new ACIP recommendations. Look for an announcement in IZ Express very soon.
Access the MMWR article in HTML.
Related Links
- CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV): Vaccines for Adults Ages 60 and Older
- CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications
- Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
CDC published Health and Economic Benefits of Routine Childhood Immunizations in the Era of the Vaccines for Children Program—United States, 1994–2023 on August 8 in MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.
Broad access and availability of vaccines is critical for immunization programs to avert disease. Since 1994, the U.S. Vaccines for Children (VFC) program has covered the cost of vaccines for children whose families might not otherwise be able to afford them. . . .
Among children born during 1994–2023, routine childhood vaccinations will have prevented approximately 508 million cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 deaths, resulting in direct savings of $540 billion and societal savings of $2.7 trillion [emphasis added]. . . .
During the VFC program era, routine childhood immunizations in the United States have been an important cost-saving public health strategy. Childhood immunizations continue to provide substantial health and economic benefits and promote health equity.
Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.
Related Link
- CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications
On August 7, CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: Mpox Caused by Human-to-Human Transmission of Monkeypox Virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC] with Spread to Neighboring Countries. Portions of the summary of the HAN appear below.
In late July 2024, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, which sit on the eastern border of DRC, reported confirmed cases of mpox, with some cases having linkages to DRC. Rwanda and Uganda have confirmed these cases are due to clade I MPXV. . . .
No cases of clade I mpox have been reported outside central and eastern Africa at this time. Because there is a risk of additional spread, CDC recommends clinicians and jurisdictions in the United States maintain a heightened index of suspicion for mpox in patients who have recently been in DRC or to any country sharing a border with DRC (ROC [Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)], Angola, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, South Sudan, CAR [Central African Republic]) and present with signs and symptoms consistent with mpox. . . .
Treatment and Prevention
- Recommend mpox vaccine to people exposed to MPXV to help prevent the spread of mpox.
- Offer mpox vaccination to people ≥18 years of age with risk factors for mpox, following the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for vaccination before an exposure with two doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine 28 days apart.
- Two doses of JYNNEOS vaccine offer substantial protection against mpox, and is expected to offer protection regardless of clade.
- Additional JYNNEOS vaccine doses (“boosters,” more than two doses) are not currently recommended.
- Consider vaccinating patients eligible for mpox vaccination and planning travel to affected countries, with two doses of JYNNEOS vaccine. Eligible patients who received one dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine more than 28 days ago should receive the second dose as soon as possible.
- There is no vaccination recommendation for travelers who do not meet current vaccine eligibility.
Access the complete CDC HAN Health Advisory.
Related Links
- CDC: Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of Jynneos Vaccine for Mpox Prevention in the United States
- Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: Mpox
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). During NIAM, encourage your patients to schedule appointments to ensure they are up to date on annual exams and recommended vaccines.
CDC's Immunization Education and Training courses offer programs for healthcare personnel in a variety of formats. All courses are based on ACIP recommendations. Physicians, nurses, health educators, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals can apply for CE credits/contact hours, when available.
To help build vaccinator skills, Immunize.org’s Key Vaccination Resources for Healthcare Professionals categorizes training opportunities into:
- Foundational content with which every vaccinator should be familiar
- Supplemental content useful after completing foundational training
- Additional tools to help providers grow in vaccination expertise
Related Links
- CDC: National Immunization Awareness Month web page
- CDC: Communication and Print Resources main page
- CDC: Toolkit for Reaching Healthcare Professionals main page
- CDC: Toolkit for Reaching Parents and Patients main page
- Immunize.org: Key Vaccination Resources for Healthcare Professionals
Immunize.org is pleased to share the latest installment in the Orientation Video Series, a 3-minute video introducing our Ask the Experts content and resources, one of the most popular sections of the Immunize.org website.
This video is available now on our YouTube channel the second in a new orientation series of 3-minute videos. These videos will help both new and experienced users get the most out of all the resources we offer. Horizontal versions of these videos, like the one below, orient viewers to the desktop format of the website. Vertical versions feature the mobile view displayed for smartphone users.
Please share this video with anyone who needs to learn how to get the most out of Immunize.org’s website to support effective immunization practices.
Like, follow, and share Immunize.org’s social media accounts and encourage colleagues and others interested in vaccination to do likewise.
- Facebook at ImmunizeOrg
- Instagram at ImmunizeOrg
- LinkedIn at ImmunizeOrg
- YouTube at ImmunizeOrg
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Why COVID Surges in the Summer (8/7/24)
- Gallup: Far Fewer in U.S. Regard Childhood Vaccinations as Important (8/7/24)
- CNN: Opinion: I’m a Vaccine Scientist. The Devastating Impacts of Vaccine Hesitancy Have Touched My Life Too (8/6/24)
In this week's Spotlight, Immunize.org highlights its Vaccines A–Z menu, accessible by clicking the "Vaccines & VISs" menu tab at the top of any Immunize.org web page. The "Vaccines A–Z" menu is the first element you see after clicking on the "Vaccines & VISs" menu. For instance, click on “Influenza” in the menu to access that vaccine-specific page.
After the desired web page is open, use the right navigation panel to move down the page to view and access disease-specific resources such as:
- Clinical Resources is an alphabetical listing of Immunize.org materials on each disease (such as influenza) for providers or for patients. Click on the image or “View PDF” to open a file. Descriptions and available file translations are shown.
- View Ask the Experts Q&As on influenza or to find links to other topics.
- Click on Vaccine Information Statements to view or open influenza (inactivated or live) VISs, QR Code Links to VIS Influenza (inactivated) translations, and view available translations
- FDA Package Inserts & EUAs is included to provide the current seasons’ influenza vaccines
To move your cursor back to the top of the page, click on "Back to Top" or use the Ctrl + Home keyboard shortcut. Use the left navigation column to reach other A–Z vaccine pages by clicking on a vaccine. The current page (influenza) is highlighted. Breadcrumbs are included at the top of all pages to ease movement to other major sections.
As you prepare to protect infants from RSV this fall through maternal vaccination (Abrysvo, Pfizer) or infant immunization (Beyfortus, Sanofi), download updated standing orders templates from Immunize.org.
- Standing Orders for Administering Nirsevimab RSV Preventive Antibody (Beyfortus, by Sanofi) to Infants
- Standing Orders for Administering Pfizer Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine (Abrysvo) during Pregnancy
Both documents were edited to clarify that if a pregnant person received RSV vaccination before the current pregnancy, the pregnant person should not receive another dose of RSV vaccine. In this situation, the infant should receive nirsevimab after delivery for RSV protection. Additional edits are as follows:
Standing Orders for Administering Nirsevimab RSV Preventive Antibody (Beyfortus, by Sanofi) to Infants was edited to remove shortage considerations, which are no longer relevant. An updated link was provided to AAP guidance on the use of palivizumab for eligible infants if nirsevimab is unavailable.
Standing Orders for Administering Pfizer Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine (Abrysvo) during Pregnancy now refers users to information on vaccine components from the FDA package insert; CDC discontinued the table of vaccine excipients in the Pink Book appendix that was previously referenced.
A new standing orders template for routine RSV vaccination of previously unvaccinated adults age 75 and older and adults age 60 through 74 with high risk conditions is in development and will be announced in IZ Express when it is available.
Related Links
- Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) web page
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Standing Orders Templates main page
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources A–Z main page, where you can filter by topic, vaccine, language, or other criteria
IZ Express regularly provides readers with information about Immunize.org’s new and updated web pages, educational materials for healthcare professionals and handouts for patients. All Immunize.org clinical resources are free to distribute. The summary below excludes items listed in separate recap articles in today’s edition of IZ Express.
Web Pages
- New 2024 Vaccine-Specific Requirements for States with downloadable maps and data tables for 17 categories
- New 2024 Exemptions Permitted for State Childcare and School (K–12) Immunization Requirements with downloadable map and data table
- 2023 Archive of State Childcare, School, and College Immunization Requirements and Exemption Policies
- State Immunization Websites include links to state government websites and additional information on childcare, school, or college immunization requirements
- Vaccine History Timeline
- Influenza materials for the 2024–2025 season
- New! QR Code Links to Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) Translations: Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Inactivated or Recombinant)
- Influenza Vaccine Products for the 2024–2025 Influenza
- Standing Orders for Administering Influenza Vaccine to Children and Teens
- Standing Orders for Administering Influenza Vaccine to Adults
- Standing Orders for Administering Pneumococcal Vaccines to Adults
- Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools
- Vaccine Handling Tips
- Record of Vaccine Declination
- Non-Medical Exemptions and Vaccine Refusal Put People at Risk. Examine the Evidence for Yourself.
- You’re 16 … We Recommend these Vaccines for You!
- Immunizations for Babies: A Guide for Parents. Translations now in 17 languages!
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources A–Z main page to see educational materials sorted by category
- Immunize.org: Translations main page to quickly find all languages available for VISs and Clinical Resources
Immunize.org continues to expand its repository of VIS translations, all available in print-ready PDF format. Vanderburgh County (Indiana) Health Department generously donated seven Marshallese VIS translations, shown below.
- COVID-19 VIS PDF (view in English)
- Multi-vaccines (Your Child's First Vaccines) VIS PDF (view in English)
- MMR VIS PDF (view in English)
- MMRV VIS PDF (view in English)
- Meningococcal B VIS PDF (view in English)
- Polio VIS PDF (view in English)
- Varicella VIS PDF (view in English)
Related Links
- Immunize.org: Vaccine Information Statements main page for VISs in 47 languages
- Immunize.org: Dates of Current Vaccine Information Statements (PDF)
- CDC: What's New with VISs web page
- CDC: Current VISs web page
Immunize.org's personal immunization record cards, printed on rip-proof, smudge-proof, water-proof paper, are designed to last a lifetime. They fit in a wallet when folded. The record cards are for you to give to your patients as a permanent personal vaccination record and are sold in boxes of 250.
Make bulk purchases and receive quantity discounts. For quotes on larger quantities or customizing, or to request sample cards, call 651-647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org.
Related Links
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Documenting Vaccination main page
- Immunize.org: Shop: Collection List web page
North Dakota State University (NDSU) will host a webinar titled RSV across the Ages: Immunizations to Protect Older Adults, Infants, and Young Children, 1:00–2:00 p.m. (ET) on August 19 and 20. Speakers will include Tracie Newman, MD, MPH, Sanford Health and Fargo Cass Public Health, and Elizabeth Skoy, PharmD, FAPhA, NDSU and Center for Collaboration and Advancement in Pharmacy.
Attendees will learn about RSV immunization products, which populations they are recommended for, and real-world effectiveness data.
Free CME will be provided to real-time attendees.
Register for the webinar.
ACOG and CDC will present a 1-hour webinar titled Prepare Your Clinics and Pregnant Patients for Fall and Winter Respiratory Season at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on August 22.
Join Geeta K. Swamy, MD, FACOG, CDC’s Dana Meaney-Delman, MD, MPH, and Elisha Hall, PhD, RD, as they discuss how to protect patients, families, colleagues, and communities against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
This will be a virtual, real-time event. Attendees can submit questions through the registration form or ask them during the event. CE credits will be available.
Register for the webinar.
The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, together with the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University, will present a 1-hour webinar titled Implementing ACIP Recommendations this Fall at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on September 11. Part of its Current Issues in Vaccines series, the webinar will feature Paul Offit, MD, director of the VEC.
Free CE credits (CME, CEU, and CPE) will be available for both the live and archived events.
Register for the webinar.