Issue 1824: July 23, 2025

This week’s Spotlight focuses on the content found at the bottom of each web page of Immunize.org.

“Our Affiliated Sites” section provides links to six websites that are part of and maintained by our 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Each reflects various aspects of our mission. 

• VaccineInformation​.org: providing resources to the public about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases 
• ImmunizationCoalitions​.org: providing information to coalitions about and for the National Network of Immunization Coalitions 
• LetsGetRealAboutVaccines​.org: answering parents’ and providers’ questions about pediatric vaccines and diseases 
• Influenza-defense​.org: the 65+FluDefense site sharing the essentials of protecting older adults from seasonal influenza
• Give2MenAcwy​.org: sharing resources to support vaccination with two doses of MenACWY vaccine to fully protect adolescent patients 
• Izsummitpartners​.org: the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) site provides information and resources for the many partner organizations that address influenza and adult vaccination issues  

The dark-blue box below the affiliated sites links to: 

• Our social media pages
  • Facebook 
  • Instagram 
  • LinkedIn 
  • YouTube 
• Information about Immunize.org, including "Our Mission" and "Our People" 
• Ways to support our work: “Shop” and “Donate”
• How to contact us, including an online form and telephone
• Subscription information for IZ Express 

To learn more, watch these related videos:  

• Video: Introducing Immunize.org (3 minutes) 
• Video: Introducing News and Updates Menu (3 minutes) 
• Video: Website Office Hours: Affiliated Websites (44 minutes) 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released its Maternal Immunization Social Media Toolkit, designed to provide healthcare professionals with ready-to-use social media messaging to promote the COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and Tdap vaccines during pregnancy. Messages available are specific for either patient or clinician audiences.

The toolkit features sample posts, resources, and graphics to keep patients informed and to encourage your networks to promote maternal immunization. While the messages, resources, and graphics are endorsed by ACOG, language can be adapted to suit your own voice. 



Please share the Maternal Immunization Social Media Toolkit with partners who can spread these messages further.

Immunize.org offers an annotated list of key training, education, and reference materials for people who vaccinate or oversee vaccination clinics. Key Vaccination Resources for Healthcare Professionals provides vaccinators with a strong foundation for building and sustaining vaccination skills.

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Skills Checklist for Vaccine Administration (PDF)
• Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Administering Vaccines main page
• Immunize.org: Clinical Resources A–Z main page, where you can filter by topic, vaccine, language, or other criteria

Planning for the upcoming school year or looking for science projects? The resources below can help children and adolescents explore vaccines and the immune system.

For elementary school children

• The Vaccine Makers Project: Elementary School Lesson Plans (3/7/18)
• CHOP: Vaccine Resources for Kids and Teens includes: 
  • My Vaccine Activity Book (view in Spanish)
  • Vax Pack Hero video game
  • Various storybooks and comic books
• Peekaboo Kidz, The Dr Binocs Show: How Vaccines Work (6:50 min.; 4/24/20)
• SciShow Kids: Why Do We Get Vaccines? (3:30 min.; 11/14/17)
• TED-Ed: How Do Vaccines Work? (4:35 min.; 1/12/15)

• The Vaccine Makers Project: Middle School Lesson Plans
• CDC: How Does Flu Make You Sick? (57 sec.; 11/4/19)
• Science Journal for Kids and Teens: 6 Scientific Articles about Vaccination for middle and high school students
• Voices for Vaccines: Thomas Jefferson to Edward Jenner (1:49 min.; 7/3/18)
• UNICEF: Vaccine Education, for and with Youth (4/29/24)

• History of Vaccines: Historyofvaccines.org 
• The Vaccine Makers Project: High School Lesson Plans
• Kurzgesagt—In a Nutshell: The Side Effects of Vaccines—How High Is the Risk? (10:55 min.; 5/12/19)
• Science News Explores: Explainer: What Is a Vaccine? (7/18/17)
• Vaxopedia website
• Science Journal for Kids and Teens: 6 Scientific Articles about Vaccination for middle and high school students

Immunize.org’s elegantly designed “Vaccines Save Lives” pins are meaningful gifts for people who care about vaccination. The pin makes a refined statement in hard black enamel with gold lettering and edges, measuring 1.125" x 0.75". The pin features a stick-through-post with the back covered by a round rubber cap that holds the pin securely. A gold metal spring-lock clasp is also provided.


Wear these pins on clothing, uniforms, and white coats to show that you value vaccines.

  

Click here for "Vaccines Save Lives" pin pricing and ordering information.

In its June 30 issue, European Heart Journal published Vaccination as a New Form of Cardiovascular Prevention: a European Society of Cardiology [ESC] Clinical Consensus Statement: With the contribution of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC), the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC), and the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. Although issued by European cardiology societies, the evidence and cardiac benefits described are relevant to the American population. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The importance of vaccination to cardiovascular health is underappreciated by healthcare professionals and the public. The abstract is printed below. 

Vaccination is increasingly acknowledged as an effective preventive measure not only against specific infections, but also for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in high-risk patients. Specifically, a growing body of evidence suggests that vaccines against influenza, SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, herpes zoster, and other viruses significantly reduce infection and for influenza the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in vaccinated individuals.

This clinical consensus statement examines the existing literature and accumulated evidence and offers practical clinical advice on vaccination timing and target demographics, specifically addressing complex clinical scenarios with a focus on cardiovascular conditions. It includes guidelines for vaccinating vulnerable populations such as immunosuppressed individuals, patients with congenital heart disease, and pregnant women as well as safety and potential complications of the procedure.

Geographical Abstract Pathogens with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk: vaccine prevention against pathogens such as influenza and pneumococcus can reduce the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The benefit is particularly strong in susceptible risk groups such as older individuals, patients with congenital heart disease, heart transplant or coronary artery disease, as well as in pregnant women. SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, RSV, respiratory syncytial virus.

In its July 10 issue, Journal of Rural Health published Disparities in Rural and Urban Outcomes in Populations with Human Papillomavirus–Associated Oropharyngeal Cancers. This retrospective study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Pharyngeal Cancer with HPV Status Database from 2006 to 2018. Among people diagnosed with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer, the study assessed the difference in overall survival and cause-specific mortality between rural and urban populations.

An excerpt from the abstract appears below.

Results: A total of 13,294 patients were included in our study, most of whom lived in urban counties (88.5%, n = 11,766), had a mean age of 60.6 years . . . and had a primary tumor site located in the tonsil (47.6%, n = 6328). Rural communities had a higher likelihood of all-cause mortality . . . compared to their urban counterparts. Additionally, rural residents had a higher probability of cause-specific mortality . . . compared to their urban counterparts.

Conclusions: Patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer who reside in rural areas were more likely to die when compared to their urban counterparts. More research is needed to determine the best way to mitigate this disparity.