- “Use of Inactivated Polio Vaccine among U.S. Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2023” published in MMWR
- “Polio Vaccination of Adults”: watch the 2-minute answer, part of the Ask the Experts Video Series on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Instagram
- Immunize.org posts 11 additional translations of COVID-19 and RSV VISs, and RSV Preventive Antibody Immunization Information Statement
- CDC releases Tick-Borne Encephalitis VIS
- Review your COVID-19 resources with the latest version of Immunize.org’s “Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools”
- Influenza-like illness is high or increasing in many states. Encourage vaccination now.
- Immunize.org updates parent handout "When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?" to include RSV preventive antibody
- Immunize.org updates "How to Administer Multiple Intramuscular Vaccines to Adults during One Visit"
- Vaccines in the news
- CDC expands V-safe program to monitor RSV vaccine safety among pregnant people and older adults
- NFID posts podcast featuring Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, on how to counter anti-science rhetoric and build vaccine confidence
- North Dakota State University Center for Immunization Research and Education posts archived recording of webinar on new products to prevent RSV
Global News
CDC published Use of Inactivated Polio Vaccine among U.S. Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2023 on December 8 in MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.
Previously, inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) recommendations for U.S. adults addressed adults known to be at increased risk for poliovirus exposure. . . .
On June 21, 2023, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issued an IPV recommendation for all adults known or suspected to be unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated against polio. Risk-based recommendations for IPV boosters have not changed. . . .
Adults aged ≥18 years who are known or suspected to be unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated against polio should complete a primary polio vaccination series with IPV. Fully vaccinated adults at increased risk for poliovirus exposure may receive a single lifetime booster dose of IPV.
Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.
Related Link
- CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications
“Polio Vaccination of Adults”: watch the 2-minute answer, part of the Ask the Experts Video Series on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Instagram
This week, our featured episode from the Ask the Experts Video Series is Polio Vaccination of Adults. The video briefly describes the new ACIP recommendations described in the MMWR published last week. It is available on our YouTube channel, along with our full collection of quick video answers to popular Ask the Experts questions.
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
- X (Twitter) at ImmunizeOrg
- YouTube at ImmunizeOrg
Immunize.org posts 11 additional translations of COVID-19 and RSV VISs, and RSV Preventive Antibody Immunization Information Statement
Thanks to CDC support, Immunize.org continues to expand its repository of VIS translations. Last week, Immunize.org posted 11 more up-to-date translations for COVID-19 and RSV VISs and the RSV Preventive Antibody Immunization Information Statement (IIS). The following table shows the languages available; the 11 new translations appear in bold print.
All translations are available in print-ready PDF format.
To ensure you have the current translations, click on Vaccines & VISs at Immunize.org, then click on VISs, then select a specific vaccine. Scrolling down the resulting page, you will see the current English version, a list of current translations (i.e., corresponding to the current English VIS), and then, if applicable, a list of any out-of-date (yet best available) translations. Additional tips on using VISs appear at the bottom of the page.
For example, The RSV VIS page shows the English VIS dated October 19, 2023, then 23 translations based on that October 19 version, and then five out-of-date (yet best available) translations.
Check the version date of your inventory of RSV vaccine translations. Discard translations of the previous RSV VIS version now that a translation of the current version (October 19) is available.
- Immunize.org: Vaccine Information Statements overview page for VISs in 47 languages
- Immunize.org: Dates of Current Vaccine Information Statements (PDF)
- Immunize.org: VISs: COVID-19 vaccine main page
- Immunize.org: VISs: RSV vaccine main page
- Immunize.org: IIS: RSV preventive antibody main page
- CDC: What's New with VISs web page
- CDC: Current VISs web page
On December 7, CDC released the first VIS for tick-borne encephalitis. Immunize.org added the Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) VIS to our website. TBE vaccine is indicated for certain travelers at risk of tick exposure in regions of central Europe or Asia where TBE is endemic.
Immunize.org updated its corresponding reference documents related to the use of VISs:
- You Must Provide Patients with Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)—It's Federal Law!
- Dates of Current Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)
Related Links
- Immunize.org: VISs: TBE (Tick-Borne Encephalitis) main page
- Immunize.org: TBE (Tick-Borne Encephalitis) VIS (PDF, English)
- Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: TBE (Tick-Borne Encephalitis) main page
- Immunize.org: Vaccine Information Statements main page with VISs in up to 47 languages
- CDC: What's New with VISs main page
- CDC: Current VISs main page
Review your COVID-19 resources with the latest version of Immunize.org’s “Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools”
Immunize.org reviews and updates the Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools at least monthly, prominently indicating when it was last revised at the top of the page. The December 3 checklist includes a link to a searchable list of MMWR articles about COVID-19 vaccination. It also includes a change in the prevaccination checklists section to show CDC’s English version for providers and Spanish version for recipients. CDC now refers COVID-19 vaccine providers to Immunize.org's English version of screening checklists for contraindications to vaccination for children or adults.
All COVID-19 vaccine providers should review the checklist regularly and download the latest CDC schedule and standing order documents. Discard any outdated versions of cited documents. The checklist is posted on Immunize.org's Vaccines A–Z: COVID-19 main page to help practices stay up to date.
Related Links
- Immunize.org: Checklist of Current Versions of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance and Clinic Support Tools (PDF)
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Screening Checklists main page
- Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: COVID-19 main page
- Immunize.org: Ask the Experts: COVID-19 main page
- CDC: Interim Clinical Considerations main page summarizing use of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States
CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView, provides a valuable picture of laboratory-confirmed influenza and influenza-like illness activity state by state.
Influenza Surveillance
For week 48, ending December 8, CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView shows that seasonal influenza activity continues to increase in most parts of the country. Nationwide, 4.0% 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%. Four pediatric deaths were reported this week, bringing the total to 12 influenza-associated pediatric deaths thus far during the 2023–24 season. Given the influenza vaccination rates to date, millions more people remain unprotected, compared to last season.
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 November 18, an estimated 31 million doses of flu vaccine were administered in pharmacies and more than 18 million doses in medical offices. Vaccine uptake appears to be lagging behind this time in 2022 in both sectors. Notably, coverage for all children is 4.8 percentage points lower this season compared with the same time last season (38% compared with 43%). It is critical to protect people now, as influenza activity is becoming widespread.
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. Infants 6 months of age and older may receive influenza and COVID-19 vaccines at the same visit when they receive the RSV preventive antibody, nirsevimab. 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: free clinical resources and patient handouts related to influenza
- Immunize.org: Vaccines A–Z: Influenza main page
- Immunize.org: Ask the Experts: Influenza main page
Immunize.org recently updated When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations? handout to include a new column for RSV preventive antibody and an explanatory note. A QR code linking to the online version of the document was also added.
Related Links
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Schedules for Patients main page
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Adolescent Vaccination main page
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources A–Z main page, where you can filter by topic, vaccine, language, or other criteria
Immunize.org recently updated How to Administer Multiple Intramuscular Vaccines to Adults during One Visit to incorporate RSV into the list of vaccines commonly administered to adults.
Related Links
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources: Adult Vaccination main page
- 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
These recent articles convey the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the importance of vaccination.
- Washington Post: After Long Banning Polio Campaigns, Taliban Declares War on the Disease (12/5/23)
- The Hill: Most People in ‘America’s Heartland’ Will Forgo Updated COVID Vaccines: Survey (12/5/23)
- CNN: A New Immunization Hinted at an End to Bad RSV Seasons. But an Ongoing Shortage Means Babies Are Still Getting Sick. (12/5/23)
- New York Times: ‘Medical Freedom’ Activists Take Aim at New Target: Childhood Vaccine Mandates (12/3/23)
- Texas Tribune: Texas Attorney General Sues Pfizer, Claiming Vaccines Didn’t End Pandemic Quickly Enough (11/30/23)
Show your vaccination support with Immunize.org's new "Save Lives. Immunize." branded mugs, T-shirts, and pins.
Immunize.org is pleased to offer new T-shirts in three different designs (unisex, women’s, and baseball). Each T-shirt features our logo on the front and, on the back, our tag line: “Save Lives. Immunize.” These T-shirts are fashioned in a super soft, premium tri-blend fabric that doesn’t shrink or wrinkle with washing. Designed with frontline vaccinators in mind, they pair perfectly with scrub pants for vaccination clinics and make a pro-vaccine statement whenever you or your team want to show your support for immunization. Perfect for the gym, clinic, or anywhere you like!
Click the pictures for more detailed information and to place your order.
Wake up to this sunny, 16-ounce mug at home, or use it proudly at work as a symbol of your commitment to vaccination. Public health and healthcare professionals will enjoy sipping from this cheerful mug highlighting the lifesaving value of immunization. Please note that the mug should be handwashed only. A perfect gift for healthcare professionals who like their coffee the way they like their vaccine recommendations: strong!
Click the pictures for more detailed information and to place your order.
Immunize.org's gold and black enamel “Vaccines Save Lives” pins are meaningful gifts for people who value vaccination. The pin makes a refined statement in black enamel with gleaming gold lettering and edges, measuring 1.125" x 0.75".
Our pin features a stick-through-post design. The post is covered by a round rubber cap that holds the pin securely. A gold metal spring-lock clasp is also provided.
These pins are a striking statement of vaccination support. Wear these pins on lab coats, uniforms, or street clothes to show that you value vaccines.
Click here for "Vaccines Save Lives" pin pricing and ordering information.
- Immunize.org Shop website
Immunize.org recently updated two of its resources, Polio: Questions and Answers and Rotavirus: Questions and Answers. Changes are described below.
- Polio: Questions and Answers: This was updated with the new recommendation for all U.S. adults who are known or suspected to be unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated to complete a 3-dose primary series. A QR code linking to the online version of the document was added.
- Rotavirus: Questions and Answers: This was reviewed for accuracy; minor updates were made. A QR code linking to the online version of the document was added.
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Related Links
- Immunize.org: Polio: Questions and Answers (PDF)
- Immunize.org: Rotavirus: Questions and Answers (PDF)
- Immunize.org: Clinical Resources A–Z main page, where you can filter by topic, vaccine, language, or other criteria
V-safe, CDC’s voluntary smartphone-based vaccine safety monitoring system, was originally developed to monitor COVID-19 vaccine safety. Now, it has been adapted to collect data for RSV vaccination of two groups:
- Pregnant people receiving Abrysvo (Pfizer)
- Adults age 60 years or older receiving Abrysvo or Arexvy (GSK)
After RSV vaccination, participants may choose to enroll in V-safe. They will then receive brief, confidential surveys via text messages or emails.
Post a sign in the vaccination area encouraging people to enroll. It takes just a few minutes to register using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Related Links
- CDC: V-safe web page
- CDC: V-safe Registration web page
- CDC: Who Can Participate? main page
NFID posts podcast featuring Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, on how to counter anti-science rhetoric and build vaccine confidence
Infectious IDeas, a podcast series from NFID, brings leading experts together for thought-provoking conversations. The latest entry in the series, Building Global Vaccine Confidence through Diplomacy, features Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD. A description from the web page appears below.
In this episode, hosts Marla Dalton, PE, CAE, and William Schaffner, MD, talk with Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He shares insights from his influential career in vaccine science and diplomacy, from how the field has changed over time, how his experience as the father of an autistic daughter helped shape his career, and what we can all be doing to counter anti-science rhetoric and help build vaccine confidence.
North Dakota State University Center for Immunization Research and Education posts archived recording of webinar on new products to prevent RSV
The North Dakota State University (NDSU) Center for Immunization Research and Education (CIRE), Jefferson Jones, MD, MPH, and Jennifer DeCuir, MD, PhD, hosted a webinar discussing the new RSV prevention tools on December 11. The webinar focused on the epidemiology of RSV in children and adults, as well as the benefits and risks of RSV vaccines and monoclonal antibody.
View the webinar recording.
CDC published Progress in Immunization Safety Monitoring—Worldwide, 2020–2022 on December 8 in MMWR. A portion of the summary appears below.
In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended a new case-based vaccine safety monitoring indicator: one or more serious adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) per 1 million total population per year. . . .
In 2022, 92 (43%) of 215 WHO-affiliated countries and territories achieved the new case-based indicator. During 2020–2022, four of six WHO regions reported an increase in joint reporting of national AEFI data from national regulatory authorities (NRAs) and national expanded programs on immunization (EPIs). . . .
Case-based reporting promotes timely AEFI detection, reporting, investigation, and response by NRAs and EPIs. Improving case-based data sharing globally can provide valuable insights into trends and regional characteristics of serious AEFI.
Access the MMWR article in HTML or PDF.
Related Link
- CDC: MMWR main page providing access to the MMWR family of publications
Moderna will host a webinar titled Vaccinating against COVID-19 in Black and Hispanic Communities: Important Information for Healthcare Providers at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on December 14. Moderna’s Medical Affairs Diversity Panel will discuss the importance of staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines within communities of color this holiday season. They will also discuss COVID-19’s effect on Black and Hispanic communities, the most recent ACIP recommendations, and common COVID-19 vaccine myths that may decrease vaccine confidence.
A replay link will be sent to those who register for the event.
NFID offers an archived version of its November 2023 Clinical Vaccinology Course online through January 31. This course focuses on new developments and issues related to the use of vaccines. Expert faculty provide the latest information on vaccines, including updated recommendations for vaccinations across the lifespan, and practical, innovative strategies for timely vaccination.
View event details.
Register for the online course ($700 fee).
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