Issue 1744: February 28, 2024

Friday, March 4 is International HPV Awareness Day, a great time to spread the word about how the HPV vaccine can reduce the risk of cancers caused by certain strains of this common virus. HPV vaccination should be completed routinely before age 13 years, and as soon as feasible for all unvaccinated teens and young adults through age 26. Adults age 27 through 45 who want protection may be vaccinated after a discussion with their healthcare provider. The value of vaccination was demonstrated in a recent study published by Public Health Scotland that found zero cases of cervical cancer diagnosed to date among all women in Scotland who received at least one dose of HPV vaccine before age 13.

Vaccination before sexual contact is the most effective way to protect against HPV-related cancers including cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and head and neck cancers. Vaccination prevents almost 90% of cervical cancer cases. Both men and women are at risk for HPV-related cancers so it's important to receive the HPV vaccine series according to the recommended vaccination schedules.



You can raise awareness with International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) campaign resources in 10 languages, and by including #onelessworry in your social media posts.

Related Links

• International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS): International HPV Awareness Day web page
• International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS): International HPV Awareness Day Campaign Resources main page
• Immunize.org: Vaccines: HPV main page
• Immunize.org: Handouts: HPV main page
• CDC: HPV: For Healthcare Professionals main page
• Public Health Scotland: No Cervical Cancer Cases Detected in Vaccinated Women Following HPV Immunisation (1/22/24)

Immunize.org recently updated two of its handouts for healthcare providers:

• Administering Vaccines: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size
• Administering Vaccines to Adults: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size

For both, a correction in the PreHevbrio (VBI) HepB vaccine dose volume was made, thanks to reader feedback. The correct volume is 1.0 mL.

  

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Administering Vaccines: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size (PDF)
• Immunize.org: Administering Vaccines to Adults: Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size (PDF)
• Immunize.org: Clinical Resources A–Z main page, where you can filter by topic, vaccine, language, or other criteria

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 7, ending February 14, CDC’s Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, FluView shows that 27 jurisdictions experienced persistent high or very high activity. Nationwide, 4.5% 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., ILI). The national baseline is 2.5%. Nine pediatric influenza-associated deaths were reported this week, bringing the total to 91 children who died of influenza thus far during the 2023–24 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 influenza vaccination coverage for all adults age 18 years and older is 1.4 percentage points higher this season compared with mid-February 2023 and 2.8 percentage points higher compared with mid-February 2022. However, racial and ethnic disparities persist.

CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older get annual influenza vaccination. Influenza and other vaccines (including COVID-19 and RSV vaccines) may be given at the same visit, if indicated. Infants age 6 months 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: Influenza main page
• Immunize.org: Ask the Experts: Influenza main page

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 recent citation.

• Wall Street Journal: This RSV Shot Keeps Babies out of the Hospital. But Parents Can’t Find It. (2/21/24)

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

• American Red Cross: Those Who Receive COVID-19 Vaccine Are Able to Donate Blood (2/23/24)
• Washington Post: Florida Surgeon General Defies Science amid Measles Outbreak (2/22/24)
• STAT: Florida Policy Set amid Measles Outbreak Alarms Vaccination Proponents (2/22/24)
• Washington Post: Tax Records Reveal the Lucrative World of COVID Misinformation (2/21/24)
• NPR: CDC Data Shows the HPV Vaccine Is Not Reaching Many Young People (2/19/24)

This week we continue to highlight our popular “Ask the Experts” section. This resource covers 30 topics and provides more than 1,300 practical answers to common questions about vaccines and vaccine administration. Content is divided into two categories:

• Vaccine Topics—covering specific vaccines
• General Topics—broad subjects covering multiple vaccines

You can select a topic from the Ask the Experts tab of the main menu or by selecting from the left-hand menu within any Ask the Experts page. When using the menu on the left, you may also choose to view only questions within a subtopic.



After selecting your desired topic or subtopic, browse the resulting questions or further narrow your results with a keyword search or by choosing filters. Select the “Show All Answers” button to expand all answers on the page.

Immunize.org updated its popular patient handout Vaccinations for Preteens and Teens.

• The "Maybe" statement was changed to "Yes" for several vaccines that are routinely recommended for preteens and teens who did not receive them in early childhood. Now, vaccines categorized as "Maybe" (such as Hib and pneumococcal vaccines) are only those with limited recommendations based on risk factors for older children and teens not previously vaccinated.
• RSV vaccine was added as a consideration for pregnant teens to protect the infant after birth
• MenABCWY was added as an option for preteens and teens who need vaccination against both MenB and MenACWY

Related Links

• 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

Laminated versions of the 2024 U.S. child and adolescent immunization schedule and the 2024 U.S. adult immunization schedule are shipping in early March and available in the Immunize.org Shop.

While the schedules are available online from CDC at no cost, Immunize.org’s printed, laminated booklets are ideal for use in any busy healthcare setting where vaccinations are given.

• Durable: their tough coating can be wiped down, and they’re durable enough to stand up to a year's worth of use
• Format: each schedule is produced in a 16-page, 8.5” X 11” booklet format; with color coding for easy reading, our laminated schedules replicate the original CDC formatting, including all tables and notes
• Easy access to CDC updates: CDC added an online addendum page to the schedule, where new recommendations from ACIP made during 2024 can be posted. The laminated schedule addendum pages include custom QR codes you can scan to view or print the current CDC addendum from CDC's website, as needed.
• Adult schedule bonus: the adult schedule includes a bonus page with Immunize.org’s popular 1-page handout summarizing the dose, route, and needle size recommendations for all adult vaccines and recipients

    

Pricing

• 1 copy: $10.00
• 2–4 copies: $9.50 each
• 5–19 copies: $8.50 each
• 20–99 copies: $7.50 each
• 100–499 copies: $6.00 each
• 500–999 copies: $5.00 each
• 1,000–1,999 copies: $4.00 each
• 2,000+ copies: $3.25 each

Visit the Shop Immunize.org: Laminated Schedules web page to view images of all the pages, to download the order form, and to order today!

For additional information, including large bulk orders, call 651-647-9009 or email admininfo@immunize.org.

Related Links

• Immunize.org: Laminated Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedules (0–18 years) web page
• Immunize.org: Laminated Adult Immunization Schedules (19 and older) web page
• Immunize.org: Shop Immunize.org main page

Show your vaccination support with Immunize.org's new "Save Lives. Immunize." branded 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.

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