Search:

August 17, 2020

Taryn Chapman 2020 Buzz, Uncategorized
Announcements

 

Announcements

Archived Webinar: Combating Vaccine Hesitancy: Today’s Fight Against Misinformation

The Clinton Foundation
August 12, 2020

The WHO lists vaccine hesitancy as one of its top 10 global health threats. As scientists race to produce safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in record time, we know that social media and online forums will play a vital role in its success or demise. Vaccination against deadly diseases — such as smallpox, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella — are proven public health interventions that require large-scale participation toward community immunity. In the face of a growing anti-science movement and the rising momentum of misinformation online, how do we make sure everyone has access to scientifically sound and accurate information about the importance of vaccination and other vital public health messages?

On August 12, 2020, Chelsea Clinton, vice chair of the Clinton Foundation, held a moderated discussion with the following vaccine topic experts on the importance of vaccine advocacy and how young people can support and promote factual health messaging during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Karen Ernst, Executive Director of Voices for Vaccines
  • Judy Klein, President of UnityTMConsortium: United for Adolescent and Young Adult Vaccination
  • Amy Pisani, MS, Executive Director of Vaccinate Your Family

There was also a one-on-one conversation with Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) COVID-19 Student Action Fund awardee Steve Arnaud Tchuenté Kayo of HEC Paris Business School and Co-Founder of AccuroLab, a platform that provides smartphone users of vulnerable communities with an easy-to-use solution for verifying, extracting, and receiving COVID-19 related information. Additional information about the Clinton Foundation and CGI U’s commitment to support students addressing the pandemic is available online.

Virtual Launch: Healthy People 2030

August 18, 2020 | 1:00pm ET

The virtual launch event for Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) has been set for August 18. Flu vaccination has been identified as the leading health indicator for the Immunization and Infectious Diseases section. A promotional partner toolkit, Promoting Healthy People 2030, is available online.

Webinar: Shared Clinical Decision-Making for Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination (PCV13) in Adults 65+

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
August 19, 2020 | 12:00 – 1:00pm ET

Join the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) during National Immunization Awareness Month for a discussion on recommendations for shared clinical decision-making for pneumococcal conjugate vaccination. This webinar will provide practical strategies to implement shared clinical decision-making in various practice settings. NFID Medical Director William Schaffner, MD will moderate the webinar featuring a presentation by Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD, Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine.

COCA Call: 2020–2021 Influenza Vaccination Recommendations and Clinical Guidance during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
August 20, 2020 | 2:00 – 3:00pm ET

During this COCA Call, presenters will discuss updates to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for the 2020-2021 influenza vaccination season. Topics will include the Standards for Adult Immunization Practice, flu vaccination planning, general vaccination guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and guidance for large vaccination clinics held in satellite, temporary, or off-site locations.

Presentation slides from this call are available on the COCA Call webpage, and a recording should be available on this same page in the near future. Free continuing education (CE) is offered.

NEHI Vaccine Summit: Looming Challenges of COVID-19 Immunization: Messaging and Communications

Network for Excellence in Health Innovation (NEHI)
August 27, 2020 | 1:00 – 3:00pm ET

The world is coming together to develop safe and effective vaccines to protect against COVID-19. But these vaccines will only aid in ending the pandemic if people agree to get immunized. A recent survey of over 19,000 individuals in all 50 states indicates significant disparities by geography and race regarding individuals’ willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccinations, with likely levels of vaccination falling below those that experts say are necessary to bring the pandemic under control. With the increasing politicization of issues surrounding COVID-19, clear, coordinated, and credible messaging will be critical to ensuring high levels of vaccine acceptance. Strategic communication efforts must specifically address the concerns of Black communities who have been disproportionately affected by the disease. The complex planning involved must begin now, ahead of the release of an approved vaccine.

As part of National Immunization Awareness month, please join Network for Excellence in Health Innovation (NEHI) as they kick-off their Vaccine Summit series with experts in vaccine policy, practice and communications to address the messaging and coordination challenges associated with uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. The keynote speaker, Paul Offit, MD, will draw on his experience to provide an overview of the challenges. Panelists will then discuss the issues involved in developing effective messages and identifying trusted communication channels, with the imperative of reaching vaccine hesitant populations. They also will examine how to ensure much needed coordination across federal, state, and local levels to ensure transparent communications and effectively confront the ongoing spread of vaccine misinformation.

A list of panelists and registration information may be found online.

A list of panelists and registration information may be found online.

New from ACOG: Pregnancy and Immunization: A Guide to Creating Patient Materials

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is excited to share its new Pregnancy and Immunization: A Guide to Creating Patient Materials. ACOG recognizes that patient education resources that address common concerns can help pregnant women make informed decisions about receiving vaccines during pregnancy. Accordingly, this guide highlights evidence-based tips and considerations to support the development of effective patient education messaging and materials related to immunizations during pregnancy. As appropriate, please share this new resource widely within your networks and with colleagues responsible for the creation of patient education resources.

IAC and AIM Update Important Staff Resource for the Upcoming Flu Season, Communicating the Benefits of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine during COVID-19

The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) and the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) have collaborated to update their popular tip sheet, Communicating the Benefits of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine during COVID-19. This one-page informational sheet outlines the many ways in which influenza vaccination can lower the risk of influenza-related illness, hospitalization, and death. It covers information about the burden of disease resulting from influenza infection and highlights the sub-optimal vaccination coverage rates seen in various populations. Importantly, the handout provides helpful tips to assist healthcare professionals as they discuss the benefits of influenza vaccination with their patients.

Use IAC’s Expanded Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic to Organize Staff Training

In May, the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) launched the Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic to assist in maintaining routine immunization rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Located on the website of the National Network of Immunization Coalitions, a project of IAC, this repository includes links to both national and state-level policies and guidance; advocacy materials, including talking points, webinars, press releases, articles, and social media posts; and telehealth resources. These resources are intended for healthcare settings, state and local health departments, professional societies, immunization coalitions, advocacy groups, and the community to use in their efforts to sustain routine immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The more than 130 resources that appear in the repository come from the federal government, nationally recognized healthcare organizations, state health departments, state immunization coalitions, and other organizations devoted to disseminating accurate immunization information.

Shared Clinical Decision Making on Vaccines: Nothing Has Really Changed for Pharmacists

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently has begun utilizing a new recommendation known as “shared clinical decision making.” This recommendation calls upon healthcare providers, including pharmacists, to have more engaged conversations with patients regarding their vaccine needs. This publication, Shared Clinical Decision Making on Vaccines: Nothing Has Really Changed for Pharmacists, is designed to provide pharmacists with clarifications on the intent behind this terminology and to dispel myths that have frequently been attributed to the category of recommendation. Pharmacists must continue to take action to immunize patients and not be confused by a new approach to recommendation terminology.

AVAC Blog (based on AVAC Hill Briefing): Immunizing in a COVID-19 Environment: Best Practices

This blog from the Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC) is based on a July 30 Hill Briefing where panelists Michele Roberts (Washington State Department of Health), Serese Marotta (Families Fighting Flu), and Marissa Rowen (El Rio Health Center), described and discussed current best practices to protect at-risk populations in a COVID environment and closing the immunization gap.

Tools from Vaccinate Your Family

Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) has developed talking points to help navigate the evolving world of COVID-19 vaccine development, approval, and distribution. There is no branding on this page, as it is intended to serve as a jumping off point for your use. In addition, VYF is providing a press release describing a letter to the FDA Commissioner which was signed by over 400 scientists and public health advocates, including VYF. This document is helpful in understanding the minimum requirements for vaccine trials in order for the signatories to feel comfortable supporting safety of the Emergency Use Authorized or licensed vaccines.

Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Resource on Aging and Immunity and COVID-19 Vaccine Development

GSA has developed a new infographic which explains why aging increases vulnerability to infectious diseases and clarifies the development process for a COVID-19 vaccine. This helpful tool is also available in Spanish.

Summit Call Schedule

Summit calls are usually held weekly on Thursday at 3:00pm ET throughout the influenza season, unless cancelled. Call information and an agenda generally are sent the morning of the call. We anticipate that Summit calls will return to this weekly frequency in September.  Weekly call summaries are available on the Summit website shortly after each call.

Please email L.J Tan  or LaDora Woods if you have any updates on activities to provide to the Summit.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

 

Search: