Winter Vaccine Booster

December 2023

Health Alert Network (HAN) Update on COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illness Increases

Reminders to Patients and the Public: Respiratory Illnesses Are on the Rise and There Is Still Time to Get Vaccinated

Respiratory illness activity is rapidly increasing across the United States, yet vaccination rates for COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remain low. Millions of people may get sick in the next month or two, and low vaccination rates means more people will get more severe disease. Getting vaccinated now can help prevent hospitalizations and save lives.

CDC is reaching out to healthcare providers and clinicians to encourage them to recommend all patients receive all respiratory immunizations they are eligible for. On December 14, CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory to raise awareness about respiratory illness activity and urge action. To increase vaccination coverage, COVID-19 vaccines are available at no cost to people who are uninsured or underinsured through the Bridge Access Program. Read full announcement below:

Health Alert Network Notice

CDC Resources

COVID Data Tracker

Maps, charts, and data provided by CDC, updates Mondays and Fridays by 8 p.m. ET

COVID Data Tracker Info

FluView - Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update -

Week ending 12/9

(Click on image below for information)

Take Flu from

Wild to Mild

Wild to Mild Campaign Drives Key Message to Tame Flu and Reset Expectations

Encourage your friends, loved ones, and followers on social media to get themselves and their families an annual flu vaccine with new CDC resources linked below!

Wild to Mild Campaign

Honoring Rosalynn Smith Carter

Former First Lady and CoFounder of Vaccinate Your Family

California Immunization Coalition's (CIC) Executive Director, Catherine Flores was honored to attend Mrs. Carter's tribute service in Atlanta on November 27th, on behalf of the Board of Directors of Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) and the Board of CIC.

Along with VYF Executive Director, Amy Pisani and several current and past Board members, we were pleased to join the Carter family and numerous colleagues and volunteers who gathered to celebrate the life of Rosalynn Carter.

As many of you know, Mrs. Carter was active in numerous humanitarian and educational efforts, in addition to being a much beloved wife, mother and grandmother. We enjoyed meeting representatives from Habitat for Humanity, the Carter Center for Peace, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, individuals from academia, the government, and nonprofits who worked with her on mental health advocacy programs, voter rights, and learned more about the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail (a project to save the Monarch butterflies), and many more.

We were proud to share our experiences in working with Mrs. Carter in her role as Co-Founder of Every Child By Two (now VYF) and her impact on vaccination laws and immunization programs; work that has saved millions of lives throughout the world.

If you have been impacted or inspired by Mrs. Carter's work and wish to leave your thoughts through the Carter Center's Tribute Page, please click on the button below.

Tribute Page - Mrs. Carter

Please Consider CIC for Year End Tax Deductible Donations

Every donation to CIC is an opportunity to help achieve and maintain full immunization protection for all Californians, to promote health, and to prevent serious illness, disability and death.

CIC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization qualified to receive tax-deductible donations.

CIC’s tax ID #94-3318502.

To make a donation using a credit card, click on the Donate Today button below:

Donate Today

For over 25 years, the California Immunization Coalition (CIC) has worked in partnership with public health, professional medical associations, health care professionals, public health advocates and community members to support policies that ensure access to life saving vaccines. We provide educational resources that assist health care providers stay up to date on the latest recommendations and communication strategies and serve as a resource to policymakers and the media to ensure consistent and accurate information is shared with the public.

Thank you for your support.

ShotByShot.org Summary Report for 2023

Click on the image below to learn about the amazing work of our partner project Shot By Shot and join us to learn how you can use this tool and help add to the story bank.

ShotByShot

Preteen Vaccine Week

Preteen Vaccine Week (PVW) is an annual California observance to be held March 4–8 in 2024. The goals of PVW are to distribute information and materials through multiple avenues such as schools, providers, and the media to promote the preteen doctor visit and to raise awareness about routinely recommended immunizations for preteens.

Learn more and find Preteen Vaccine Week campaign materials by clicking on the button below:

Preteen Vaccine Week

Looking Ahead to 2024

Whether you are serving in a leadership position, or as a committee member, or are reading and sharing this newsletter and our invitations throughout the year - we are grateful for your work and support. You are appreciated and valued as a member of CIC.

2024 will be an important year for public health and we will need your ideas, engagement and participation. We strongly encourage you to connect with us to learn more about ways to improve vaccination rates and reduce/ eliminate misinformation.

After the first of the year, we will be sending out the Save The Date for the CIC Summit in June 5-6, 2024, several new Education Hours and Emerging Issues Conversation invites and much more. Please contact us anytime to meet, discuss and get involved - info@immunizeca.org

Meantime, we wish you a safe and Happy Holiday season.

Reminder - The 16th National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships is happening on April 9-11 in Philadelphia. It's not too late to make plans and register now. Don't miss out!

Register today and reserve your room via link below.
Nominate someone amazing for a recognition award.

NCICP Website

Impact of Vaccine Denial and the Pandemic on Vaccines and Public Health:

New Movies Available - Shot in the Arm & Virulent

CIC has had the opportunity to view both of these very well done movies and are happy to help connect you with the producers and their team who can share opportunities to promote them in your community.

Shot In The Arm

Before anyone had heard of COVID-19, filmmaker Scott Hamilton Kennedy began investigating the global measles epidemic. Filming with top public health officials, as well as rare interviews with anti-vaccine activists who were persuading parents by the millions to refuse vaccines for their children.

Then COVID-19 happened.

Learn more here: shotinthearmmovie.com

VIRULENT - The Vaccine War

Virulent: The Vaccine War examines the consequences of vaccine hesitancy and denial. It’s a war anti-vax activists have been fighting for more than a decade. And Covid-19 is what they practiced for—a national conversation about vaccine safety and mandates.

Learn more here: virulentmovie.com