I Raise the Rates! August Edition
In this edition of I Raise the Rates (IRtR), you will find a variety of new resources from several public health partners, educational opportunities, and a brief selection of popular media articles related to immunization.
Get Routine Vaccinations Back on Track 
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines for people of all ages. This is the ideal time to ensure your patients are up to date on their recommended vaccines.  

Click here to access a number of materials developed by CDC to help promote NIAM.  
Additionally access free resources and actionable strategies to support your efforts at ACP’s redesigned Adult Immunization Resource Hub  
Use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccines in Older Adults: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices-United States 2023 published in the July 21, 2023, MMWR  

On June 21, 2023, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that persons aged >60 years may receive a single dose of the RSV vaccine, using shared clinical decision-making.
Get Your FREE Adult Vaccination Rx Pads containing up to date ACIP recommended vaccines for adult patients  
Featured Articles and Resources -
CDC to Launch “Bridge Access Program” in Fall 2023 to Provide Free COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments to Uninsured and Underinsured Adults
To help ensure that millions of uninsured and underinsured American adults continue to have access to no-cost COVID-19 vaccinations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is launching the Bridge Access Program for COVID-19 Vaccines this fall.
Covid 19 Update
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is pleased to announce that we will begin accepting new COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Agreement applications through NJIIS beginning Tuesday, June 1, 2021. Please click here for specific information on joining the COVID-19 vaccination program. Thank you for your interest in assisting with COVID-19 vaccination efforts in New Jersey.
New film peeks behind the curtain at FDA
The Vaccine Makers Project (VMP), the classroom program of the Vaccine Education Center, recently released a new 30-minute documentary film. Called Marion Gruber: Preparedness Is Prevention, the film showcases Dr. Gruber’s years working as a scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She was there for several recent public health emergencies, including the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, several recent Ebola outbreaks, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. She left the FDA in 2021 after COVID-19 booster shots were recommended for most, despite a lack of evidence to support their usefulness.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the efforts of healthcare professionals to protect patients of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases through on-time vaccination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of life, including patients’ ability to attend important appointments and receive routine vaccinations. Many patients had to postpone or cancel appointments and still may not have had the opportunity to catch back up on needed healthcare.

During NIAM, encourage your patients to schedule appointments to ensure they are up to date on annual exams and recommended vaccines. Research has consistently shown that healthcare professionals are the most trusted source of vaccine information for parents and patients.

Use NIAM as an opportunity to access CDC educational resources like the #HowIRecommend Video Series, which offers simple and practical guidance for having successful vaccine conversations with parents and patients. These short videos demonstrate how to make effective vaccine recommendations, address common vaccine questions, and take a team-based approach to vaccination.

For those patients who are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, you play a critical role in helping vaccine recipients understand the importance of vaccination and that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Check out this toolkit on Talking to Recipients about COVID-19 Vaccination, where you will find resources to help you share clear and accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines, raise awareness about the benefits of vaccination, and address common questions and concerns about what to expect when getting vaccinated.