A publication of the Immunization Action Coalition of WA (IACW) and WithinReach
March 2022

Greetings!

Gov. Jay Inslee announced that Washington state's indoor mask mandate will be ending on March 12. However, lifting the indoor mask mandate does not mean COVID is over. We're continuing to see the pandemic impact overall childhood vaccinations, and it is important for eligible people to receive their booster, which will give us the most protection.

Additionally, March 4 is International HPV Awareness Day, which aims to increase public awareness of the virus. This month's newsletter includes important community vaccine announcements, webinars and vaccination news. Please feel free to share this newsletter with your networks.

Stay safe, healthy and protect your community!

WithinReach
International HPV Awareness Day

Healthcare providers play an important role in getting young adults vaccinated. Share the messages and graphics from OASH's Office on Women's Health to help healthcare providers improve HPV vaccination rates among their young adult patients.


The Association of Immunization Managers has partnered with the HPV Roundtable to develop a video, social media toolkit and images encouraging providers and parents to recognize their essential roles in HPV vaccination of adolescents and young adults. 

COVID-19 Resources and Tools

The University of Washington and Public Health – Seattle & King County are offering free onsite COVID-19 testing to childcares. Making testing easily available can help ensure that new infections are detected early and prevent ongoing spread of infection.

With frequent updates to COVID-19 guidance and slight variations in protocol for different populations, it can be hard to remember the most current information. The WA State DOH shared this graphic to make vaccine recommendations for the immunocompromised easy to understand. It is critical that this vulnerable, high-risk group is able to receive all of the COVID-19 vaccine doses they are eligible for.

Access the graphic: English | Spanish
Upcoming Webinars & Events
The National Black Leadership Commission on Health, in partnership with UW Medicine and One Vax Two Lives, is hosting a webinar to provide information on the impact of COVID-19 disease and vaccination on all aspects of women’s health, fertility, pregnancy outcomes, breastfeeding, baby’s health and even male fertility and sexual function.
This meeting will include an overview on "Futures Thinking and Foresight Practice" and the benefits of proactive thinking and planning. The presentation will also provide participants practical tools relevant to the field of public health. Participants will be invited to apply foresight practice to an example from their own work environment.
April 27, 2022, Noon - 2:00 pm (PST)  
Save the date for our upcoming quarterly IACW meeting on April 27! Register today.

Highlight:
  • When Vaccine Misinformation Targets Women’s Reproductive Health and Pregnancy: Fighting Back with the One Vax Two Lives Campaign
  • Panel (TBD)
Save the Date: PCIC "What's Up Doc" webinars
Save the date for Pierce County Immunization Coalition's upcoming meetings:

  • April 22: Vaccines of the Future by Dr. Deborah Fuller, UW Microbiology
  • May 6: How to Keep Immunization Rates High in a Short-Staffed Environment - panel
  • May 13: Navigating Polarizing Vaccine Conversations - Dr. Gretchen LaSalle

The registration link will be available soon.
Resources

In this video series, Public Health Institute’s Berkeley Media Studies Group offers strategic communication tips to help public health advocates and practitioners communicate with the public in ways that foster trust.

Are you looking for durable, laminated copies of the 2022 U.S. Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule to place in each exam room? Immunize.org has them! 


The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) partnered to share best practices for improving childhood and adolescent immunization rates in school settings.

News

The Biden-Harris Administration is requiring insurance companies and group health plans to cover the cost of over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests.

According to local providers and the American Dental Association, dentists have seen more stress-related oral health conditions during the pandemic.

The guidance also says immunocompromised people who received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get an additional dose.
Free E-Courses
Check out our free immunization e-courses on our Immunity Community website! These courses can be started and completed at any time. Courses are available for professionals who work in the immunization field.
QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS?
Contact us: ic@withinreachwa.org
Making the connections Washington families need to be healthy and safe. Promoting, protecting & supporting immunization as a vital part of the health and development of children and families.

Founded in 1994, the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW), a program of WithinReach, works to improve the health of the community by minimizing the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases through the optimal use of immunizations across the lifespan.