MCAAP Immunization Initiative Update
November 2024
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2024-2025 Influenza Season Update
National Influenza Vaccination Week is December 2-6, 2024
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is an annual, national awareness week focused on highlighting the importance of influenza vaccination. NIVW will be held from December 2-6 this year.
NIVW serves as a reminder that it's not too late to recommend influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older for whom influenza vaccination is appropriate.
CDC data shows that flu vaccination coverage was lower in the 2023-2024 influenza season, especially among certain higher risk groups, including children. During the 2023-2024 season, vaccination coverage with ≥1 dose of flu vaccine was 55.4% among children 6 months through 17 years, a decrease of 2.0 percentage points compared with the 2022–2023 flu season (57.4%) and a decrease of 8.3 percentage points compared with the pre-pandemic 2019–20 season (63.7%).
As reported on MDPH's Respiratory Immunizations Dashboard, as of November 21, 2024, 32% of Massachusetts children under 5 years of age, and 24.7% of children 5-19 years of age have been vaccinated for flu.
As of November 22, two pediatric deaths have been reported for the 2024-2025 influenza season. Total reported influenza-associated pediatric deaths for last year's season (2023-2024) influenza season is 205, the most reported deaths in a season since 199 deaths were reported during the 2019-2020 season.
The CDC has developed a Digital Media Toolkit and "Wild to Mild" Resources to help promote the importance of influenza vaccination. These resources include graphics, vaccination messages, and activities that you can use to share key flu information with your networks.
On Thursday, December 5, at 12:00 PM ET, the MCAAP Immunization Initiative, in partnership with Families Fighting Flu, and the Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project, will host, "A Father’s Story – Storytelling and Motivational Interviewing to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake." See the article below for complete webinar information.
The flu season in Massachusetts can last well into the spring. The CDC reminds providers to continue to vaccinate as long as flu strains are still circulating.
Thanks for all that you do to protect Massachusetts residents against influenza and all vaccine preventable diseases!
See the Resource Spotlight section of this newsletter for influenza season resources.
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MCAAP Immunization Initiative Webinar Series
Next Webinar: Thursday, December 5, 12:00 PM
As part of its effort to promote the importance of immunization throughout the respiratory illness season, the MCAAP Immunization Initiative, in partnership with Families Fighting Flu and the Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project, will host, "A Father’s Story – Storytelling and Motivational Interviewing to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake."
Jeb Teichman, MD, FAAP, pediatrician, Families Fighting Flu board member, and father who lost his son to influenza, will present. Click here for more information and to register for the webinar.
Recent Webinars
Recordings, presentations and resources for the the following webinars can be accessed here:
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2024-2025 Influenza Season Update (recorded 10/8/24)
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Accessible Vaccination: A First Step Towards Health Equity (recorded 9/25/24)
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Pregnancy and Newborn Immunization During the 2024-2025 Respiratory Illness Season (recorded 8/27/24)
Click here for more information about the webinar series, including the Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Statement.
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2025 Immunization Schedules
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published the 2025 child/adolescent and adult immunization schedules. Web-based, pdf (child/adolescent and adult) and app versions of the schedule are available.
A summary of 2025 immunization schedule updates and guidance can be found here.
Earlier availability of the 2025 Immunization Schedules is part of CDC’s effort to better support immunization professionals and to improve timely implementation of new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations. The 2025 schedules are effective immediately, and you do not need to wait until January 1, 2025, for the schedules to go into effect.
Parent and patient-friendly schedules can be found here.
Vaccine Catch-Up Guidance
CDC has developed catch-up guidance job aids to assist healthcare providers in interpreting Table 2 of the child and adolescent immunization schedule. The job aids can be found here (scroll down on the webpage to “Vaccine Catch-Up Guidance”).
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2024 MIAP Conference Recap
More than 280 attendees participated at this year's MIAP Conference, held as an in-person event on October 30, 2024. The full-day conference included plenary and breakout sessions, exhibits, and the presentation of the 2024 MIAP Conference Award to the Epworth Free Vaccine Clinic of the Worcester Free Care Collaborative (read more about the award in the article below).
The 2024 Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) Immunization Champion Award also was presented to Theresa Covell, RN, BSN. Click here to read more about this award.
The MIAP Conference Planning Committee would like to thank the following people and organizations for participating in this year's MIAP Conference:
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MIAP President and Master of Ceremonies - Lloyd Fisher
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Plenary Session Presenters – Katelyn Jetelina, Andrew Kroger, Mary Beth Miotto, Christy Norton, Grace Ryan and Pejman Talebian
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Breakout Session Presenters – Trisha Barungi, Joanne Belanger, Dylan Kirby, Aurelia Medina and Linda Phalen
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Plenary and Breakout Session Moderators – Laurie Courtney, Lloyd Fisher, Regina Njoroge, and Marija Popstefanija
- Exhibitors -
- Gold Level - Pfizer Vaccines and Sanofi
- Silver Level - AstraZeneca, CSL Seqirus, GSK, Merck, Moderna, and Novavax
- Non-Profit - Epworth Free Vaccine Clinic, Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition, Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project, MDPH Division of Epidemiology, MDPH Regional Immunization Nurses Program, MDPH State Vaccine Program, Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS), and Team Maureen
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MIAP Conference Production Team - Kathryn Ahnger-Pier, Alexandra Burke, Ted Clark, Cynthia McReynolds, Christy Norton, Kelly Welch and Pam Worthington
Finally, the Committee would like to thank this year's attendees! We hope to see you again in 2025!
The conference presentations are available on the conference website Speakers tab. Scroll down and click on "View Profile." Presentations can be found under "Speaker Documents."
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Epworth Free Vaccine Clinic staff: Bottom row, from right to left: Joshan Niroula FNP, Angela Beeler MD, Ariane Michelson MPH, Lorelle Sang, Celine Cano-Ruiz, Israh Abdeljaber RN, Karen Morell RN, Brianne Sutherland RN; Top row, from right to left: Nava H RN, Danielle Heims-Waldron, Kayal Parthiban, Amanda Jung, Brian Lisse MD, Olesea Cojohari PhD, Ariba Memon
2024 MIAP Conference Awardee
Epworth Free Vaccine Clinic
Each year, the Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) recognizes individuals or groups that have made an outstanding contribution to pediatric immunizations in Massachusetts. The recipient of this award is an individual or an organization that has demonstrated leadership, initiative, innovation, collaboration and/or advocacy.
The MIAP Conference Planning Committee is delighted to recognize the 2024 Conference Awardee, the Epworth Free Vaccine Clinic of the Worcester Free Care Collaborative. Click here to read the award press release.
Congratulations to the Epworth Free Vaccine Clinic!
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Vaccine Confidence Update
The Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project (MVCP) is a collaboration of the Immunization Division, Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), the Massachusetts Adult Immunization Coalition (MAIC), and the Massachusetts Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP).
The MVCP’s mission is to increase vaccine confidence throughout Massachusetts to ensure that all residents are fully protected against serious, vaccine-preventable disease. This is accomplished through the development of educational activities and science-based resources and training materials for healthcare providers and the public, and collaboration with organizations which support immunization.
Recent MVCP Activities and Events
- The MVCP exhibited at the MIAP Conference on October 30 and the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization (MSNO) Fall Conference on November 2.
- The MVCP also exhibited at the Massachusetts Councils on Aging Conference on October 24, and the Massachusetts Association of School Committees/Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASC/MASS) Joint Conference on November 7.
Upcoming Activities and Events
- On Thursday, December 5, at 12:00 PM ET, the MVCP will partner with Families Fighting Flu to host "A Father’s Story – Storytelling and Motivational Interviewing to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake." Click here for more information and to register for the webinar.
Click here to visit the MVCP website.
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Resource Spotlight
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW)/Influenza Season Resources
Recently Published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Recent CDC News Releases
Bulletins, Newsletters and Updates
- MDPH Weekly Flu Update (11/22/24)
- MDPH Vaccine Program Communication - Respiratory Vaccine Update (11/15/24)
- MDPH Vaccine Program Unit Update - November 2024
- Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS) Monthly Update (November 24, Issue 32)
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Upcoming Educational Activities, Events and Meetings
December 2-6, 2024
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW)
Click here for more information.
Thursday, December 5, 2024, 12:00-1:00 PM ET
MCAAP Immunization Initiative Webinar Series, in partnership with Families Fighting Flu and the MVCP
A Father’s Story – Storytelling and Motivational Interviewing to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake
Presenter: Jeb Teichman, MD, FAAP, pediatrician and Families Fighting Flu Board Member
Click here to register for the December 5 webinar.
Save the Date! Tuesday, March 25, 2025
2025 Massachusetts Adult Immunization Conference Boston Marriott Newton, Newton, Massachusetts Updates will be communicated as they become available. Click here to visit the MAIC website.
On Demand Meetings and Recordings
MCAAP Immunization Initiative webinars
Click here to access recently recorded webinars.
MDPH/MCAAP/MMS HPV Webinar (CME)
Increasing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Uptake in Massachusetts
Presenters: Lloyd Fisher, MD, FAAP, and Sherri Zorn, MD, FAAP. CME-CEU credit is available for completing the webinar. Click here to access the webinar.
MDPH
Vaccine Storage and Handling/Vaccines for Children (VFC) Compliance Training
Annual VFC Compliance Training Certification webinar. Click here to access the webinar.
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