Vaccine Booster November 26, 2024

2025 California Immunization Coalition Summit

Building Trust: Strengthening Vaccine Confidence

April 29-30, 2025

Registration is now open for the 2025 California Immunization Coalition Summit!

Our annual Summit will take place again in Riverside, California and features guest speakers, expert panels, workshops, and opportunities for discussion with leading figures in immunization and healthcare advocacy throughout California. We’re excited to gather again with our colleagues and forge new partnerships to improve and protect vaccination rates in California.

As the premier event for immunization advocates in California, the Summit will focus on using, research, data, and facts to support our strategies for building vaccine confidence and helping our communities understand the value of public health. Presentations will include updates from guest speakers, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and other state organizations and local health departments and coalitions. 

Important dates:

• Abstract submission portal is open and abstracts will be accepted through January 3rd.
• Immunization Champion award nominations open through February 21st.
• Early registration is open through the end of January, prices will increase in February.

Make your travel plans now to stay at the wonderful Riverside Mission Inn for a wonderful 2 days of collaborative learning with colleagues. Check out our fabulous Summit website and updated Registration pages here.

Avian Flu in California

Excerpts from CDPH Office of Communications

California continues to take swift and comprehensive action in response to the detection of bird flu in dairy cows across the Central Valley, demonstrating a strong commitment to public health and worker safety. While the overall risk to the public remains low, the state is prioritizing containment efforts, raising public awareness, and providing resources to those at higher risk. Key initiatives include the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), increased testing, and robust surveillance of infected areas.

Since early October, California has reported 29 confirmed human cases of bird flu, 28 of whom had direct contact with infected dairy cows. No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California or the U.S. To date, all cases have reported mild symptoms (primarily eye infections), and none have been hospitalized. Because bird flu viruses can change and gain the ability to spread more easily between people, public health officials have provided preventive measures and are monitoring animal and human infections carefully. 

• For the latest information on the state’s bird flu response, visit CDPH’s Bird Flu webpage and CDFA’s H5N1 Bird Flu Virus in Livestock​ site.
• CDPH Press Release - November 19, 2024 - Single case bird flu virus in child

National Influenza Vaccination Week

December 2-6, 2024

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is an annual observance held each December to remind the community that there's still time to get vaccinated against flu.

Together, we can use NIVW as a nationwide call to action to encourage everyone 6 months and older to get their annual flu vaccine, especially pregnant people, young children, and others at higher risk. The more people vaccinated against flu, the more people are protected from flu.

You can find shareable resources on CDC’s website, including posters, more social media assets, key messages, and more: 

Vaccine Safety Resources

CIC wants to make sure you feel confident and ready to handle questions from the public and have a quick resource available for media inquiries about the value and safety of vaccines. See below for a selection from some of our partners:

Vaccinate Your Family has compiled a list of resources to assist you and your organization in engaging with the public, media, and government officials about the critical importance of vaccines:

• Comprehensive vaccine safety research: https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/vaccine-research/
• Answers to common vaccine safety questions: https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/are-vaccines-safe/
• Understanding vaccine ingredients: https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/whats-in-a-vaccine/
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This google doc includes neutral talking points on vaccine safety and regulation to assist you in navigating ongoing conversations with external stakeholders, communities, and the media. We hope these resources will support yourcontinued advocacy for life-saving immunizations. 

Check out our latest Education Hour Program

Strengthening Hepatitis B Prevention:

Advocacy and Awareness

Special thanks to our colleagues Richard So, Executive Director of SF Hep B Free and Catarina Liu, MD, MPH, Medical Officer at the CDPH Immunization Branch, who provided important information and updates on the importance of increasing awareness of hepatitis B among Asian and Pacific Islander (API) adults, to promote routine hepatitis B testing and vaccination and to ensure access to treatment for the chronically infected individuals. 

Learn more about the work of SF Hep Be Free by clicking their logo above, and to view the recorded webinar on our YouTube site, click on the button below. Thank you to our speakers and attendees!