| Why do adult vaccine rates lag behind childhood vaccination rates, especially with the shingles vaccine? Click here to read more. |
| A study recently published in JAMA Pediatrics found that autistic children are less likely to be vaccinated, despite the fact that an abundance of studies show no link between vaccines and autism. |
| Flu activity remains elevated in Washington. To see the Washington State Department of Health's Influenza Update for the week of March 18-March 24, click here. |
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Check out a new immunization app from the APA and AAP called
HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same Day. It's a brief, interactive role-play simulation designed to enhance healthcare providers' ability to introduce the HPV vaccine and address HPV vaccine hesitant parents' concerns. To download, click
here for Android and
here for iOS.
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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. Our priorities for 2018 are:
- Increase vaccine confidence by being a trusted source of timely information about immunizations;
- Monitor legislation and advocate for policies that promote and maintain access to immunizations;
- Improve awareness of adolescent immunizations
- Develop data-driven resources and educational materials for providers who work with underserved communities.
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QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS?
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Contact Izzy Brandstetter
, MPH, Community & Systems Coordinator
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For more information about the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington:
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Happy Spring! April is full of awareness days, and we want to make sure that you are aware of them all:
- April 21-18: National Infant Immunization Week
- April 24: World Meningitis Day
- April 24-29: World Immunization Week
And don't forget to join us at our IACW quarterly meeting on April 25, where we will take the opportunity to recognize the immunization champions that you nominated earlier in the year.
Thanks for reading,
Izzy Brandstetter, MPH
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| IMMUNITY COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH |
We know that there are lots of immunization activities going on throughout the State, and want to recognize our partners for all the hard work! Check out our
first blog post, featuring Rebecca Hendricks and her work with the End-FLUenza Project.
If you're interested in being featured in a subsequent blog post or know of someone who might be,
contact us!
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| NATIONAL INFANT IMMUNIZATION WEEK APRIL 21-28 |
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to promote the benefits of immunizations and improve the health of children two years old or younger. Since 1994, local and state health departments, national immunization partners, healthcare professionals, community leaders from across the United States, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have worked together through NIIW to highlight the positive impact of vaccination on the lives of infants and children, and to call attention to immunization achievements. For sample social media, key messages, posters, and videos, click
here.
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| 2018 CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULES AVAILABLE TO ORDER |
The Immunization Action Coalition of Washington creates our own durable, convenient format of the recommended childhood schedule. Laminated and pocket-sized, they are handy to refer to over and over again throughout the year, and are free for providers in Washington. Last year we distributed all of the copies we printed, and we are very likely to do so again this year, so don't wait. Order yours today by filling out this form.
Please note that these are intended for healthcare provider use only; if you are looking for materials for patients, we'd be glad to send you alternative resources.
We are in the process of mailing these out now - if you have already ordered yours, thank you for your patience!
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VACCINES & IMMUNITY:
IT TAKES A COMMUNITY |
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Open until Summer 2018!
To learn more about vaccines, community immunity, and amazing Seattle institutions leading the way in vaccine innovations, visit the exhibit inside The Studio, located in Wellbody Academy at Pacific Science Center. Click
here
for more information on the exhibit.
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SAVE THE DATE(S): 2018 IACW QUARTERLY MEETINGS
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All meetings will be held at the
Tukwila Community Center, Meeting Room A, from 12-2pm. We also have a remote option available for those who are unable to attend in-person.
Our April meeting will feature IACW and CDC Immunization awards, as well as several presentations on immunizations in an evolving public health and healthcare landscape. Please review our
Code of Conduct prior to attending these meetings.
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- The Health Promotion and Communication Section Manager position is open at the Department of Health. For more information on this job opportunity and to apply, click here! All required application materials must be received by April 5th!
- The Hepatitis Education Project (HEP) is hiring a Program Development Manager for their hepatitis B program. For more information and to apply, click here. All required application materials must be received by April 15th!
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E-Course on Vaccine Training for Medical Assistants
We understand that the knowledge and skills of entry-level medical assistants widely differ, as there is no standard vaccine training curriculum for Medical Assisting schools. Register and take this course to learn more about best practices for vaccinations, including storage & handling, locating vaccine schedules, rights of administration, and guidance on how to administer vaccine properly to various populations. This program has been approved by the American Association for Medical Assistants (AAMA) for 1 Clinical CEU, and a certificate will also be provided if you would like to submit to a different professional accrediting body.
Immunization Records Management Toolkits: These toolkits, designed for both schools & childcares, respectively, are intended to assist both medical and non-medical staff establish immunization record-keeping and documentation workflow processes, or modify existing processes.
Mobile Immunizations Toolkit:
This toolkit is designed to help local health departments work with schools and healthcare providers to plan and host onsite immunization clinics in their schools or community. It was developed and piloted by the Spokane Regional Health District at 26 schools within 10 school districts in Spokane County. You can find the toolkit with its associated planning checklists here.
Adult Immunization Schedules:
Our pocket-sized, convenient format of the 2017 recommended adult schedule for patients
. The only differences on the 2018 schedule are the clarification on the new zoster vaccine recommendations and division of Meningococcal vaccines into two separate lines (A,C,W,Y and B). Order yo
urs today
by emailing
with your name, mailing address, and desired quantity.
E-Courses on Vaccine Hesitancy & HPV Immunization:
V
isit our website to learn everything you need to know about vaccine hesitancy and the HPV vaccine series through two of our e-courses. Both courses are free, and you can register any time at:
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