A publication of the Immunization Action Coalition of WA (IACW) and WithinReach
July 2019
Greetings!



Cheers!
Immunity Community Highlight of the Month
Register  today for the 2019 Washington Immunization Summit! Please join WithinReach for our second Washington State Immunization Summit on October 8, 2019 at the Lynnwood Convention Center.

This one-day event will include topics on the measles outbreak, vaccination schedule updates, communicating about vaccines, working with special & at-risk populations, and the WA State Immunization Information System.
The cost to register for this all-day event is just $150 (including free parking!) at the early bird rate and various forms of continuing education credits will be offered.

Scholarships:  A limited number of  scholarships  are being offered by the Washington Department of Health for those who may not otherwise be able to attend. Applications accepted until July 26th 2019.  Scholarship application

Sponsor and exhibitor opportunities: we'd love to have you sponsor or exhibit at the summit. Please visit our website for more information. 

Please note: We invite all participants in the Washington State Immunization Summit to help us create a safe, positive experience for everyone. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and those who violate these rules will result in forfeited registration and be expelled from the event at the sole discretion of WithinReach.
WithinReach Blog: Responding to the 2019 Measles Outbreak
Measles is a highly contagious disease – nearly nine out of 10 susceptible individuals who are exposed will become infected. On Dec. 31, 2018, a child visiting Clark County was diagnosed with measles. Due to their lower-than-average immunization rates,, Clark County experienced an outbreak of the illness with 71 total confirmed cases. 

WIthinReach connected with Brianna Dannen, Public Health Nurse at the Clark County Public Health Department for reflection on outbreak response.

Read the post here
New Immunization Certificate of Exemption Available
As of July 28, 2019, Washington state law will no longer allow a personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the MMR vaccine required for school and child care entry.

The Department of Health has updated the Certificate of Exemption (COE) to reflect the new requirements. It is currently available here in English. The certificate will be available in other languages sometime in June.

Please note the new law did not change religious or medical exemptions. A child with one of these types of exemptions already on file does not need to fill out or turn in a new certificate.

If you’d like to know more about school immunization requirements, the new law change, or the Certificate of Exemption, visit the department’s School and Child Care Immunization website. 
UPCOMING EVENTS
NORTHWEST IMMUNIZATION CONFERENCE
August 13-15, 2019
Portland, OR

IDAHO IMMUNIZATION SUMMIT 2019
September 25, 2019
Meridian, ID

2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR IMMUNIZATION COALITIONS & PARTNERSHIPS
November 13-15, 2019
Honolulu, HI
Accepting abstracts for breakout sessions through 6/30/19

RESOURCES
HPV Cancer Resources
HPV cancer survivor and vaccination advocate, Stewart Lyman, created a website with valuable information and resources related to HPV. www.hpvcancerresources.org
CDC AdultVaxView
has been updated and Washington State scored higher than the national average for pneumococcal and shingles vaccination coverage.



Producing Prevention: The Complex Development of Vaccines
 courtesy of the online MPH program from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University. Learn more
UPCOMING WEBINARS
CDC PinkBook Webinar Series
July 10, 17, 24 & 31
This online series of 15 webinars provides an overview of the principles of vaccination, general recommendations, immunization strategies for providers, and specific information about vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines that prevent them. Space is limited to 1,500 registrants. CEs are available. Register here
National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO): Prioritizing HPV Vaccinations Webinar
July 15, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
This webinar will share the current state of HPV vaccination statistics, recommendations and prioritization of HPV vaccinations in practice. CEs are available. Register here
Introduction to the WAIIS
July 24th, 12:00 - 1:00 PM PST
This webinar will provide an introduction to Immunization Information Systems as well as an overview of WA's IIS and basic tools that are available to users. Register here
FREE E-COURSES
NEWS
NY Eliminates Religious Exemptions
Gov. Cuomo signed a bill into law removing exemption from childhood immunizations for religious reasons. The state is currently experiencing its worst measles outbreak in nearly 25 years with 596 confirmed cases. Click here to learn more.
Measles Outbreak 2019
1,095 cases of measles have been confirmed in the United States since January. This is highest number of cases since 1994 and the U.S. is in danger of being removed from the list of countries where measles is considered eliminated. Click here to learn more.
VACCINES Act
 U.S. Rep. and Washington State pediatrician Kim Schrier introduced HR 2862 aka the "VACCINES Act," that would increase support for vaccine hesitancy research and public awareness regarding the safety and benefits of immunizations. Click here to learn more.
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.