Immunization Awareness Month - August 2020
CDC Guidance on vaccinations during pandemic: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pandemic-guidance/index.html
Keeping California Children Safe and Ready for School
Important Reminder for School Health Professionals
The California Department of Public Health is closely following the rate of immunization during the pandemic. Immunization requirements for admission to school or child care in California for the 2020-2021 school year remain in place for now. Any updates will be posted on the ShotsForSchool.org website. Please share this information widely with your colleagues.
Key Points:
  • Currently, there are no changes to California’s school vaccination requirements. Families can stay up to date on school requirements and learn what the current rules are by going to www.ShotsForSchool.org

  • Students who are receiving their education through a distance learning model, are still subject to state laws for required immunizations.

  • We want children to be protected from preventable diseases and ready for school – no matter where or when they are attending school.

  • Even if your child is receiving instruction at home at this time, when schools resume for in person instruction your child will need to be up to date of immunizations to return to school - be prepared!

  • Physicians and other healthcare providers vaccinate children to protect them from diseases. While vaccinations are required for school entry, healthcare providers vaccinate children and adolescents based on scientific guidelines and recommendations to protect them from preventable diseases – not just because they are required by state law. 

  • While school may be attended from home for safety during the pandemic, children and families do leave home and venture out in the community for a variety of reasons. Protection against vaccine preventable diseases is always important, especially to avoid another preventable outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Healthcare providers are working hard to get children up to date on immunizations, not just for school but to prevent diseases such as measles, pertussis and influenza. 

  • During the months of April and May in 2020, immunization rates among children and adolescents have dropped by over 50%. These gaps have left our communities vulnerable to the resurgence of diseases.  

  • We need to make sure children and adolescents stay up to date on their immunizations so they do not fall further behind on recommended vaccinations.

  • If children and adolescents continue to fall behind on their recommended and required immunizations, we will have a larger than ever gap in vaccinations when students return to school in person.

For more information go to ShotsforSchool.org and EZIZ.org for updates and resources.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). There’s no better time to encourage the public to stay up to date on routine immunizations! Join the campaign! Check out the NIAM digital toolkit for key messages and templates. Show your support by using the hashtag #IVax2Protect

As part of NIAM, CDC will host an Instragram Q&A for parents on August 24, from 9 AM to 11 AM Tune into CDC's instagram feed for lively discussion about the importance of maintaining routine immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDC also will host a webinar for healthcare and public health professionals on immunization services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch for details registration information.
Take a look at the updated CDC digital toolkit:

• Key messages
• Social media content
• Social media graphics
• Newsletter announcements
• Links to educational resources for healthcare professionals and the public
#DontWaitVaccinate - Campaign
The Don't Wait - Vaccinate! campaign is going strong, with partners and health care professionals working hard to encourage families to get back into the office and clinic to stay up to date on immunizations.

We encourage you to check out the website and utilize our tools and resources. On social media we are utilizing the hashtag #DontWaitVaccinate along with other tags including #VaccinesWork and #IVax2Protect and #Vaccines.
The goals of this campaign are to encourage parents to:
  • Bring in children for routine immunizations during and after the pandemic
  • Get school-aged children vaccinated to meet school immunization requirements
  • Bring in children to receive influenza vaccine
Influence adults to:
  • Receive routine immunizations, including influenza vaccine
Influence pregnant women to:
  • Receive Tdap and Influenza vaccine
Posts by our terrific partners and organizations

Help Spread the Word: CA HPV Vaccine Week
The 2nd Annual California HPV Vaccine Week, is just around the corner, August 3-8. We need your help in raising awareness that the HPV vaccine is cancer prevention. To help spread awareness from August 3- August 8 utilize the hashtags #CaliforniaHPVfree #caHPVvxweek. To learn more visit their web page specifically dedicated to the awareness week by clicking the button below.
They have created two new PSA's to help raise awareness check them out:


Repository of Resources for Maintaining Immunization during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Immunization Action Coalition has developed a terrific online resource for use by healthcare settings, state and local health departments, professional societies, immunization coalitions, advocacy groups, and communities to help support our efforts to maintain immunization rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The repository includes links to international, national, and state-level policies and guidance and advocacy materials, including talking points, webinars, press releases, media articles, and social media posts, as well as telehealth resources.

This repository will grow with your help. If you know of national, state, or local guidance documents or other resources that should be added, please send a message to  info@immunizationcoalitions.org . Thank you Immunize Action Coalition!
The California Immunization Coalition is a statewide 501c3 nonprofit. Newsletter content is the sole responsibility of the California Immunization Coalition.